BlackBelt Productions to have a 'Sweet Summer' with Academy Award-Winning Writer William Kelley

Nov. 29, 2011 - PRLog -- Los Angeles, CA -- BlackBelt Productions and founder David Paladino are now working in association with Lucky Day Studios and Michael Forman to bring Sweet Summer to the screen.

Sweet Summer is a novel by Academy Award-Winning writer William Kelley (Witness). Kelley, along with Rick Baker, adapted the novel into a moving and poignant screenplay about a young, passionate, Irish Catholic who is assigned to the all black Air Force boxing team in the late 1940's. The team journeys through the deep south to fight for the Armed Forces championship in New Orleans.

Based on Kelley's real life experience, Sweet Summer delivers a coming-of-age story of love and self-discovery, honor and courage. A hard hitting boxing road trip that brings together the ferocity of Raging Bull and the sweetness of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Rick Baker writes about William Kelley

"William Kelley, born on Staten Island, N.Y., served in the Air Force in the late 1940s. He spent three years studying for the priesthood in the 1950s. Not surprisingly, his books and screenplays often dealt with religious themes. He died in February of 2003. He was 73. Kelley was a screenwriter, novelist and TV scriptwriter with more than 150 credits for shows such as Bonanza, Kung Fu and Serpico. His seven books included The God Hunters, The Tyree Legend, Gemini, A Servant of Slaves, and The Sweet Summer based on his early experiences as a boxer in the Air Force, a story that took him over fourteen years to write. While Kelley held a PHD from Harvard, he considered himself a simple man and spent much of his time in the west studying and drawing stories about tough independent men who changed the world around them. “I’d rather drink a beer with a farmer, dockhand or a cowboy, or sit and talk with a kid from the streets of Philadelphia, than to have dinner with any president, prince or pope.” As he labored to compete Sweet Summer, he said it was both, the most natural story, and hardest tale he’d every put to paper. When asked what he was working on, he once answered, “I’m going down into the fiery furnace of my soul to forge the conscience of my race.” In 1985, Kelley and Earl W. Wallace won the Oscar for best original screenplay for Witness."

About BlackBelt Productions

BlackBelt Productions was formed with the concept of creating and producing and helping others create and produce at a 'black belt' (expert) level.

BBP believes that compelling stories that entertain, are well told and crafted for the screen or stage, can make a difference in the world. Through original works, acquisitions and collaboration BBP aims to achieve this end.

Founder of BBP David Paladino

David is an award-winning actor who's becoming known for his depth and ability to play an array of characters across a diverse landscape of ethnicities.

David was born in Dekalb, IL and spent the first twelve years of his life living in Chicago before moving to Los Angeles.

Secretly, David always wanted to be an actor but found his comfort as a young boy playing and excelling in sports. In high school David was a football star who eventually went on to star at the University of San Diego where he lead the team in tackles his Junior and Senior year. David also coached one season for USD.

In college, David’s grandmother, to whom he was very close, passed way. This tragedy inspired David to look deeper at what he wanted in his life. He decided to take an acting class at Mesa Junior College in San Diego. At Mesa, David was fortunate enough to hear former alumni Annette Benning speak. He was inspired and in love. Not only with Ms. Benning but also with acting.

Upon graduating with a degree in Business, David moved back to Los Angeles where he started working doing accounting for a commercial lighting firm. Eventually David started taking acting classes in Los Angeles. And shortly thereafter booked his first play at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood. David later went on to study Shakespeare with film and stage star Alfred Molina. While still keeping his 9-to-5 job doing accounting, David then joined the Beverly Hills Playhouse and started studying with Milton Katselas. Eventually he left his ‘day job’ and tried his hand at acting more seriously.

David then made a life-changing discovery regarding his heritage and parenting. This Discovery, David’s life story, aired nationally on NPR’s Award Winning Radio Show, 'This American Life'. This interview led to offers for its film/television rights. David decided to write a one-act play about his story entitled Champion; in which he also stars. Champion, the play, was originally produced by Camelot Artists Productions. David, co-actor Ski Carr and director Tommy Hicks were invited to perform Champion at the Nation Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Champion received rave reviews and became a festival hit. Champion went on to be performed around the country including Miami, Sacramento and most notably a run in New York City. Champion is now a full length screenplay in development.

David has won and been nominated for several awards as an actor, playwright and producer. Among some of his achievements is an Ovation Award (Los Angeles’ Tony Award) Winner Best Lead Actor for his role in Athol Fugard’s ‘The Island'. (The play was actually devised by Athol and the two original actors, John Kani and Winston Ntshona.) David also received an NAACP Nomination and an LA Weekly Award for the same role.  He was also one of the producers for the play.

David currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Elisha, where he also teaches/coaches actors at The Acting Center in Hollywood.

With BBP, David has and continues to involve himself with thought-provoking projects that create awareness while entertaining.




http://www.blackbeltproductionsinc.com/

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