Also Lining Up Product Sponsors and Placement Opportunities for Targeted Spring 2011 Launch
(1888PressRelease) July 06, 2010 - Mooresville, NC - Veteran writer Tony Sommo has been tapped by V1 Entertainment Films to write the pilot for its new NASCAR-themed television series, "The Ride." The project is being targeted as a Spring 2011 network replacement series.
Sommo has written for television (America's Most Wanted), film (Dropped Frames, The Ledge) and animation (Men in Black: The Series , Roughnecks: The Starship Troopers Chronicles).
Sommo's selection climaxed a year-long search for a writer who could accurately capture the nuances and spirit of NASCAR behind the scenes as well as on and off the track. "'The Ride' is a character-driven story about the exploits of a tight-knit group of drivers from different worlds set in the Lake Norman area of North Carolina, north of Charlotte, often called Race City USA," explained Aspen Hughes, CEO of V1 Entertainment Films. "Tony gets it. He understands how important it is to keep it absolutely authentic, and he's made it ring true for both fans and regular viewers. We approached about a half a dozen writers, but none could capture friendship, fun and beating the odds in the exciting world of NASCAR the way Tony can."
Sommo's ability to write for a large ensemble cast also appealed to Hughes. Roughnecks, an animated sci-fi action-adventure spin-off of the popular 1997 film Starship Troopers, featured as many as 18 major characters per episode during its six-season run and included the voices of David DeLuise, Rider Strong (of the TV series Pepper Dennis) and veteran television actor Bill Fagerbakke (formerly of Coach, who currently voices many of the characters on SpongeBob Squarepants).
With the selection of its writer finally accomplished, Hughes has turned to lining up product sponsors for "The Ride." "NASCAR is unique in that the advertising sponsors are an integral part of the sport, so they also play an important role in the storyline of 'The Ride'," he noted. "Tony has written some very intriguing scenes, not only for an automobile manufacturer but for a tool company, a fast-food chain, a mobile phone provider, a record label, even a jewelry company. The product sponsorship opportunities are diverse and will give the right partners a terrific return on their investment."
Hughes added that product sponsors who join "The Ride" will be working directly with all key decision-makers on every aspect of production, right from the start. He has hand-picked a well-connected team of racing consultants to be on board from script development to final edits to soundtrack to promotion. V1 Entertainment Films' personal and professional relationships with NASCAR, drivers, teams, tracks and off-track locations assure the kind of authenticity that both sponsors and viewers demand.
For more information on product sponsorships and other opportunities with "The Ride," please visit www.V1EntertainmentFilms.com.
About V1 Entertainment Films
V1 Entertainment Films is a worldwide film fund actively engaged in bringing unique, compelling stories to movie theatres and television. The company is committed to discovering properties propelled by compelling characters and original situations that demand to be projected and offer the potential for profit. In an industry that has earned a reputation for sometimes questionable business practices, V1 Entertainment Films offers unprecedented transparency. Because they offer personal service at all levels of the organization, they safeguard that all projects are conducted with complete clarity and integrity. For more information, visit www.V1EntertainmentFilms.com.