Netflix Inc. and Film Independent (FIND)’s “FIND Your Voice” Competition winner, Filipino Philip G. Flores’ movie, “The Wheeler Boys” will debut on June 25th. The movie will be open to the general public at Netflix where they can watch it for instantly and for free and will also premiere at the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times.
The film can be viewed from Netflix by members and non-members alike for 48 hours beginning at 8:00 P.M. PST on Friday, June 25 to 8:00 P.M. PST on Sunday, June 27 by clicking here. (Netflix members with unlimited plans will also be able to instantly watch the movie right on their TVs via a range of popular consumer electronics devices capable of streaming from Netflix.)
“The Wheeler Boys” is a heart-wrenching tale of a high school freshman named Ted (Lorenzo James Henrie), but called Bug, who sets out on journey to both find and lose himself in his hero worship for his brother. Bright but awkward, Ted lives with his paralyzed, abusive father Ron (Billy Campbell) and his older brother Truck (Alex Frost) who also stands in as Ted’s main provider. Because of his adoration for Truck, Ted jumps at the opportunity to be initiated into Truck’s circle of friends, the Kings, who are high school royalty.
The Kings set up a contest of sexual contest, the winner being the one who slept with the most freshmen girls. Wanting to be accepted, but is uncertain about the whole thing, Ted grudgingly joins. The group assigns Ted various challenges ranging from getting freshman girls to attending out of control parties to even keeping silent when witnessing an actual throw-down. With every challenge given and passed, Ted’s coolness and swagger swell. Things take a turn when a certain classmate on the growing scoreboard of conquests is Ted’s first love. Ted’s idolization for Truck is put to the test along with his adherence to his morals, making him realize the true nature of the Kings. The two brothers are left to meet each other and what they have become head on after the corruption caused by the Kings and Truck is revealed. The movie’s cast is comprised of stars Alex Frost, Lorenzo James Henrie, Portia Doubleday, Haley Ramm, Alex Russell, and Billy Campbell.
The Wheeler Boys trailer
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More about Philip G. Flores
A USC Film School graduate, Mr. Flores, 28, is also a first-time filmmaker. He both co-wrote with Max Doty and directed “The Wheeler Boys” which spanned four years from commencement to completion and opened many doors to various opportunities. “The Wheeler Boys” was produced by Chase B. Kenney and executive produced by Pepito L. Flores, Antonio Kaw, and Tony Carlucci.
The “Netflix FIND Your Voice” competition received more than 2,000 applications and scripts from hopeful filmmakers following its initial announcement in January 2009. FIND chose 10 semifinalists, who were given the assignment to submit a two-to-three-minute video short summarizing their possible projects. One requirement was for the applicants to be first-time filmmakers who had not yet created and publicly screened a full-length, narrative feature film of at least 70 minutes. The public voted on the competition’s website and the six films with the highest number of votes were selected to go to the final round. Flores was selected by a judging panel of accomplished filmmakers and entertainment industry veterans, including Josh Brolin, John Sayles, Dustin Lance Black, Bruce Cohen, Dan Jinks, and Stephanie Allain.
As the winner of the competition, Flores received a prize package to produce “The Wheeler Boys”. Valued at more than $350,000, the prize included a $150,000 cash production grant funded by Netflix, a camera package donated by Panavision, Kodak Color Negative Film courtesy of Kodak, dailies and release prints given by Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, and a digital intermediate package provided by EFILM, a division of Deluxe. The movie’s script, after Flores won the contest, was developed under the guidance of Meg LaFauve, and later, under the guidance of Naomi Despres, went through Film Independent’s Producers Lab.