(1888PressRelease)
January 16, 2009 - Freeloader is the story of a returning Veteran that finds out his wife is cheating on him and by selling off their house and belongings leaves him alone and homeless. Setting out to find himself, he ends up on the streets in Las Vegas and uses his wit and humor to find his way back to reality.
This is will be the second feature film written and starring nationally acclaimed and award-winning comedian Don Barnhart, Jr. "The story deals with the ongoing homeless problem here in Las Vegas and Freeloader becomes the Robin Hood of the homeless," said Barnhart in a recent interview while on tour headlining for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. He added, "I really like using comedy to deal with current affairs and hard to face issues and I try to do that in my stand up show as well."
Barnhart's production company was selected to showcase his TV show, The Freedom of Speech Comedy Series at The Montreal Comedy Festival and Don was recently the Featured Comedian on MySpace as well as winning last year's American Idol Underground's Comedy Contest. Barnhart is currently on tour with his DeEvolution of Man Comedy Show that he is developing into a one-man show and he will take time off to shoot the film Freeloader.
Freeloader will be directed by Barnhart's father Don Lewis Barnhart whose numerous directing credits include Saved By The Bell, Mork & Mindy and Full House. It will also be the first time Barnhart and his father will be working together professionally. Don's father, Don Lewis Barnhart had just finished shooting the reality show, "So You Want To Be An Actor?" and is prepping "Vegas Wedding Blues" when he got involved. My dad was in between projects when he read the script and I got the call. Barnhart Sr said, "This is a great script that you shouldn't let go. Do it yourself and you could be the next great comedy star."
Freeloader will be produced under the Don Barnhart Entertainment production company and is truly a family run business with producer and wife of Barnhart Jr, Linda Vu who produced and starred in China Dolls and is the author of Fit, Feminine & Fabulous along with Skip Burrows whose recent credits include Con Air, The Mexican, 12 Monkeys and 3000 Miles To Graceland.
Barnhart's first film, "China Dolls" was a self-funded independent film that deals with the issue of human trafficking and is getting great audience reviews and earning the company money. Don added, "This was an ultra low-budget project that we shot ourselves and put it up on the internet and self distributed. With the power of the online community, we've already made our money back thru downloads and DVD sales."
"With the success of our first project China Dolls, it was really a no-brainer to produce Freeloader ourselves and take on another film," said Vu. She added, "Don had always wanted to do a project with his father and combining the two talents together is going to be a great experience as they both live and breath comedy. If we can capture on film what they do so naturally, it's sure to be a hit."
The film is already gaining great early reviews: “Four out of five stars”, “one of the best independent films in a long time”, “fast paced and entertaining”, “China Dolls shines a light on a side of Sin City that few seldom see”. The movie was shot on location in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Kauai. Barnhart has also just signed with William Grossman and Emerging Technologies to act as Producer's Rep for China Dolls representing the film at the Interternational Film Markets and recently unvieled the film during the infamous Cannes festival in France.
China Dolls is based on current events and is the gripping tale of two Asian girls born into the underground world of human trafficking. It is told with a unique sense of humor showing an underside of Sin City not often seen in mainstream movies. This is the first feature film by award winning comedian Don Barnhart Jr. The movie is written, directed and stars Barnhart and is produced under Don and his wife Linda Vu's production company Chucklehut Entertainment.
Don Barnhart Jr (winner of 2007 American Idol Underground’s Comedy Contest) first got the idea while traveling abroad entertaining the troops for the USO and Comics On Duty World Tours. “I saw the depths that people go to in some of the third world countries selling off their children for a few hundred dollars” said Barnhart in a recent phone interview while entertaining the troops once again on The Comics On Duty Tour. “So many women and young girls are sold into the sex trade and have no chance of ever getting out. China Dolls is the story on one girl’s never ending dream to get out and live the American Dream”.
Barnhart's wife, Linda Vu co-stars in the film and shares producer credits. She also did set design make-up and the graphic design. She and Barnhart bring their natural chemistry from their personal life to the big screen. They are also producers on a new sydicated television series, The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show and with the recent success of China Dolls, they are already in preparations on two more feature films. Vietnamese born Vu made her name as a certified personal trainer, artist and photographer with her new book, “Fit, Feminine and Fabulous”.
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