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Faith
rewarded for "Termite's Path" project team
El
Sobrante
,
CA
:
February 8,
2008: Karen
Aasand
(president) and Fred Kuehnert (producer) of
California-based, faith and family film company, Paths
Apart Productions LLC, returned from a recent trip
to
Texas
confident
that the feature film, "Termite's Path"
will get made. The movie is a biopic of the
Iraq
experiences
of former Golden Gloves champ, professional boxer and
Olympic boxing coach Termite Watkins, a
Houston
native.
"I
could not have imagined a more promising start to a
project," said Ms. Aasand. "Everybody we met
with was moved by the inspirational story– especially
the hundreds of people who’ve known Termite since
forever." In addition to receiving financing
commitments for the Termite project, Paths Apart,
according to Aasand, generated substantial interest in
the company overall. "We’ve got a winning
concept," she said of the firms plan to develop a
"portfolio" of faith-based films for the
direct-to-DVD and TV market, "and the people we met
in
Texas
really got
it."
Maurice
"Termite" Watkins, became the youngest ever
National Golden Gloves boxing champion at age 16 and
earned 128 amateur victories and compiled a 58-5-2 record,
including 48 KO's, as a professional. In 1980
Watkins lost a hard fought decision for the world
championship on the same bill as Mohammed Ali’s last
championship fight.
In
2003 Termite left a six-figure job with a Houston
car dealership to volunteer as a civilian pest
exterminator serving the U.S. Military in Iraq, only to
be recruited by the regional director of the Coalition
Provisional Authority to coach a rag-tag team of Iraqi
boxers for the 2004 Olympics, then only a few months
away.
"This
is a compelling story that needs to be told and the
world will benefit when it is made," says producer
and former Houstonian Fred Kuehnert. His film credits
include "The Buddy Holly Story" and
recent Sci Fi Channel original movie "The Fallen
Ones". A friend of Watkins for many years, even
Kuehnert was impressed with how much Watkins is treated
like a hero in the hometown they share. "They
really love and respect this guy."
The
film is the inspirational true story of how two
individuals, whose countries, and some would say their
faiths, were at war with each other, overcame incredible
obstacles, relying on their friendship and differing
faiths, to achieve the ultimate athletic goal –
competing in the Olympics.
After
the series of
Texas
meetings and
based on discussions with industry veterans since
returning to
California
, Aasand and
Kuehnert believe this is a film whose timing could not
be more perfect. "Termite's Path" is expected
to begin production later in 2008.
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Paths
Apart principals head to
Texas
for talks about “Termite” production
El Sobrante
,
CA
:
January 10, 2008: Karen
Aasand (president) and Fred Kuehnert (producer) of
California-based Paths Apart Productions designed to produce faith and
family-based films are
heading to
Houston
,
TX
for meetings about the feature film, “Termite’s
Path.” The movie is a biopic of the
Iraq
experiences of former Golden Gloves champ, professional
boxer and Olympic boxing coach Termite Watkins, a
Houston resident and native.
Maurice
“Termite” Watkins, whose father owned a pest-control
business, became the youngest ever Golden
Gloves boxing champion at age 16 and earned 128 amateur
victories and compiled a 58-5-2 record (including
48 KO's) as a professional.
In
2003 Termite left a six-figure job with a Houston
car dealership to volunteer as a civilian pest
exterminator serving the U.S. Military in Iraq, only to
be recruited by Mike Gfoeller, the regional director of
the Coalition Provisional Authority, to coach a rag-tag
team of Iraqi boxers for the 2004 Olympics then only a
few months away.
“Termite’s
compelling story fits in perfectly with Paths Apart’s
mission to produce projects based on inspirational men
and women who share a message of faith,” says Aasand.
The film will be produced by former Houstonian Fred
Kuehnert, whose credits include “The Buddy Holly
Story” and recent Sci Fi Channel original movie
“The Fallen Ones”.
“This
is the inspirational true story of how two
individuals whose countries were at war with each other
overcame incredible obstacles, relying on their
friendship and differing faiths, to achieve the ultimate
athletic goal – competing in the Olympics” added
Kuehnert. “This is a story that demonstrates that one
person can make a difference.”
Aasand, Kuehnert and Watkins believe "Termite" is a film whose timing could not be more perfect. The film is expected to begin production later in 2008.
For more information:
Karen Aaasand
510-243-1338
Timothy Gillespie
877-235-4999
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Faith
and family-based Paths Apart welcomes
Paul E. Cohen and Brian D. Fox to advisory board
Family-based movie firm in
funding talks
El Sobrante
,
CA
:
September 11, 2007
--- Paths Apart
Productions (www.PathsApartProductions.com)
president Karen
L. Aasand announced today that the upstart film
production company designed to produce faith and
family-based films has added two major industry veterans
to its board of advisors. The key additions bring the
board total to five and substantially increasing the
collective experience and knowledge of the firm.
“Both
Paul Cohen
and Brian Fox
bring vast experience in the industry, from two very
different and essential vantage points,” says Aasand.
“This adds measurably to our knowledge-base and has
already had an effect in our discussions with funders.”
Paul
Cohen is well-known for acquiring and marketing a wide range of successful
films, often recognized as cinematic gems and
contemporary classics. These include Abel Ferrara’s
Bad Lieutenant starring Harvey Keitel, Mephisto,
the 1981 Academy Award-winner for Best Foreign Language
Film, and My
Brilliant Career directed by first-timer Gillian
Armstrong and starring Judy Davis and Sam Neill, The
Chosen starring Maximilian Schell, and Luchino
Visconti’s The
Innocent. (see Paul Cohen bio: http://www.pathsapartproductions.com/advisors.htm#cohen)
From
a one-man advertising and graphic arts company in 1977, Brian D. Fox built - and recently sold - one of the pre-eminent
entertainment advertising agencies in the industry. At B.D. Fox & Friends Advertising, Brian and staff created
indelible print campaigns for several film classics
including E.T.,
Batman and The Matrix, as
well as the international Harry
Potter campaign. Brian is an accomplished musician,
artist and photographer and has recently created B.D.
Fox Independent, a global marketing, distribution and
production firm. (see Brian D. Fox bio: http://www.pathsapartproductions.com/advisors.htm#fox)
The
board of advisors also includes industry veteran Ken
Wales (Amazing Grace, The Party, Pink Panther,
Cagney & Lacey),
Derry Connolly (John Paul the Great Catholic
University New Media),
and Joe
Buenavista (Bernstein Global Wealth Management).
(see bios: http://www.pathsapartproductions.com/advisors.htm
)
Paths Apart is headed by principals Aasand, Fred
Kuehnert (Buddy Holly Story, That’s Black
Entertainment) and Rich
Asher, a chief financial officer specializing in
industry start-ups. Aasand, Kuehnert
and Asher have recently been engaged in a series
of meetings with the principals of equity capital firms
and private investors to describe and explain the unique
nature of Path Apart’s strategy of funding a
“portfolio” of smaller, carefully-produced, faith
and family-based films.
The
movies, produced with several factors ensuring economies
of scale, will be designed to bypass the risky and
expensive path of theatrical release and will be
distributed direct-to-DVD and television.
The
consumer market for faith-based goods and products is
one of the most rapidly growing market segments and
shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. “Two
hundred eighteen million Americans — 77% of the
U.S.
population — identify themselves as Christians,”
adds Aasand, “It is a $4.2 billion market – and
growing steadily.”
"Our focus is on stories that share a message of
the power of faith and its effects on our lives,” says
Aasand. The
diversity of religious affiliations of the advisory
board lends authenticity and sincerity to their mission
of producing compelling true life stories about how God
brings healing unity and wholeness to mankind, she adds.
“This,” Aasand adds, “is so important in an
age of rancorous divisiveness in culture, religion and
politics heard and seen all too frequently in the
media."
"
Hollywood
is just beginning to grasp the fact that the appetite of
the “faith and family” audience has barely been
tapped,“ says the website for the Dove Foundation, the
influential pro-family entertainment group. “We
think our strategy and strong team of principals and
advisors, plus the increased interest shown recently by
funders”, says Aasand, “points to some very positive
times for the company in the coming months.”
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Paths
Apart has faith in
Lone
Star
State
Family-based movie firm sets funding debut for
Texas
El Sobrante
,
CA
:
June 21, 2007
--- Paths Apart Productions president Karen L. Aasand
announced today that the upstart film production company
would introduce the company principals and its unique
film-producing strategy to Texas-based investors during
the last days of June and early July.
The
debut is a homecoming of sorts for senior producer Fred
Kuehnert, a
Houston
native who has, in recent years, successfully produced a
series of large and small
Hollywood
films. Notables among these was his role as executive
producer for the Texas-made,The
Buddy Holly Story. Other projects included That’s
Black Entertainment, Racket, Grey Night, The Aurora
Encounter and
Cypress
Edge.
“Working
with Fred has been a dream,” says Aasand, whose vision
of a film company producing faith and family-based
movies has been growing for more than four years.
“His reputation in the industry is unmatched
and his commitment to making quality and life-affirming
films is rock solid.” CFO Rich Asher rounds out the
team of company principals. Asher has a strong financial
background and recently sold his interest in a $10
million film industries firm which grew during his
tenure there.
Besides
being the home state of
Kuehnert
,
Texas
was chosen for the first primary investment market for
Paths Apart because it lies in the center of one of the
most significant regions where faith-based lifestyles
and Christian-based investments are commonplace.
“There are plenty of film companies making violence
and sex-based movies,” says Aasand, “and we know
that millions of Americans want more choice in films
they can readily watch with their families and can
safely think about having their children go see.”
Aasand
and Kuehnert hope
to meet with the principals of equity capital firms and
private investors in Houston and Dallas-Ft. Worth to
describe and explain the unique nature of Path Apart’s
strategy of funding a “portfolio” of smaller,
carefully-produced, faith and family-based films. The
movies, produced with several factors ensuring economies
of scale, will be designed to bypass the risky and
expensive path of theatrical release and will be
distributed direct-to-DVD.
The
consumer market for faith-based goods and products is
one of the most rapidly growing market segments and
shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. “Two
hundred eighteen million Americans — 77% of the
U.S.
population — identify themselves as Christians,”
adds Aasand.“ “It
is a $4.2 billion market – and growing steadily.”
"
Hollywood
is just beginning to grasp the fact that the appetite of
the “faith and family” audience has barely been
tapped,“ says the website for the Dove Foundation, the
influential pro-family entertainment group. Following
upon their 2005 study showing G-rated films as 11 time
more profitable than their R-rated counterparts, a
recent national poll of 4 million Americans by Dove
found that 93% want to see more wholesome family
entertainment made and that 84% would watch &
support such films.
“From
a strictly business perspective, we have great faith
that
Texas
is a good match for our investment strategy,” adds
Aasand.
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