Ernest Dickerson To Direct Drama 'Double Play'

Ernest Dickerson

            (June 8, 2015 – Los Angeles) – Principal photography is set to begin in November on location in Curacao with an award-winning creative team on board to make the feature film DOUBLE PLAY, adapted from the best-selling international novel by Frank Martinus Arion.  Ernest Dickerson will direct the drama and Lisa Cortés will produce with Gregory Elias, one of the leading music and film festival producers in the Caribbean.  The story unfolds over the course of a long-standing game of dominoes as the fates of four men are revealed through a journey of love, loss and deadly betrayal.

Emmy and Peabody award-winning Dickerson began his career as a world-class cinematographer (Do The Right Thing, Malcolm X), later moving into directing on a wide range of memorable and critically acclaimed projects such as “Juice,” which launched Tupac Shakur’s acting career, “The Wire,” and the hit TV series “The Walking Dead.” Dickerson says he was immediately moved by the universal appeal of the story.  “When I read the script, I knew exactly what this film wanted to be,” he states.  “It’s about everyday people in trying times choosing between morality and survival.  I think many people will relate and see themselves in these characters.” 

Lisa Cortes

Cortés a film veteran who produced several critically acclaimed films with director Lee Daniels, including the Academy Award winning “Precious,” adds that “the story speaks to the heart and soul of humanity across a broad social and cultural spectrum”.  As with all of her films, a rich and unexpected ensemble cast is being assembled for pivotal roles.  “We’re casting a range of celebrated international talent,” explains Lisa Cortés, renowned in both her film and music industry careers for making innovative talent discoveries. “DOUBLE PLAY will celebrate the beautiful and distinct landscape of Curacao and the diversity of its people.” 

            Gregory Elias, producer of the Curaçao North Sea Jazz and the Curacao International Film Festival Rotterdam has a long history with the film.  “I have fourteen years of commitment to this project,” says Elias, whose music festivals attract global audiences and performances by artists such as Prince, Sting, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Usher, John Legend and Bruno Mars.  Elias believes “the themes in DOUBLE PLAY will strike a chord with a global audience. Greed, love, politics, loyalty, deceit, and holding onto your own principals - this can be projected onto so many societies.”  

Music will play a special and integral role in DOUBLE PLAY. To that end, Elias is enlisting one of Latin music’s most accomplished producers, Grammy award winning, Sergio George, to produce, write, and arrange some parts of the music score.  Other important composers will also be involved.

Frank Martinus Arion’s first novel, Double Play, debuted in 1973 and is hailed as one of the most widely acclaimed works from the Caribbean.  It is the winner of the Van der Hoogt prize and in 2006 more than 700,000 copies of the novel were distributed in Holland as part of the first successful Netherland Reads campaign.

Kimberly Hardin serves as casting director (“Think Like A Man,” “Hustle and Flow,” “2 Fast 2 Furious.”) Dickerson is represented by Untitled Entertainment, Verve Talent and Literary Agency, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, LLP.