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LoveByChanceProduction Notes

ProductionnotesLoveByChance

Afilmby

SamadDavis

ATANDWAKANI

ALTOVISELAWRENCE

NICHOLASENKUNA

DENISEZIMBA

CARLANTHONYPAYNEII

CLIFTONPOWELL

TERRIJ.VAUGHN

EROGERMICTHELL

LILZANE

STEVIEBAGGSJR

DESIBANKS

JAELROBERSON

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Synopsis

LoveByChanceisafilmabouttwoaspiringactorsfromSouthAfrica(AltoviseLawrenceand

AtandwaKani)whoareindependentlyinAmerica,tryingtocrackintoanextremelydifficult

andover saturatedHollywood industry. Theymeetby chance,butbetween theeveryday

struggle of auditioning, dealing with daily rejection, self-doubt, financial hardship, crazy

friendsandamaddatingscene,whohastimeforlove?

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GeneralMediaRelease

AltoviseLawrence,winnerofthefirstseasonofTopActorSouthAfrica,starsasleadinglady,Bailey,intheromanticcomedyLoveByChance,byaward-winninginternationalfilmandtelevisionproduceranddirectorSamadDavis.ThefilmisapioneerintheeyesofDavisbecauseitcombinesSouthAfricanandUStalent.

StarringalongsideLawrenceisAtandwaKani,sonofrenownedactor,directorandplaywrightJohnKani,andasterlingcastoflocalandinternationalfavouritesandnewentrants.IncludedinthecastisLawrence’sco-competitorNicholasNkuna,andDeniseZimba,knownforherroleasMaryGumedeinGenerations:TheLegacy.

LoveByChance,shotinAtlanta,Georgia,USA,isabouttwoaspiringactorsfromSouthAfricawhoareindependentlyinAmerica,tryingtocrackintoanextremelydifficultandoversaturatedHollywoodindustry.Theymeetbychance,butbetweentheeverydaystruggleofauditioning,dealingwithdailyrejection,self-doubt,financialhardship,andcrazyfriendswhohastimeforlove?

USco-starsincludefunnymanCarlAnthonyPayneII,famedforhisroleintheiconictelevisionseriesMartin;CliftonPowell,ofRay,RushHourandGrandTheftAuto;TerriJ.Vaughn,knownforherrolesinGirlfriendsGetaway,GreenleafandTheSteveHarveyshow;E.RogerMitchellwhoco-starredalongsideDenzelWashingtoninFlightandEqualizer;andLilZane,rapsuperstarandactor.

“HavingjustwrappedontheinternationalseriesBloodDrive,shotinCapeTown,”Lawrencesays,“I'vebeenfortunatetoplaycomplexcharactersthisyear,fromScandaltoBloodDriveandnowLoveByChance.Iamnervousandthrilled,butmorethananything,Iamgratefultolandthisrole.BaileyisacomplexcharacterandIseealotofmyselfinher.HavingSouthAfricansatthecentreofthisnarrativeisanimportantstepintakingourtalenttotheworld.”

OnherleadingmanAtandwaKani,Lawrencesays,“Igottoplayalongsidesomeonewhoisnostrangertoourscreensandstages.WebothstudieddramaattheUniversityoftheWitwatersrandandItrusthisworkandtalent.Webroughtoutthebestineachotherthroughourperformances.”

Thefilm’slocalproducersareDumiGumbiandCatiWeinekoftheErgoCompany.TheyproducedtherecenthitMrsRightGuy,andwinnerofthebestfilmawardattheJoziFilmFestival,Dora’sPeace.“WeareexcitedtobecollaboratingwithdirectorandproducerSamadDavisonthisromcom,”saysGumbi.“It’sgreattoseeSouthAfricanssharingaplatformwithtopAmericantalent.”

ProductiononthefilmstartedinOctober2016inAtlantaGeorgia,withallpost-productionofthefilmtakingplaceinSouthAfrica,makingitatrulycollaborativeproductionbetweentheproducersandcountries.

“AsanAfrican-American,IamfuelledbymyvisionofbridgingculturalgapsbetweenAfricaandtheUnitedStatesthroughthepoweroffilmandtelevision,”saysdirectorDavis.“The

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TopActorAfricabrandwasbuiltonthispremiseandthefilmLoveByChanceembodiesthatmantra.BeingabletoworkwiththerightSouthAfricanandinternationaltalent,bothinfrontofandbehindthecamera,ispriceless.Teamworktrulymakesthedreamwork.”

Thefilmissettoreleaselocallyandinternationallyinthefirstquarterof2017.InSouthAfrica,itwillbedistributedbyIndigenousFilmDistribution.

TopActorSeason3goesintoproductionearly2017andwillairinSeptember.

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Biographies–Cast

AltoviseLawrenceAltoviseLawrenceisaSouthAfricanactressbestknownforwinningthefirstseasonofBETAfrica'sfirsteveroriginalproduction,TopActorSA.ShegraduatedwithhonoursfromtheUniversityofWitwatersrandwithaBachelor'sdegreeinDramaticArtsin2013.HerprofessionalactingdebutwasintheJamesNgcobo-directedplayTheColoredMuseum,whichranfromJanuarytoFebruary2014attheMarketTheatre.HerfirsttelevisionappearancewasaminorroleasanintervieweeontheSABC3soapoperaIsidingo,inlate2014.InApril,2015,BETAfricalaunchedonDStvanditsfirstSouthAfricanoriginalproductionwasTopActor,inwhich12aspiringactorscompetedforaR100000prizeandagencyrepresentation.Altovisewonthecompetition,beatingFrancoisJacobsandNicolasNkunainthefinale,andwassignedtoRestlessTalentManagement.Shewas23atthetime.In2016,Altovisewascastinthee.tvsoapieScandal!asChantal,loveinteresttoStokkies.AtandwaKaniAtandwaKaniisaSouthAfricanactor.Hegraduatedin2008,withanHonoursdegreeintheatricalperformancefromtheUniversityoftheWitwatersrand.HemadehisstagedebutinTheTempest,acollaborationbetweentheBaxterTheatreCentreandtheRoyalShakespeareCompany,whereheplayedArielalongsidehisfather,JohnKani(Caliban)andSirAntonySher(Prospero).In2009,KanimadehisUStelevisiondebutinCWTelevisionNetwork’sLifeIsWild,anAmericanadaptationoftheBritishITVfamilydramaWildatHeart.From2010to2012KaniplayedtheroleofThaboinSeries5and6,plusabriefappearanceinSeries7,oftheoriginalBritishseries.In2009,heperformedintwonewplays,HayaniandIDPending,whichpremieredattheGrahamstownNationalArtsFestival.In2010,hewasaregularintheSABCTVseriesSoulBuddyz.In2011hebecamearegularontheSABC2politicalseries,90PleinStreet.HewentontoplaytheyoungMandelainthemovieLongWalkToFreedom.HewasthenseenintheB.E.TseriesTheBookOfNegroes,alongsideCubaGoodingJr.In2014,AtandwajoinedFortuneCookieTheatreCompanyand,alongsideSylvaineStrike,performedBlack&BlueattheMarketTheatre.HealsoappearedinSizweBanziisDeadinNewYork,directedbyJohnKani.MostrecentlyheplayedtheroleofPhilemoninTheSuit,ashortfilmbasedonCanTemba’sshortstory.

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NicholasNkunaNicholasNkunaisaSouthAfricanactor,singer,voiceartistanddancerbestknownforhisroleasSakhileontheSABC1dramaseriesSkeemSaam.HewasafinalistalongsideAltoviseLawrenceinTopActorSA.NicholasstudiedmusicaltheatreatTshwaneUniversityofTechnology(TUT)inPretoria,andwasspeciallyselectedtocontinuehoninghiscraftattheUSA’sprestigiousBallstateUniversityinIndiana.HewasalsocastasSimbainTheLionKing’stouroftheUK,andheplayedtheroleofDinganeinDeonOpperman’sShakaZulu:TheMusical.DeniseZimbaDeniseZimbasaSouthAfricanactressandtelevisionpersonalitymostfamousforherroleasMaryGumedeinthesoapGenerations:TheLegacy.ShewasalsoapresenteronVEntertainment’smusicshowVuzuAmpforthreeyears.CliftonPowellCliftonPowellhasestablishedhimselfasadynamicandversatileactor.MemorableperformancesonthebigscreenincludentheTaylorHackfordfilmRayoppositeJamieFoxx,andastheunforgettable‘Pinky’inFridayandFridayAfterNext,ontelevisionasDrMartinLutherKingJrinSelma,Lord,Selma,onstageinthenationaltourofDavidE.Talbert’sTheFabricofAMan,andas‘Blair’,oppositeShemarMoore,forwhichhewontheNAACP’sTheaterAwardforBestActor.

Clifton’srecentworkincludes20thCenturyFox’sStreetKings:MotorCityandWarnerBros.’Preacher’sKid,theDreamWorksfeatureNorbit,oppositeEddieMurphy,ScreenGemsfeatureTheGospel,independentfilmsTheUnderShepherd,BloodRansom,BrothersInArms,NeverDieAlonewithDMX,andWomanThouArtLoosed,basedontheTDJakesbook,oppositeKimberlyElise.CliftonstarredintheacclaimedCivilBrand,forwhichhewonBestActorandthefilmwonBestFilmattheAmericanBlackFilmFestivalSouthBeach2002.OtherfeaturefilmsincludeTheBrothers,RushHour,WhyDoFoolsFallInLove?,Phantoms,DeepRising,DeadPresidentsAndMenaceToSociety.Cliftonhasnumerousstageandtelevisioncredits.

TerriVaughnTerriJ.VaughnfirststoleAmerica’sheartwithherlovableportrayalofLovitaAlizayJenkinsonTheSteveHarveyShow.Afterthat,shemadeherwaytoWillSmith'sexecutiveproduced,AllofUs,asschoolteacherJonell,andthenasRenee,asexy,sassyandhilariousnurse,onTylerPerry’sMeettheBrowns.

TerricannowbeseenasMelisse,onOprahWinfrey’snewdramaseries,Greenleaf,alongsidelegendaryLynnWhitfieldandKeithDavid,onthenewseasonofMann&WifeonBounceTV,andfeaturedagainasCedricTheEntertainer’swifeonBET’sTheComedyGetDown.

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Fromherfirstprofessionaljobina20-citytourofTellin’itLikeitTiz,thisSanFrancisconativehasprovenherselfasatalenttobereckonedwith.TerrihasbeenhonouredwiththreeNAACPImageAwardsforOutstandingSupportingActressforherworkonTheSteveHarveyShow.ShewasalsonominatedforOutstandingSupportingActressinaDramaSeriesforherworkonSoulfood.

IncludedonTerri’sresumeistheTylerPerryfilmDaddy’sLittleGirls.Shecanalsobeseenintheindependentdramedies,DirtyLaundry,3CanPlayThatGameandTheMarriageChronicles.Alongwithstarringinseveralotherindependentprojects,Terrihasproducedmultipleprojectsunderherindependentproductioncompany,NinaHolidayEntertainment.BetweenSisters,whichairedasthehighestratedshowonGMCNetworkandSugarMommas,whichwasnominatedfora2013NAACPImageAward,arejustacoupleoftheprojectsTerricreated,starredinandproducedunderNinaHolidayEntertainment.NHEalsoproducedthefamilyfilm,Hamlet&Hutch,starringlegendaryBurtReynoldsandthehighly-acclaimedGirlfriends’Getaway,producedbyandstarringTerri,withMalindaWilliams,GarcelleBeauvaisandEssenceAtkins,whichpremieredasthehighestratedoriginalmovieinTVOnehistory.Thesequel,GirlfriendsGetaway2premieredin2015.

Alwayspushingtogrowcreatively,in2016Terricompletedhertelevisionandfilmdirectingdebuts.ForAspireTVshedirectedtheirfirsthalf-hourcomedypresentation,MommyUncensored,thenanepisodeofthenewseasonofMan&Wife,starringDavidandTamelaMann,andthenthehilarious,Friday-isquecomedy,#DigitalLivesMatter,starringsocialmediacomedicinfluencers,DCYoungFlyandEmmanuelHudson.

Outofthedesiretogivebacktohercommunity,in1997,TerristartedTakeWingsFoundation,intheSanFranciscoBayArea,tomentoryoungwomengrowingupinat-riskcommunities.

LilZaneThetransformationfromteenstartorespectedadultperformerisn'taneasyone.ButforZaneCopelandJr,akaLil'Zane,thetransitionhasbeenseamless.Assomeonewhohasalreadyscoredseveralhitsingles,appearedonscreenwithSeanConnery(FindingForrester),EddieMurphy(DrDolittle2),CubaGoodingJr.BeyoncéKnowles(TheFightingTemptations),andOmarEppsMekhiPhifer(ADayinthelife),Zanehasmadeitclearthathe'sanaturalperformer.BorninatoughsectionofYonkers,NewYork,butraisedinAtlanta,Georgia,ZanegrewuplisteningtoR&Bsoul,hiphopandrapclassics.At11,Zane,hisbrotherMichael,andtheircousin,EricGreene,formedaraptriocalledKronic.ThegroupwasdiscoveredbyKevinWales(managerofMonicaand112)andlandedarecordingcontractwithKaper/RCARecordsin1993.Unfortunately,shortlyaftersigning,thelabelfoldedandthegroupmemberseachwenttheirseparateways.In1999,LilZanewasfeaturedonasongcallAnywhere,offthealbumRoom112,bythemulti-platinumR&Bgroup112.Therecordwashuge.112’salbumsellsbegantoskyrocket,resultinginZanereceivinghisfirstdoubleplatinumplaqueandlandinghisfirstsolorecordingdealwithPriorityRecords.Afterreleasinghisdebutplatinumsellingalbum,YoungWorld;TheFuture,whichproduced#1hitslikeCallinMeft112andNoneTonightftP.

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Diddy,starringinseveralboxofficehitmovies,andmakingseveralguestappearancesonTVshowssuchasTheParkers,OneonOne,AllintheFamily,Moonlight,andColdCase,ZanecamebackwithhissophomorealbumTheBigZaneTheory,whichincludedthehitsingleTonight,I’mYoursftR&Bsensation,Tank.Tonight,I’mYoursreachednumberoneonBET’s106andPark,andwasadigitalsalessuccess.LilZanebecameahouseholdname.AfterthereleaseofTheBigZaneTheoryin2005,Zanelandedseveralrolesinupcomingfilms,sharingthescreenwithactors,suchasVivicaFox,ShemarMoore,BrandonTJackson,CharlesS.Dutton,andSinbad.In2008,whilehewasworkingonmovies,hefoundtimetosneakintothestudio,recorded,andindependently,releasedhisthirdalbum,ThaReturn,whichfeaturedtheclubbangerLikeThis.Lil’Zaneemergedbackintothepublic’seyein2010whenhemadeasurpriseappearanceonBET’s106andPark’s10thAnniversarywithRayJ.In2011,Zanestartedhisownlabel,MoneyMakingMusicandreleasedtwomixtapes,TheMissingLinkandR.A.W.(rapsaboutwomen)viainternet,bothreceivinggreatreviewsfromfans,press,andmedia.Zanehasrecentlyreleasedseveralcontroversialviralvideosthatcaughtalotofattentiononblogs,socialmediasites,andmainstreamradioandreceived100,000plusviewsoneachvideoinjust24hours.Inmid-2012hewentonaneight-citytourwithartistslikeACEHood,PleasurePandmanymore.InJanuary2013,hedroppedanewmixtapeandwentonasix-cityMimitourwithATLsupergroupTravisPorterandWale.Nowreadyandfocusedonbecomingoneofthemusicindustry’sbiggestcomebackstories,LilZaneisgearinguptoreleasehisnewalbumtitledLifeILive.E.RogerMitchellE.RogerMitchellco-starredalongsideDenzelWashingtoninFlightandEqualizer.DrJa’elTheGreatDrJa’elTheGreatisaprofessor,lifecoach,anddynamicmotivationalspeakerwhoispassionateaboutspreadingthemessagethatYouarePerfectforYourPurpose.Dr.Ja’el’spassionatequestforexcellencehaspropelledhertogreatlevelsofpersonalsuccess.Shehonedhercraftasalifecoachandmotivationalspeakerwhileworkingasafacilitatorforworld-famousmotivationallegendLesBrownathisHowtoBecomeaMillionaireWorkshop.Thatopportunity,coupledwithherbeingabletomeetOprahWinfrey,studyherinherelementandexperiencehergivingspirit,inspiredJa`eltobecomeallthatGodhascreatedhertobe.Asanactressandsinger/songwritershehasworkedwithsomeofthegreatesttalentsalivetoday,includingTylerPerry,RobertTownsend,KimFields,LorettaDevine,JenniferHoliday,IsaacCarree,andAngieStone.AgraduateofTheeJacksonStateUniversity,Dr.Ja’elisaProfessoratSpelmanCollege.Shehasbeenfeaturedasakeynotespeakerforconferences,workshops,andschoolsacrossthecountry.Dr.Ja’elistheauthorofthenewbookLovingYourDaughtertoGreatness–HowtoKeepYourDaughterFromDoingWhatYouWishYouHadn’t,andthecreatorofseveralpopularworkshopseriesincludingBacktoBasics,aguidetodatingandrelationships.

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DesiTerrellBanksJr,DesiTerrellBanksJr,isanactorandentertainerwhohasbeenwriting,performing,andproducingcomedyforoverfouryears.DesiBankswasabletobuildhisbrandanddisplayhiscomedythroughsocialmedia.HehasbuilthisfanbaseuptonearlyonemillionfollowersonInstagram,TwitterandFacebook.DesiwasabletopursuehisactingcareeroncehegraduatedfromGeorgiaStateUniversitywithaBachelor’sDegreeinsociology.HethenstartedtakingactingclasseswithDwayneBoydauditioningforfilms.HisfirstrolewasintheshortfilmFlexin,inwhichhewasthelead.DesicontinuedtoauditionandbookmorefilmsandwasabletolandabigsupportingroleinLoveByChance.Hecontinuestoworkhardandpursuehisactingcareer,whilecontinuinghiscomedyonsocialmedia.

CarlAnthonyPayneII

CarlAnthonyPayne,asuccessfulactor,producer,anddirector,wasbornonMay24,1969inthesmalltownofClinton,SouthCarolina.HebeganworkingtowardshisactingcareeratayoungagebystudyingattheFirstAllChildren'sTheater,whichwasanoffBroadwayreparatorytheatercompany.HelaterattendedFiorelloH.LaGuardiaHighSchoolofMusic&ArtandPerformingArtsinNewYorkCity.PaynecontinuedhiseducationandtrainingatHowardUniversityinWashington,DC.HeisbestknownforhisrecurringrolesasTheoHuxtable'sbestfriend"Cockroach"ontheeverpopularandclassicNBC'shitseries,TheCosbyShowandas“ColeBrown"ontheFOXnetworkTVseriesMartin.

Paynestaysontopofhiscareerbynotallowinghimtobestereotypedorpigeonholed.HecontinuestodisplayhisversatilityonscreenbyplayingrolessuchasReynoldoSt.James,onthepopularBETseriesTheGame,tomostrecentlyrenownedproducerL.A.ReidinVH1’sTLCBiopic.Hehasdirectedandproducedmusicvideos,webseriesandshortfilms,allwhilecontinuingtoshowcasehisstand-upcomedyindifferentcities.HerecentlyfilmedthemovieZuluWeddingandLoveByChancebothsoontoreleaseinSouthAfricaaswellasdirectedhisfirstfeatureentitledMisguidedBehavior.

AsalongtimeresidentofLosAngeles,California,nowresidinginAtlanta,Georgia,Paynehasremainedrelevantamongpeersbyhiscontinuedpursuitofexcellenceandcommitmenttolegacy.Asidefrombeingonthebigscreen,Payne’scommitmenttocommunityenrichmentandcharitableorganizationsisneverending.

Hisadvicetoyoungaspiringactorsandprofessionals“Perseveranceisthehardworkyoudoafteryougettiredofdoingthehardworkyoualreadydid."

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Biographies–CrewSamadDavis–Producer,DirectorSamadDavisisanaward-winninginternationalfilmandtelevisionproduceranddirectorfromtheUnitedStateswhohasproducedandordirectedsuchprojectsasTheMindsofMen&MindsofMenAfricaaTVdocu-series;theOneNationManyVoicesawardwinningshortfilmGlimpse;ThreeCanPlayThatGame,starringVivicaAFox;andtheaward-winningfilmMooz-lumstarring,NiaLong,EvanRoss,RogerGuenveurSmithandDannyGloverandistheformatcreatorandexecutiveproducerofthehitcompetitiveTVseriesTopActorSA&Africa.ThroughhispreviousworkaspresidentandCOOofMagnaWorldPartners,aninternationaltradeandinvestmentfirmfocusedonAfrica,hehastravelledextensivelyonthecontinent.DumisaniGumbi–ProducerDumiisanaward-winningindependentproducerandconsultantinthecreativemediaindustries,focusingonfilm,televisionandconsumermarketing.Hisfirstfeaturefilm,Gog’Helen,premieredattheDurbanInternationalFilmFestival’sMainCompetitionin2012.ThefilmhaditsAmericanpremiereatthePan-AfricanFilmFestival(PAFF)in2013andwasnominatedintwocategoriesinthe2014SAFTAs:BestMusicCompositionandBestEditing.Mostrecently,heproducedthehitsMrsRightGuyandDora’sPeace.AlongwithMeerkatMedia,DumiworkedonthefirstisiZuluanimatedkids’televisionshowforM-Net,ZimZim.HehasworkedwithKwanzaCommunicationsforFNB’sConsumerEducationdepartment,andheproducedanimationfortheNedgroup.HehasproducedseveralcorporateDVDsforGoba,TransnetandtheWaterResearchCouncil.HehasproducedseveraldocumentaryfilmsfortheSABC,includinghitslikeMyBigFatAfrikanerWeddingandWhoKilledJohannesKerkorrel?.DumialsoproducedtheSAFTAaward-winningmini-seriesUbizo:TheCallingwhichwonfiveSouthAfricanFilmandTelevisionAwards(SAFTAS).HeproducedthegroundbreakingSAFTAaward-winning3D,CGIanimationshortfilmseries,BackyardShortsin2009.Dumi,whostudiedeconomicsandfilmmakinginBoston,isamemberoftheinternationalentrepreneurprogramme,Endeavor.CatiWeinek-ProducerCatiisco-creatoroftheground-breakingSedibascriptdevelopmentprogrammeoftheNationalFilmandVideoFoundation(NFVF).In2012Catiproduced‘Gog’Helen’,withDumi,asatiricalcomedyfeature,directedbyAdzeUgah.From2012shedevelopedandproducedfeaturecontentintheslatefundinginitiativeundertheumbrellaoftheNFVF.Amongthisslateshewroteandwasaproduceronthe2016theatricalhit,MrsRightGuy.Sherecentlycompletedproductionof26episodesofSoulCitythatcelebrates20yearsoftheSoulCitydramaseriesonscreen,drawingover5millionviewerseveryweek.ShehasproducedavarietyofimportantSouthAfricadocumentaries,includingtheanti–nuclearpower

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documentary‘UraniumRoad’(2009)and‘HereBeDragons’(2011)aboutGeorgeBizos,thehumanrightslawyerwhosavedNelsonMandelafromthegallows.

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