'Hard Place' In The Press

Millburn grads come together for 'Hard Place'
Directed by Henry Winnik
Produced by Sophie Lily Weinstein
Bliss Holloway -Director of Photography

Thursday, February 18, 2010


BY ANDREA HUGHES
The Item of Millburn and Short Hills
OF THE ITEM


In high school, it would have seemed the only thing Sophie Lily Weinstein and Henry Winnik had in common was the first letter of their last names. Students were grouped into homerooms by last name when they attended Millburn High School, from which they both graduated in 2003, but the students didn't talk much when they shared one.


Years later, they have teamed up to work on a short independent film together.


The film, "Hard Place," will be shot between Feb. 19 and 21 near Lake Hopatcong. Weinstein, founder and president of the New York City based film production and public relations firm Synergy Media Productions, is producing the film, which Winnik is directing.


"The film plays upon common horror conventions, but doesn't just give in to them," said Winnik. "Elements of the archetypal siege-thriller and the archetypes of 80s slasher films are fused to create a new and exciting film experience."


The plot follows a group of friends threatened by an unseen shooter. Jordan, the only woman in the film, is "an unexpected fighter," said Weinstein. "Her downfall is that she's not decisive. She has a fatal flaw, like in a Greek tragedy."

Weinstein said she tries to cross-promote as much as she can. She said it was remarkable that five Millburn graduates who did not know each other very well are banding together and not giving up on film in a tough economy.


"In order to come together, we all had to mature," she said.


Winnik attended FAMU Film School in Prague as well as Trinity College, where he created a closed circuit television station for the school. He spent the past August working as a unit production assistant on the feature film "Eat, Pray, Love" and in the spring of 2008 was a locations assistant on the VH1 reality show "I Want to Work for Diddy." Winnik also interned with Off-The-Top-Rope, Inc., on "The Wrestler," the award-winning feature film directed by Darren Aronofsky.


Weinstein's career in public relations began in high school, where she developed marketing and publicity campaigns for local businesses. She attended Pennsylvania State University and majored in public relations and journalism, and is now doing publicity for "Hard Place" as well as several other films.

Much of Weinstrein's interest in producing film traces back to an affinity for entertainment law, she explained. She served as Legal Affairs Director at Pennsylvania State, a member of the Student Government General Assembly and Student Government Association Senator. In 2008, she was a marketing and publicity intern with Palm Springs International Film Festival.


She said the current project is a niche-market film, but easy to style. "It came together so organically," Weintstein said.


E-mail: hughes@northjersey.com

Hard Place Cast & Crew Hosts Hoptatcong Mayor!

Hoptatcong, NJ Mayor, Sylvia Petillo will be joining the cast&crew of Hard Place, Sunday, February 21st at 12:30p.m.

Synergy Media Productions Teams Up with Indie Filmmaker, Henry Winnik

Indie filmmaker, Henry Winnik in conjunction with film production & public relations firm Synergy Media Pruductions will shoot their latest project, Hard Place, near Lake Hopatcong, NJ February 19th-21st.

“The film plays upon common horror conventions, but doesn’t just give in to them,” said Hard Place director Henry Winnik. “It is a unique situation for the characters. Elements of the archetypal siege-style thriller and the archetypes 80’s slasher films are fused to create a new and exciting film experienced.”

Hard Place, a dramatic thriller about a group of friends who are threatened by a professional and unseen force. The film, written and directed by Winnik and produced by Weinstein will be shot over three days.

“When a script like Hard Place lands in your inbox you can’t help but get excited. It is a modern Greek tragedy boiling with suspense!” said Synergy Media Productions, founder Ms. Weinstein. “I can’t wait to see it come to life on film.”


For more information and media inquiries please contact Sophie Lily Weinstein at info@synergymedia-productions.com


ABOUT HENRY WINNIK
Henry Winnik(producer/director) began his career in cinema at the famed FAMU Film School in Prague. Upon returning to the U.S. he attended Trinity College where he created a closed circuit TV station for the school and wrote and directed his first short film, Diner Party at the End of the World.
After graduating with a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Religion, Henry worked on the independent feature film Banshee!! Followed by the 2008 award winning film, The Wrestler; reality television show, I Want to Work for Diddy; the independent feature film, A little Help in 2009 and Eat Pray Love directed by Ryan Murphy.

Thank You

Hey Everyone,


I wanted to thank all of you for your support! Starting S3M has been a dream of mine, and to have had it realized is such a gift. Starting a business in this economy is no easy feat, but it is possible. I could not have come this far if it were not for M. Anthony Librizzi, who is the genius behind the scenes! Synergy Media, S3M, would not have the rock solid foundation that it has if it weren’t for the hundreds (I’m not kidding!) of hours of work he has put into my firm. I am so thankful that I get to have such strong players backing me.

I am proud to say that Millburn’s very own Robyn Freizer has officially joined the team as my lead stylist. Robyn’s ability to distill the trends, and reinvent the classics, singles her out, not just as talented, but truly original. We are lucky to have her!

On February 19th, Hard Place, written and directed by Henry Winnik, is set to begin production. Lending their sound to the film’s soundtrack is progressive rock pop band INK! whose lead guitarist, Christian Colabelli is also a Millburn High School Graduate. Rounding out the band are the sweet vocals of Joel Monet, Mike Mentz on rhythm guitar, Walton McMurry on drums, and Jeff Frazier hitting the ivories. For updates on the film, and the latest S3M news and info check out the blog or right here on FB.

A new generation of talent-from actors to artist to fashion mavericks are blazing their way to superstardom, whom I am proud to represent as both a publicist and as a producer!

Indeed it is not a dream, but a lifestyle!

Hard Place

Hard Place, written and directed by Henry Winnik is a dramatic pressure cooker thriller where survival depends on difficult and potential lethal choices. Synergy Media Prpduction presents this decsent into terror as an unseen lethal force is picking off old friends one-by-one.

The danger is everywhere, and the method is professional!