LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Multi-hyphenate global superstar Dennis Quaid, along with Laura Quaid and Ben Howard, are launching a new production company, BONNIEDALE. Its first feature film, a biopic on CHARLEY PRIDE, titled AMERICAN PRIDE will be in partnership with producer Craig Brewer, and Third Coast Content. The screenplay is being written by Dianne Houston (EMPIRE, SURVIVING COMPTON, WHEN WE RISE, TUESDAY MORNING RIDE). Brewer (HUSTLE AND FLOW, DOLEMITE, COMING 2 AMERICA) will direct and produce.
AMERICAN PRIDE is a biopic capturing the passion and determination of the young man from Sledge, Mississippi who started out as a minor league ballplayer, and became instead the first African American Country Music superstar. The film will focus on the love story between Charley and his wife, Rozene, as well as his ascent to fame as an artist and entrepreneur during a challenging time in American culture.
“Charley Pride was more than a superstar, icon or legend. Charley was a beautifully talented man who believed with his entire heart in the greatness of the American dream, and was determined to claim his place within it. With all of the talk today about what is and is not American, Charley Pride’s life story is a reminder to us all of what being an American is all about,” Dianne Houston shared.
Fitting of Dennis’ legendary connection to audiences as an actor, BONNIEDALE will focus on aspirational and inspiring stories of real people and real life. Dennis says, “As an actor, I have always gravitated toward roles of the underdog—the person who achieves great things against even greater odds. I think all of us are drawn to stories of people who are willing to get up, again and again, to do whatever it takes to finally break through. We love to cheer for the fighter, the underdog, the hopeful dreamer. In many ways, this is my own life. That’s why I’m excited to turn my attention to BONNIEDALE, where we will find and drive stories that are meaningful and that matter.”
Partner Ben Howard, who previously worked as a producer starring Quaid in Netflix’s BLUE MIRACLE, has been involved in aspirational projects for more than 15 years and has been running Third Coast Content in partnership with Endeavor Content since 2018. Endeavor was the lead financier of BLUE MIRACLE.
“I’m excited to work with Dennis and Laura in making the world a better place through the films, shows and content we develop and produce,” Howard shared.
The name BONNIEDALE derives from Quaid’s mother’s middle name.
BONNIEDALE will be represented by Darren Boghosian at UTA, George Freeman at Brillstein Partners, and Scott Adkins at Adkins Publicity, who have offices in Los Angeles and Nashville.
ABOUT DENNIS QUAID:
Dennis Quaid is an Emmy® Award and two-time Golden Globe® nominee, who’s known for his roles in hit films THE ROOKIE, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, TRAFFIC, VANTAGE POINT, FREQUENCY, THE PARENT TRAP, SOUL SURFER, THE RIGHT STUFF, BREAKING AWAY, MIDWAY and many more. Alongside his acting career, Quaid is also a respected singer- songwriter with hundreds of thousands of miles under his belt as a recording and touring musician who’s been playing music since his grandfather bought him his first guitar. Quaid continues to receive stellar reviews, and after years of playing clubs with Dennis Quaid and The Sharks, they released their debut album, Out of the Box, in November 2018. Among Quaid’s musical heroes are Buddy Holly, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, The Doors and James Brown. On the film and television side, Quaid’s latest big-screen credits include starring roles in Netflix’s uplifting film, BLUE MIRACLE, Sony’s thriller THE INTRUDER, Universal’s A DOG’S JOURNEY and A DOG’S PURPOSE, Roadside Attractions’ I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, and the third season of Amazon’s Goliath opposite Billy Bob Thornton, among others. Quaid recently completed production portraying the 40th president of the United States in the biopic, REAGAN, produced by Mark Joseph and directed by Sean McNamara. Other upcoming projects include AMERICAN UNDERDOG: THE KURT WARNER STORY, produced by Andrew and Jon Erwin of the KINGDOM STORY COMPANY, Lionsgate, and Mark Ciardi (THE ROOKIE), as well as the independent film, BROKE, alongside Wyatt Russell and written and directed by Carlyle Eubank. Quaid is represented by UTA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Adkins Publicity and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
ABOUT BEN HOWARD:
Ben Howard has spent 30 years in the entertainment business. In 2018, he formed Third Coast Content in partnership with Endeavor Content. The company was set up to develop and produce stories targeting middle America. Their first feature, BLUE MIRACLE, was sold to Netflix in 2020 and opened to strong reviews and great consumer response on Netflix. Prior to Third Coast, Howard ran Provident Films, a Sony Music company, helping develop and release films garnering over $250 million in box office revenue, and even greater numbers in home entertainment. Howard started his career in entertainment at Sony Music and Big Idea Productions (VeggieTales).
To keep up with Dennis Quaid, follow him on Instagram and visit DennisQuaidIsHere.com.
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