Beverly Ridge Pictures’ debut feature, the mob drama “Chicago Overcoat,” has its broadcast premiere Monday, Dec. 6 on the Showtime Network, with eight dates on Showtime channels throughout the month.
“We found out about Showtime’s interest this past summer following the Cannes Film Market but it took the fall to solidify the deal and announce the initial airing dates,” says producer and co-writer John Bosher.
“Chicago Overcoat’s” worldwide distributor/sales agent, Artist View Entertainment of Studio City, California, made the deal with Showtime.
The Showtime deal is for 18 months — only the December dates have been scheduled, but, Bosher says, “we anticipate additional rotations in upcoming months as well as some Showtime On-Demand exposure.”
The partners began developing the film shortly after graduating from Columbia College. Shot locally in 2007, “Overcoat” premiered last year at the Chicago International Film Festival and won several top awards at other festivals.
Brian Caunter directed a script he wrote with Bosher, Andrew Dowd and Josh Staman. DP Kevin Moss’s mother, Joanne Moss, is executive producer; she raised a substantial part of the $2 million budget. Associate producer Chris Charles did the casting.
Frank Vincent ("The Sopranos") stars as a hitman pulling one last job to finance his Vegas retirement, reawakening the suspicions of his nemesis on the force (Danny Goldring, "The Earl").
Co-stars are Mike Starr ("Osso Bucco") and Armand Assante ("The Return of Joe Rich") as the mob bosses, Kathrine Narducci ("The Sopranos") and Stacy Keach ("Prison Break").
Bosher and his Beverly Ridge Partners anticipate that the Showtime deal will strengthen the "Chicago Overcoat's" international market.
"We've already seen a major boost in our foreign television sales since closing the deal, however increased success in our domestic DVD, video-on-demand, and electronic sell-through (downloads) release early next year is what we're really hoping Showtime will do for us," Bosher says.
They've sold pay TV rights around the world, and they're waiting to announce details of DVD, VOD, and electronic sell-through closer to those premiere dates early next year.
Meanwhile Beverly Ridge is developing a slate of features from scripts by each of the partners, and bidding on a number of commercial and industrial projects.
"Chicago Overcoat" plays Dec. 6 at 1 a.m. on Sho 2, Dec. 7 at 1:20 a.m. on The Movie Channel, Dec. 9 and 11 at 2 a.m., Dec. 19 at 1:45 a.m., Dec. 23 at 9:40 p.m. and Dec. 28 at 11:15 a.m. on Showtime Showcase, and Dec. 29 at 12:30 a.m. on Sho 2. See