Venley Star Pictures to Executive Produce - movie THE COWGIRL CHICKS

Venley Star Pictures to Executive Produce - movie THE COWGIRL CHICKS

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Venley Star Pictures (www.venleystar.com), a fully integrated family-based entertainment company, announced today that it has acquired a major stake in the worldwide rights to the dramatic feature film based on the real-life horse riding group, The Cowgirl Chicks, A family-themed movie about love, second chances, and a young girl's search to find her place in the world. "The Cowgirl Chicks" (the "Film") (http://armstrongmovingpictures.com/TheCowgirlChicks.pdf) is directed, written and produced by Tim Armstrong, Venley Star Pictures will underwrite, co-finance and negotiate the distribution efforts for the Film both domestically and internationally as well as handle all other executive producer functions in connection with the Film. The Company plans to commence principal photography in late October of this year.

Commenting on the announcement, Writer, Director and Producer, Tim Armstrong stated, "When I learned about the Venley Star Team, I realized that they were the right executive partners to have in place, their focus on the business affairs and legal issues regarding the film will allow me to focus on the technical and creative aspects, the partnership adds credibility to this beautiful project ..."

Armstrong continues, "When I first saw the Cowgirl Chicks perform at the L.A. Equestrian Center I was blown away, and I immediately thought what an amazing movie their story would make. When they ride it is like nothing you have ever seen -- they are rockin' high-energy, trick-riding, drop-dead beautiful dare-devils. When I learned more about the Chicks I was even more impressed."

The Cowgirl Chicks who range in ages from 10-28 come from tough circumstances - broken homes, abusive parents, even correctional institutions. Trish Lynn, the leader and founder of the group, took the girls in and gave them another chance, and the girls have flourished living life the "Cowgirl Chick" way. The horses that the girls ride are all animals that no one else wanted - wild mustangs or horses bound for the slaughterhouse. The Chicks took on these horses and spent thousands of hours training them to be trick-riding horses, which is no easy feat. The Chicks are coached by an eighty-year-old legendary trick-rider named J.W. Stoker, who found importance and relevance training these young girls. Even though his health is not so good lately, he spends much of his time passing on his unique gift to the girls. Even more inspiring is the youngest rider, eleven-year-old Hattie Claire, whose poise, beauty, and spirit are remarkable. It is this real life backdrop that lends motive for a classic family film. The Cowgirl Chicks Movie will be a slice of Americana in the tradition of such great movies as "The Natural," "Seabiscuit," and "The Black Stallion." It will be about second chances -- for the girls, for the horses that they ride, and for J.W. Stoker. Performing in over eighty rodeos a year, in big and small towns throughout the heartland of the country, the movie will capture all of the challenges and issues that the Chicks face daily -- rivalries with Rodeo Queens, injuries to themselves and their horses, boy troubles, financial problems, and last but not least -- trying to be taken seriously as legitimate riders in a world of tough and hardened cowboys.

About Venley Star Pictures - VSP (www.venleystar.com) is an award winning Entertainment Company organized to underwrite and co-finance life-affirming, socially conscious, and broadly inspiring family film entertainment. VSP's primary business strategy is to provide Executive Production support to selected and pre-approved projects. Services include but are not limited to legal formation, financing, principal/post production and national/international and ancillary distribution. Furthermore VSP allows the film maker to leverage the Company's extensive rolodex in the media markets. VSP's genre of expertise is quality family film entertainment which engages, educates, and inspires audiences to have a more positive social impact on the world.

About The Cowgirl Chicks:

The Cowgirl Chicks have honed their skills under the tutelage of legendary trick rider, J.W. Stoker, a member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. J.W. Stoker was featured on a box of Wheaties cereal when he was 12-years-old. J.W. did stunts for Roy Rodgers as well as Clint Eastwood in "Bronco Billy." Led by group founder, Trish Lynn, the Cowgirl Chicks riding team is made up of 16 unique and independent girls, ranging in age from 10-28 years-old. The Cowgirl Chicks are serious athletes, training hours every day to perfect the routines and stunts they perform. The Cowgirl Chicks got their start when Trish Lynn put a group together to raise money for a friend whose young son was diagnosed with advanced cancer. Today, the Cowgirl Chicks are a non-profit organization, and they are still deeply involved in helping cancer patients wherever they ride. Sponsored by RFD-TV, the Cowgirl Chicks have ridden in the Rose Parade the past two years, and will ride again in 2010. They were featured in 2008 at the Stockholm International Horse Show, and will return to Sweden for the 2009 show later this year.

The Story:

Eleven-year-old Hattie Claire comes from a broken home and yearns to become a Cowgirl Chick, even though her burned-out mother, Elaine, tells her there's no way she could ever ride a horse and do stunts like that. Hattie dreams of seeing her father, who she has never met and her mother won't tell her anything about. J.W. Stoker, the older trick-riding coach for the Cowgirl Chicks, notices Hattie hanging around the Chicks. J.W. takes pity on the girl. He loans her a horse no one wants, and teaches her how to ride.

Unbeknownst to her Mom, Hattie joins the Cowgirl Chicks and performs in her first show. But Elaine finds out, and after the performance she yanks Hattie off the team and tells J.W. and the Chicks to stay away from her daughter. The Cowgirl Chicks are going out on the road and they need one more rider. J.W. has taken a liking to Hattie so he visits Elaine and offers her $500 for allowing Hattie to go on the road with the Chicks. Elaine desperately needs the money so she lets Hattie go. Hattie is once again a Cowgirl Chick. As they travel from rodeo to rodeo, the leader of the team, Trish, has to fight to get practice time for the girls - some folks just don't take them seriously. Hattie becomes friends with the other girls, who are all older than she is. At almost every performance the girls ride for a cancer victim or a fallen soldier from Iraq or Afghanistan. Trish often gives money they have raised to families in need. Along the way J.W. teaches Hattie how to do tricks on her horse. Hattie vows that someday soon she will be a trick rider. But J.W. is not feeling well. Before the Chicks' final performance of the trip, J.W. collapses and is hospitalized. The Chicks do their performance that night but Hattie is worried about J.W. She falters and is thrown off her horse.

A kind bull fighter named Rollie rushes out and helps Hattie make it to safety. Back at home Hattie is unsure of what to do. J.W. has cancer and the Cowgirl Chicks are devastated. J.W. tells them that they have to keep riding. But Hattie's mother won't let Hattie ride anymore - says her deal with J.W. is over. The night before the big rodeo at the Cowtown Coliseum, Hattie feels so alone and upset that she runs away. The Cowgirl Chicks search through the night and finally find Hattie asleep in J.W.'s hospital room at three in the morning. When Elaine comes to pick Hattie up at the hospital, J.W. wakes up. He takes Elaine's hand and tells her that she is a lucky woman to have a daughter like Hattie - cherish every day she has with her. Elaine is touched and she thanks J.W. for his kind words. The next evening the Chicks prepare for their performance. Hattie shows up and volunteers to help the other Chicks with their horses. Hattie looks like she is about to cry. Rollie, the kind bull fighter who saved Hattie at the last rodeo, steps up and begins to help her out. Hattie wonders why he is there, but as Rollie gently talks to Hattie she realizes that he is her father! They embrace. Rollie tells Hattie that he never knew she even existed, but now that he does, he'd like to be a part of her life. Hattie smiles and tells him she would like that very much. Hattie will ride with the Cowgirl Chicks that night. Hattie's mother comes to the rodeo and begrudgingly sits next to Hattie's father. When the Cowgirl Chicks are introduced the announcer tells the audience that they will be riding for J.W. Stoker that night. The audience applauds. As Hattie rides past J.W. they wink at each other.

And when it comes time for the trick riding, Hattie does the hippodrome. She stands up tall on her horse with the American flag unfurled behind her as her horse gallops around the arena. Everyone cheers for Hattie, most of all J.W., her father and mother, Trish and the Cowgirl Chicks.

   For Further Information Contact:  Marcos M. De Mattos                                     Executive Producer                                     marcos@cdmiventures.com                                     (818) 843-4560  

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Source: Venley Star Pictures

CONTACT: Marcos M. De Mattos, Executive Producer of Venley Star
Pictures, +1-818-843-4560, marcos@cdmiventures.com

Web Site: http://www.venleystar.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment