EXCLUSIVE: Magazine Dreams filmmaker Elijah Bynum’s next film, My Darling California, has begun shooting in the Golden State with a stacked cast comprising Oscar winner Jessica Chastain, Avengers star Chris Evans, Star Trek lead Chris Pine, Oscar winner Mikey Madison and Oscar nominee Don Cheadle.
Set in 1980 Los Angeles and described as “an American noir of ambition, greed and violence, and a love letter to the darker side of California,” the story follows “a single crime that weaves together the lives of a fallen news anchor, her cheating televangelist husband, two small-time crooks, an ex-con and a rising country music idol. Their fates collide in a web of crime, seduction and deceit.”
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The film produced, backed and sold by Anton shoots entirely in California, returning Bynum to the state where he made Magazine Dreams.
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The project will receive the second largest allocation in the latest funding round of the California Film & TV Tax Credit’s independent film category. Newly joining as financiers are Just Mercy backer 1Community and Conclave and The Zone of Interest backer Access Entertainment. Anton is handling international sales, with Anton and CAA Media Finance co-representing U.S. and global rights.
As we previously revealed, the film will be produced by David Hinojosa, Alex Coco and Sébastien Raybaud, alongside Scott Budnick and Ameet Shukla of 1Community and Emily Blavatnik and Danny Cohen of Access Entertainment. Len Blavatnik, owner of Access Entertainment, and Zach Nutman of 2AM will serve as executive producers.
Director of photography will be Chayse Irvin (BlacKkKlansman), production designer is Anthony Gasparro (Materialists), and costume designer is Natasha Newman-Thomas (Euphoria).
“We are thrilled to film My Darling California right here in the Golden State, where the vibrancy and richness of the cultural history serve as the perfect backdrop for this story. This film explores the ambition and desire that define our lives, while celebrating the unique spirit of California and the people who make up that history. We are excited to showcase the richness of our state, while supporting local talent and businesses throughout this production journey,” said Budnick, founder and CEO of 1Community.
Cohen, president of Access Entertainment, added: “Emily, Len and I are delighted to be producing and co-financing My Darling California. Elijah Bynum has written a script of immense quality and we are excited to see him bring it to life in California with an outstanding cast. Thank you to Elijah and the cast, along with our partners Anton and 1Community.”
