Nov 17, 2008

Los Angeles, CA (Nov. 17, 2008) - Hot on the heels of announcing two original productions: AMERICAN TRAGIC starring "Ugly Betty" star America Ferrera and HOLLYWOOD PLAYERS, Maya Entertainment, a vertically integrated, entertainment company targeting the growing U.S. Latino market, today announced that it will produce and distribute urban thriller PREPARATION FOR A MURDER, written by "The Robinson Brothers:" Jonathan and R.M. Robinson, who will also direct the film.
"The Robinson Brothers have written a compelling thriller that has the kind of cross-cultural appeal that will resonate with audiences," remarked Moctesuma Esparza, who founded Maya and co-chairs with Jeff Valdez. "We are excited to be working with them to bring their vision to the big screen."
PREPARATION FOR A MURDER marks the first feature film for the duo that has directed numerous shorts, including UNSCRIPTED, which premiered on the IFC channel. Luis Guerrero and Chris Lemos of Vital Pictures will produce PREPARATION FOR A MURDER along with Sandra Avila, development executive at Maya Entertainment, who will oversee production on behalf of Maya.
"We are convinced that the Robinson Brothers' juxtaposition of urban grit with ethereal beauty present the perfect mix for this morality tale," said Avila.   
"We are honored to be working together with Maya Entertainment and Vital Pictures to bring to life this visually compelling urban thriller," added Jonathan Robinson.
PREPARATION FOR A MURDER is a gritty urban thriller that details the events that take place in one night, as two young men embark on a "hit" without realizing the repercussions that come with it.
"We're thrilled to be working with Maya Entertainment to bring the Robinson Brothers' vivid story and vibrant visual style to the big screen," commented Lemos.
Casting is currently underway with production expected to begin in April '09.
About Maya Entertainment
Maya Entertainment, headed by award winning producer Moctesuma Esparza and co-chaired by Jeff Valdez, is the only Latino owned and managed filmed entertainment company specifically focused on the growing U.S. Latino film-going audience. Maya Entertainment will release 8 to 10 films theatrically and 24 straight-to-DVD releases a year. Maya Entertainment is the sister company of Maya Cinemas North America, Inc. a movie theater exhibition company featuring state-of-the-art multiplex cinemas with a site in Salinas, CA and new sites soon to be opened in Bakersfield, CA, Fresno, CA, Santa Fe, NM, Chicago, IL, San Antonio, TX, Houston, TX, New York and more.
About The Robinson Brothers
Baltimore Indie filmmakers, The Robinson Brothers (Jonathan and R.M. Robinson) are one of the few filmmakers that write, direct, edit, and score their own films. Since 2004, they have done numerous short films including, VESTIGE, which won top prize at a local film competition, CINEMA LOUNGE, BATTLE OF THE FILMS and UNSCRIPTED, which was featured in IFC's Media Lab in 2007.
About Vital Pictures
Vital Pictures is an independent film and television production founded by Luis Guerrero and Chris Lemos.  They recently exec-produced ARMORED, which will be released next September by Screen Gems.  Directed by Nimrod Antal (VACANCY), the action-thriller stars Matt Dillon, Columbus Short, Laurence Fishburne, Jean Reno, and Skeet Ulrich. Vital aims to make interesting, thought-provoking, and entertaining films and television shows both inside and outside of the studio system.