As we reported yesterday, Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are producing a new independent film, “Free Ride.”
Starring along with Anna in the film is Drea de Matteo. The film is set to start shooting on closed sets later this month through the end of November.
The movie takes place in late 1970s Florida. After fleeing an abusive relationship, Mom turns to the marijuana trade to support her daughters, ages 15 and 7. It’s based on the real-life story of writer/director Shana Sosin, the youngest of the siblings. Anna Paquin plays Sosin’s mother Christina.
“My mother was a very vibrant character and very good at surviving,” Sosin said this afternoon while location scouting in Sarasota. “There’s something very raw and real about Anna’s performance and person; she’s retained that rawness my mother had.”
De Matteo, who won a 2004 Emmy Award for playing Adriana La Cerva on “The Sopranos,” has been cast as Sandy in “Free Ride.” “She’s the one who gets my mom into the marijuana trade,” Sosin said.
Liana Liberato, best known for her work in the 2010 Clive Owen movie “Trust,” plays the writer/director’s older sister.
“This movie is about a single mother who’s uneducated and doing the best she can and she’s not your typical drug dealer,” Sosin said. “It’s also my homage to the end of innocence in America as well as a love letter to my sister and my mother.”
In addition to the stars, the filmmaker wants locals in “Free Ride.”
“We’re looking for people who are rough around the edges with long hair, very tan locals,” she said. “The kind of guys who would work fishing boats and bikers with handlebar mustaches.”
Individuals interested in being cast as extras should email [email protected].
The crew is also seeking boats, cars and homes to use in the movie.
“As a small budget film we’re so dependent on the kindness of the community,” said Wendy Williams, line producer on the picture. “We’re looking for period boats and cars of the early to late 1970s and period home from the late 1970s that have not been updated.”
“Free Ride” marks the first full-length movie featuring major stars for Sosin. She comes out of the acclaimed, Los Angeles-based experimental theater troupe “The Actors’ Gang,” cofounded by Tim Robbins. Her filmmaking credits include the acclaimed 2010 short film “The Convention of Dying.” As an actor, she has appeared in numerous films as well as the television series “Cold Case.”
“I come out of the theater and I’m a strong supporter of theater and community theater,” Sosin said. “And the community theater that exists here is great.”
“Free Ride” is being produced by Susan Dynner, whose credits include coproducer on the 2005 Sundance Special Jury Prize winner film “Brick.”
The crew will be using facilities provided by the Sarasota Film Festival.
“Shana and her crew are exactly the kind of talented, creative people we want to work in this area,” said Mark Famiglio, executive director of SFF. “They represent the new wave of independent filmmaking and exceptional storytelling.”
Read more: bradenton.com
