BACKENTERTAINMENT ONE TEAMS WITH CEDAR PARK AND DRAKE ON NEW DOC SERIES EXPLORING THE PHENOMENON OF DEPORTED US VETERANSThis series will explore the forced recruitment of veterans by drug cartelsLOS ANGELES, September 25 2018 Global studio Entertainment One (eOne), David Ayer s and Chris Long s Cedar Park and Prettybird today announced Ready for War, a 4-part limited documentary series, created by filmmakers Andrew Renzi and Nick Boak, and to be directed by Renzi (Fishtail, They Fight). The series examines the cause and effect of deporting United States military veterans, and their forced recruitment by Mexican drug cartels. Platinum-selling artist Drake, and long-time business manager Future the Prince serve as executive producers for the series, alongside Cedar Parks' Ayer and Long, North of Now's Renzi and Boak, Prettybird's Kerstin Emhoff and Candice Dragonas, and eOne's Tara Long.
Ready for War explores the issues of post-military service, including PTSD, drug abuse, and crime convictions for combat veterans, as well as the larger ramifications for immigrant soldiers. The series details the differences native-born US and immigrant soldiers face respectively when convicted of a crime and the fight for the majority of immigrant soldiers who are sent to Mexico as they attempt to get back home. While some are successful, others succumb to violent threats of drug cartels.
Over the course of four episodes the series investigates the larger issue of deporting veterans, and features a host of politicians, military members, lawyers, and journalists while offering intimate access to the personal lives and stories of the soldiers included in the documentary that have been affected by these laws.
When you swear to defend your adopted nation, when you wear its uniform and face its enemies on the battlefield, that nation owes it to you to not discard you. Exactly that has happened to many of our warriors. Andrew Renzie's documentary looks at the shattering effects this policy has on the lives of our deported green card warriors, and what happens to them when the cartels seek them out for their invaluable combat experience. Alongside our partners at eOne and Prettybird, I'm honored to collaborate with not only Andrew, but Drake and Future the Prince to tell this story, said David Ayer.
Our soldiers take responsibility for our nation's freedom and security when they put their lives' on the line. We need to take responsibility for them when they come home, no matter where they were born and what mistakes they made when they came back, said Director Andrew Renzi. It shocks me how little traction this issue has gotten. Through this process, I've seen the desperation of a number of veterans who are threatened to serve criminal organizations precisely because of the military training we gave them.
Renzi is repped by WME and Linda Licther.
About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a global independent studio that specialises in the development, acquisition, production, financing, distribution and sales of entertainment content. The Company's diversified expertise spans across film, television and music production and sales; family programming, merchandising and licensing; digital content; and live entertainment. Through its global reach and expansive scale, powered by deep local market knowledge, the Company delivers the best content to the world.
Entertainment One's robust network includes Makeready with Brad Weston; content creation venture Amblin Partners with Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, and Reliance Entertainment; unscripted television production companies Whizz Kid Entertainment and Renegade 83; live entertainment leaders Round Room Entertainment; world-class music labels Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang; and award-winning emerging content and technology studio Secret Location.
The Company s rights library, valued at US$1.7 billion (as at 31 March 2017), is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 80,000 hours of film and television content and approximately 40,000 music tracks.
About North of Now
Founded in 2017 by filmmaker Andrew Renzi, North of Now bridges the gap between journalism and cinema, producing content for the non-fiction world and using that IP as the foundation for compelling stories in the world of fiction. North of Now is currently in production and post production on three feature-length documentaries: THEY FIGHT, which tells the story of a thriving inner city boxing program in Washington DC. It was produced alongside Oscar-winner Common and Argent Pictures (Chasing Coral, Hacksaw Ridge), and recently sold to Fox Sports. READY FOR WAR, which examines the cause and effect of deporting United States Veterans. A TASTE OF SKY, which tells the story of Gustu, Claus Meyer s world-class Bolivian restaurant and culinary school, located in the heart of South America s poorest country. The film was produced with documentary veteran Kevin Iwashina (Jiro Dreams of Sushi) and is wrapping post-production.
About Cedar Park Entertainment
Cedar Park Entertainment is the independent studio formed by Chris Long, former Programming Chief at Audience Network and Filmmaker David Ayer. Cedar Park is currently in post production on the film THE TAX COLLECTOR, directed and written by Ayer, and starring Bobby Soto, George Lopez, Lana Parilla and Shia LaBeouf. Cedar Park has a first look deal with eOne for both scripted and unscripted content.
On the TV side, Cedar Park has FAMILY CRIMES, written by Ayer and produced in conjunction with Jerry Bruckheimer Television; Stephen King s THE BONE CHURCH to be adapted into a drama series, on which Cedar Park will serve as the studio; as well as COINTELPRO from Leon Hendrix and Ajani Jackson about a massive rogue spy operation cond
