Created Equal (2017)

  • Indie Legal Thriller CREATED EQUAL Wins at Action On Film Festival and BronzeLens Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_24340" align="aligncenter" width="800"]Thada Catalon, Bill Duke, Edy Ganem - Created Equal at Action on Film Festival. Thada Catalon, Bill Duke, Edy Ganem[/caption] The indie legal thriller Created Equal continues its award winning sweep, winning prizes at the Action On Film Festival in Las Vegas and the BronzeLens Film Festival in Atlanta. At Action On Film Festival, the film won “Best Picture” and “Best Actress,” and legendary actor/director, Bill Duke, received the esteemed Icon Award – the ultimate honor from Action On Film Festival that celebrated his lifetime of achievements in Hollywood. [caption id="attachment_24341" align="aligncenter" width="800"](L to R) John Newberg, Yohance Myles, Thada Catalon, Katheen Bertrand, Jo-Ann Robinson, Spence Maughon and Ketrick "Jazz" Copeland pose on the Bronze Carpet at the closing night screening event at the BronzeLens Film Festival. (L to R) John Newberg, Yohance Myles, Thada Catalon, Katheen Bertrand, Jo-Ann Robinson, Spence Maughon and Ketrick “Jazz” Copeland pose on the Bronze Carpet at the closing night screening event at the BronzeLens Film Festival.[/caption] At BronzeLens Film Festival, Created Equal took home the win for “Best Feature.” Deidre McDonald, artistic director of the BronzeLens Film Festival shared, “BronzeLens is pleased to have awarded Created Equal as our 2017 Best Feature. Bill Duke’s skillful direction made a story of gender equality in the Catholic Church an exciting thriller. Kudos, also, to Thada Catalon, an actress, writer, director and now producer who was able to bring it to the screen. I have no doubt we will see a lot of her films in the years to come!” Created Equal stars Broadway actor and singer Aaron Tveit (Grease Live!), Latina actress Edy Ganem (Devious Maids), Yohance Myles (Shots Fired), veteran actors Lou Diamond Phillips (Longmire) and GregAlan Williams (Greenleaf). In the film, Thomas “Tommy” Reilly ( Aaron Tveit ), a cocky, up-and-coming attorney, begrudgingly takes on a case for Sister Alejandra “Allie” Batista ( Edy Ganem ), who’s desperate to become a priest in the Catholic Church. Against his supervisor’s wishes, Tommy files suit against the Archdiocese of New Orleans for gender discrimination without justifiable cause. As the trial unfolds, an extremist concocts a plot to stop the heresy against the church by attacking and threatening to kill Alejandra if they don’t back off. Tommy’s faith and conviction are tested, and as he questions his purpose, he begins the transformation from an egotistical, arrogant person, to one who is committed to a mission larger than his own self-interests. Based on the novel, Created Equal, written by Roger A. Brown, who also serves as executive producer, the film certainly lives up to its intent, as it sparks a worldwide conversation that explores the disparity between men and women holding the highest leadership positions within the church, as well as other positions that hold the greatest authority in the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91Bw2UFlonM

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  • Bill Duke Directed Indie Thriller CREATED EQUAL to World Premiere at American Black Film Festival | Trailer

    [caption id="attachment_22655" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Created Equal Created Equal[/caption] Six years after stunning audiences with his shocking documentary, Dark Girls, actor/director Bill Duke returns to directing with the legal thriller Created Equal.  Created Equal, based on the novel, Created Equal written by Roger A. Brown, will World Premiere at the 2017 American Black Film Festival on Thursday, June 15, 4pm, at the Miami Beach Cinematheque (1130 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL). In a world where gender equality remains a critical issue, this controversial film, doesn’t set out to challenge the Catholic Church doctrine, but asks a very modern question… Should women be allowed into seminaries to study for the priesthood? “Created Equal is a film that gives you a voyeur experience into the stained glass ceiling that exists in the Catholic Church and asks the question about women being allowed into seminaries without actually taking sides,” shares Bill Duke. “We are so excited that the American Black Film Festival has officially selected our film as a world premiere and look forward to the conversation that is created around this highly debated topic.” The film stars Broadway actor and singer Aaron Tveit (Grease Live!) Latina actress Edy Ganem (Devious Maids), Yohance Myles (Shots Fired), veteran actors Lou Diamond Phillips (Longmire) and GregAlan Williams (Greenleaf). Desperate to become a priest in the Catholic Church, Alejandra “Allie” Batista (Edy Ganem) turns to Thomas Reilly (Aaron Tveit), a successful lawyer who files suit against the Archdiocese of New Orleans for sex discrimination without justifiable cause. As Allie’s case starts to make national headlines, both she and Tommy face serious backlash from the people in their lives. The trial unfolds and an extremist concocts a plot to stop the heresy against the church by attacking Alejandra and attempting to kill her if she doesn’t back off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91Bw2UFlonM

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