BKonthescene

The celebrity-studded Los Angeles premiere of Julia Verdin’s human trafficking film MAYA, from Freestyle Digital Media, on Wednesday, January 24 at the Laemmle Royal. This premiere precedes the film’s theatrical release in six markets across the United States, beginning on Friday, January 26. MAYA will also be available on VOD in the USA and Canada Friday, January 26 and on DVD Tuesday, March 12.Teenager Maya was raised in a household stricken by her father’s abandonment and her mother’s ensuing alcoholism. Maya seeks an escape from her mother’s abusive boyfriend by confiding in a man she meets online, who convinces her to run away. Unbeknownst to Maya, she has been lured into a child trafficking scheme where her confidant quickly becomes her pimp. While Maya fights to understand the difference between love and manipulation, her mother must fight through her addiction to bring her daughter home.WHO:British filmmaker Julia Verdin is an award-winning multi-hyphenate writer, director, and producer. She has produced dozens of films, including THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, with Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons, and 2 JACKS, with Sienna Miller, Danny Huston, Jack Huston, and Jacqueline Bisset. She is best known for her directorial debut LOST GIRLS (Best Social Impact Film at the Culver City Film Festival) and debut feature ANGIE: LOST GIRLS (Lifetime), both focusing on sex trafficking from the perspective of the victim. Verdin is currently in production on another social impact film, NO ADDRESS, which is about homelessness in America.Celebrities in attendance (list in formation):
Rosanna Arquette (PULP FICTION, AFTER HOURS); Jacqueline Bisset (MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, BULLITT); Grant Cramer(LONE SURVIVOR, THE NOVEMBER MAN); Olivia d’Abo (CONAN THE DESTROYER, POINT OF NO RETURN); Steve Guttenberg(THREE MEN AND A BABY, POLICE ACADEMY); Catherine Hardwicke (TWILIGHT, RED RIDING HOOD); Thomas Jane (BOOGIE NIGHTS, THE THIN RED LINE); Kahyun Kim(COCAINE BEAR, American Gods); Bai Ling(RED CORNER, THE CROW); Kristanna Loken(TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES, BLOODRAYNE); Angus Macfadyen(BRAVEHEART, EQUILIBRIUM); Michael Madsen (RESERVOIR DOGS, KILL BILL: VOLUME 1 & 2); Noor Razooky (The Old Man, SEAL Team); Diana Salvatore (Orphan Black, Goosebumps); Vincent Spano (BABY IT’S YOU, RUMBLE FISH); and Billy Zane (TITANIC, THE PHANTOM).Cast and crew in attendance:
Talent: Catherine Bruhier (THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY, Due South); Billy Budinich (FRANK AND PENELOPE); Basilio Cerdan Jr. (5.4M TikTok Followers); Atiana De La Hoya (The Kardashians, Meet the Barkers); Seri DeYoung(Good Trouble, S.W.A.T.); Isabella Feliciana(Newcomer); Dennis W. Hall (GREEN BOOK, CHASING BULLITT); Cherie Jimenez (Banshee, Nova Vita); Betzaida Landín (DOLPHIN TALE, THE WAR WITH GRANDPA); Angelic Montero(Latin Pop Artist); Anthony Montgomery (Star Trek: Enterprise, General Hospital); Thure Riefenstein (The Man in the High Castle, 12 Monkeys); and Patricia Velásquez (THE MUMMY, THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA).Production: executive producer John Jacobs(TED, BLADES OF GLORY); producer Morris S. Levy (THE TEN, SEDUCED AND ABANDONED); stunt coordinator Eddie Perez (Shameless, Snowfall); producer Jason Piette, p.g.a. (THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, IRON SKY); executive producer Tara Smith (Award-Winning International Celebrity Hairstylist); and filmmaker Julia Verdin, p.g.a.WHEN:Wednesday, January 24
Media check-in: 6:00PM
Red carpet arrivals: 6:30PM
Screening: 7:30PM
Reception: 9:30PMWHERE:Laemmle Royal
11523 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025MORE:January is Human Trafficking Prevention Monthin the US.Artists for Change is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to create impact film, television, and multimedia projects that inspire individuals and communities to bring about positive social change. Narrative media is unique in its ability to engage emotions with multidimensional characters moving through evocative worlds, allowing for a transformative understanding of messages, values, and actions. Socially conscious stories developed by diverse artists across our global sociopolitical landscape can help us visualize grounded solutions with vital empathy, mobilizing people to stand up for what they believe in.MAYA 
A Julia Verdin Film presented by Artists for Change 
in association with Fibonacci Films and Rough Diamond Productions 
Running Time: 104 minutesWriter/Director/Producer: Julia Verdin, p.g.a.
Producers: Jason Piette, p.g.a., Sean Acosta, Robert Craig, Morris S. Levy
Executive Producers: John Jacobs, Victoria Hill, Greg Clark, Kim Robson, John Lewis, Jet Lewis, Luanne Morrow, Tom Wallerstein, Lucy Lewis, Tara Smith, Julian Lennon, John Manly
Co-Producers: Antonio Michael, Corinne Jayaweera
Associate Producers: Laura Nickowitz, Angela Lujan, Patricia Velásquez, Suzanne Ordas-Curry, Sally Becker
Cinematographer: Aakash Raj
Editor: Tom Wallerstein
Composer: Michelangelo Sosnowitz
Costume Designer: Camille Jumelle
Production Designer: Joseph P. ZuborCast: Patricia Velásquez, Isabella Feliciana, Billy Budinich, Rumer Willis, Gian Franco Rodriguez, Betzaida Landín, and Basilio Cerdan Jr.,
with Rena Owen and Anthony MontgomeryWebsite | IMDB | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok