Indie film actor Mel England will star in "Best Day Ever," a gay romantic drama based on true events. The film also stars Tom Saporito and will be directed by Jeff London (“A Warm Wind”). England portrays David, a gay man facing a mid-life crisis. Along with relationship issues and career problems, he realizes that he literally only has about 35 years left and must figure out his "life-plan." He meets a man 14-years younger than him (Saporito) who shows him that age does not matter, and that maybe his future happiness is easier to figure out than he thinks. “This script is so relevant for a whole generation of gay men now facing mid-life, and frankly didn't expect to make it past 30!" England exclaims, “Jeff's script is powerful, because it's painfully honest and personal. It's a journey of self-acceptance and just getting over yourself — getting out of your own way to finally be happy."
England, known on both stage and screen, most recently starred in the title role in “Ron and Laura Take Back America” to be released in 2014 and which co-stars include Golden Globe Best Actress Nominee Irene Bedard (known for Spielberg's "Into the West", and as the voice and likeness of Pocahontas in the Walt Disney Pictures animated feature) and Jim J. Bullock ("Hollywood Squares" distributed by Orion Pictures, and more recently CBS' “The Bold and the Beautiful"). “It's great to have two films out in 2014,” says England. “And Jeff is one of the most respected directors in the gay independent film genre, so to be in his film is such an honor!”
In 2013 “Little Big Top” (Morningstar Entertainment) in which England co-starred, became one of the more popular films streaming on Netflix, surviving the distributor’s well publicized title purge earlier in the year (The Hollywood Reporter). The film starred the legendary Sid Haig, who appears in several Rob Zombie projects including “The Devil’s Rejects” (Lions Gate). Later this year, England is set to co-star in “Love Anonymous” with Sally Kirkland, Academy Award Best Actress Nominee and Golden Globe winner for “Anna” (Lions Gate).
Directed by Jeff London, “Best Day Ever” is a Radioactive Cactus and Hemet Productions film. Shooting begins in January 2014 on location in Lake Havasu City, AZ. “Best Day Ever” is scheduled for release in May 2014. London is a prolific director of gay-themed movies which all have received distribution and a loyal following internationally, and is a winner of Best Drama Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. "What's great about Jeff's movies is they are about gay guys in small towns, and there aren't a lot of films on this subject in the gay community, so I think a lot us will relate," notes England. London's films are distributed through Wolf Video and internationally through TCL.
"Best Day Ever" co-star Tom Saporito’s recent work includes the play "Delusion" produced/co-directed by Neil Patrick Harris, star of the CBS bit series “How I Met Your Mother” and host of the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Tony Awards. He also stars as Felix on the CW Television Network "Off Campus.”
Supporting cast members include Peter Stickles, Nate Moore and Ace Lundon. Stickles, currently starring in Here! TV’s “The Lair” (distributed world-wide by here! Films), also starred in the critically acclaimed “Shortbus” that was written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell (“Hedwig & the Angry Inch, HBO’s “Girls” – an Apatow Production). “Shortbus” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and earned its producers an Independent Spirit award for Producers of the Year. Moore’s credits include the Kate Hudson and Casey Affleck feature “Desert Blue” (Ignite Entertainment/Samuel Goldman Company/Columbia Tri-Star project). Lundon has had a prolific career, including the entertainment industry. In the 60s he was the personal manager and publicist for Jayne Mansfield, a 20th Century Fox contract player and mother of Mariska Hargitay (NBS’s “Law & Order: SVU”). He also represented Mahalia Jackson, Grammy winning gospel singer, whose biography “Got to Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel” is being adapted for a feature film starring Fantasia Barrino (The Color Purple,” American Idol).
About MEL ENGLAND
Mel England has starred on Screen and Stage, Off Broadway, internationally and across the USA. His features include "Archeology of a Woman" (Winner, Cine Golden Eagle Award and Golden Remi Award, World Fest Houston), and a starring role in 2012's "Persona Au Gratin," winner of Best Comedy at IndieFest USA. England also starred in "Highlights," Best Drama Nominee, in the Moviefone Short Film Festival. On Stage, England has performed Off Broadway, regionally and internationally in Europe. England's solo show "Swimming with the Polar Bears" premiered Off Broadway, and as part of a benefit for The Climate Project, featuring posters of the show signed by former Vice President Al Gore, which then toured world-wide, in Los Angeles, the National Mall in Washington DC for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, and UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen. England's solo show "Navajo Memoirs" was dubbed "Ingenious" by Backstage. Other Off Broadway credits include "Hecuba", "Marriage" and "The Imaginary Invalid" with the Pearl Theatre. England also starred in the New York and Los Angeles premieres of Israel Horovitz's one-man play about September 11th, "3 Weeks After Paradise," benefiting children of WTC victims. Notable productions include "Lucky Man" (Best Acting Ensemble Award, NY Fringe), "A Shayna Maidel" (Best Play of the Year, Denver), and he was a proud part of the original New York productions of Chris Sanderson's "Midsummer Night's Dream", "Sea Monkeys" by Tony Nominee Chad Beguelin, "The Honeysuckles" (developed for television by FOX), and "King of Connecticut" with Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
Website: www.melengland.com
Twitter: @melengland
FB: www.facebook.com/MelEnglandActor
More information on “BEST DAY EVER”/JEFF LONDON
Website: Radioactive Cactus
FB: www.facebook.com/bestdayevermovie
Other: Indie GoGo.
