Rising Star A.J. Carter Snags Nomination for Young & Hungry List

Hollywood, CA, September 21, 2015 – Dark Arts Entertainment’s resident writer/director A.J. Carter has just been nominated for the prestigious 2015 Young & Hungry list of rising star filmmakers. Every year, the Young & Hungry List is compiled from across the industry, proudly showcasing those writers most eager to stake their claim. Voted on by Hollywood’s most influential players, each list distinguishes a fresh slate of up-and-coming creatives preparing to take the next step in their careers. Carter was nominated due to his scriptwriting work on Dark Arts’ ever-expanding 2016 slate of films, including the feature films Prisoner Zero and Black Dragon. Carter is also attached to direct both features.

Writer/Director A.J. Carter to Helm Cohen Brother’s Australian Feature ‘Black Dragon’

Hollywood, CA, September 15, 2015 – Dark Arts Entertainment’s partner and resident writer/director A.J. Carter has inked a deal with Joe and Charles Cohen of AEI (American Entertainment Investors) to direct their upcoming Australian action thriller ‘Black Dragon’. Development funds have already been secured from Screen West, Western Australia’s film funding board, based on the strength of the script already co-penned by Carter and Charles Cohen. The film, which stars Lewis Tan (Mortal Kombat X, 10,000 Days, Fast & Furious, Pirates of the Carribean), is about an unjustly imprisoned Hong Kong man who escapes to track down his kidnapped sister and finds himself in the dangerous world of Western Australian drug smuggling. This will be Carter’s second time working with producers John Soto and Deidre Kitcher, whose company Filmscope is co-producing along with AEI and SMMG Australia. Lewis Tan is represented by Jack Gilardi, Jr. of ICM.

Dark Arts Entertainment and Trüben Films Team Up for ‘Ryde’

Hollywood, CA, August 30, 2015 – Richard Halpern of Trüben Films (Under The Bed, Amnesiac) has teamed with Dark Arts Entertainment to produce ‘Ryde’, a dark suspense thriller about a rideshare driver who kidnaps passengers so he can disseminate his own brand of social justice. As part of his research for the film, producer Halpern spent months undercover as a driver for a popular ridesharing service. Joe Brouillette and A.J. Carter of Dark Arts will pen the script, with A.J. Carter directing. John Linton of Dark Arts will executive produce. Production is expected to commence in mid to late 2016.

Cameras Roll on Primordial’s Flagship Unscripted Series ‘Farm Raised’

Hondo, TX, November 6, 2014 – Production has commenced on the pilot episode of ‘Farm Raised’, which Primordial Entertainment is producing for INSP Network. ‘Farm Raised’ features three generations of the Bendele Family of Hondo, TX as they run their family farm and organic farm-to-table mom & pop business. The deal between Primordial and INSP was inked in May of this year, and principal photography on the pilot episode is expected to last ten days. A.J. Carter of Primordial Entertainment is directing, with John Linton Executive Producing. Craig Miller, VP of Original Programming at INSP, and Doug Butts, SVP of Programming, are overseeing the production. Primordial is represented by Feroz Taj of UTA.

INSP Network Greenlights Reality Pilot ‘Farm Raised’

Hollywood, CA, May 15, 2014 – INSP Network, a family-friendly cable network based out of South Carolina, has greenlit the reality pilot ‘Farm Raised’ for their brand new reality division. ‘Farm Raised’ will feature three generations of the Bendele Family of Hondo, TX as they run their family farm and organic farm-to-table mom & pop business. The pilot will be produced by Primordial Entertainment, a division of Smooth Motion Media Group, and is slated to shoot on location in Hondo, TX later this year. Craig Miller, VP of Original Programming at INSP, and Doug Butts, SVP of Programming, will oversee the production. A.J. Carter of Primordial Entertainment will direct, and John Linton will executive produce. Primordial is represented by Feroz Taj of UTA.

Dark Arts’ A.J. Carter Tapped by Filmscope to Direct 2nd Unit on ‘The Reckoning’

Western Australia, April 21, 2014 – A.J. Carter is returning to his hometown of Perth, Western Australia, to direct 2nd unit on Filmscope’s new crime thriller ‘The Reckoning’. The film is a murder mystery about a detective who must track down two teenage runaways whose video footage contains the identity of the killer. It was written and directed by veteran Australian director John Soto (Needle, Crush), and stars Jonathan LaPaglia (The Slap, Cold Case) and Luke Hemsworth (Neighbors, Bikie Wars). Soto and wife Deidre Kitcher will produce through their company Filmscope.

Primordial inks deal with 495 Productions and History Channel for ‘Farm of Savoie’

Hollywood, CA, July 17, 2013 – Primordial Entertainment, the new reality division of Smooth Motion Media Group, has just secured its first deal with heavy-hitters 495 Productions (Jersey Shore, Nashville Star) and History Channel (Pawn Stars, Ice Road Truckers). The reality co-venture entitled ‘Farm of Savoie’ will feature Jerry Savoie, the eccentric, multi-millionaire owner/operator of one of the world’s largest operating alligator farms. SallyAnn Salsano of 495 and A.J. Carter and John Linton of Primordial will executive produce. Primordial and 495 are both represented by Feroz Taj of UTA.