AST - A Sexual Thriller

After a thorough search that truly spanned the globe, we’re very excited to announce that the veteran actor, Sean Cameron Michael has agreed to join the cast of the AST franchise. His body of work, commitment to the craft and overall versatility and professionalism make Sean the ideal person to play the challenging role of Gideon.

Gideon is the Commander of the international AST team. A master spy and briliant strategist, its his job to send his people into the fray never knowing if they will return. Years of so many secrets, so many missions  weighs heavily on him and given all the danger and intrigue, at times we have to wonder if he’s a force for good or for evil.

One of the secrets of A Sexual Thriller is that the acronym AST, has many meanings. One of which is Asymmetrical Strategies & Tactics, an Agency designation that describes precisely what our heroine and her team use as they embark on dangerous missions to serve a higher good.

An Independent Feature Film must operate in much the same way. We don’t have an army of lawyers and accountants or the massive war chests of the major or mini-major studios, but what we do have is unbridled passion for the characters and story we’re working to tell. We also have an agility that allows us to respond to shifting sands and adapt to whatever changes come our way.

One of those changes was Florida’s elimination of tax incentives for Film & Television which forced us to move our production base to Canada. At this juncture it appears Toronto will likely serve as our home away from home. But even there, incentives are on the chopping block and should the cuts go too far, yet again we will have to adapt and move production elsewhere.

But as our team has grown and soft prep continues to advance, the franchise has begin to take shape. The addition of a brilliant Stunt Coordinator and Fight Choreographer, Chris Brewster and the brilliance of Lindsey Hermer-Bell as our Production Designer has strengthened an already impressive group of key creatives and cast.

In the weeks ahead we’re expecting some major announcements so please check back often for updates.

Maybe one day, when I’ve achieved huge success or am completely bereft of even a semblance of hope, I can speak my mind freely without consequence. But until that fateful day whatever my fate may be, I must refrain from unabridged exaltations. Anyone who has worked to achieve the impossible is fully aware they never really know how its going to turn out, they simply know with every fiber of their being they must proceed. They must endure. They must try.

But in this noble pursuit one is apt to find a long succession of obstacles and detours, in my case so often in the form of those who presume to be all knowing. Take for example the delicate art of casting. Wether it be classics like The Godfather or James Bond, studio executives and financiers have so often rebelled at the casting of unknown or as they see it inappropriate actors for critical roles. Brando was considered a scourge and Cary Grant or David Niven were preferred to a then unfamiliar Sean Connery. 

Fortunately there are courageous Producers and Directors who stay the course and persevere in the face of vehement disagreement.

I take this to heart as I bring together a remarkable group of gifted rising stars for AST. It is my duty to select the right actors for the right roles and no matter who I select, that choice will always be questioned and belittled, yet the choice is mine all the same. As with Sean Connery, these actors will show everyone that they deserved their roles and in time will become some of the most sought after players in the business.

Yes, box office names are essential and its vital to honor the distributors needs as they are partners in the enterprise and without them, all you have is a film that no one will ever see. But with ever evolving distribution models and crowd based funding alternatives, its my sincere wish that we can see more fresh faces in principal casting. None of these are overnight wonders. They each have worked for years to achieve proficiency and have suffered constant rejection and uncertainty as they make their way. 

As the old saying goes, Nobody knows nuttin’.  Given that simple truth, its all the more essential to trust your heart!

The A Sexual Thriller (AST) project is currently in soft prep with location scouting, principal casting and key creative team building all underway.

We were planning on shooting most of the first installment in Florida but given the State Legislature’s decision to discontinue the film tax incentives, we are now evaluating other locations.

Although ours is a relatively humble budget in the fifteen to twenty million dollar range, it will mean jobs for a whole lot of people. Jobs that will now go to another State or Country. 

I still hope to shoot some exteriors in Florida but that will be but a fraction of what the state would have had in terms of jobs and revenue from hotel rooms, meals, supplies, equipment rentals and facilities not to mention the direct benefits to the travel and leisure industry here from showcasing the state in such a favorable, glamorous light.

The once deep talent pool in Florida is shrinking like a landlocked lake in the midst of an arid drought. Louisiana, The Carolinas, Georgia and the province of Quebec still offer the incentives and some of these are far superior to what Florida discontinued this spring. So, we move on and adjust our plans. All part of the process.

I’ve been asked to keep you updated with regular posts so please check back weekly for more from the AST team.