SWAYZE AND NIEMI BEGIN PRODUCTION ON FEATURE FILM

(WINNIPEG, MB) W.A.W. Productions in association with Minds Eye Entertainment is pleased to announce the start of production on the feature-length film Without A Word. Principal photography began in Winnipeg on Monday, March 12, and is scheduled to wrap on April 26.

Realizing a longtime goal, Patrick Swayze and his wife Lisa Niemi will star and dance together in Without A Word, a drama based on the original award-winning play they co-wrote and starred in. Niemi, who wrote the film’s screenplay, will make her feature directorial debut, with Swayze producing. Also starring multi-disciplinary artist/director/producer George de la Pena (Red Hot, Kuffs, Chronicle of a Death Foretold), and featuring Matthew Walker (Intimate Relations, Misbegotten), Without A Word is the story of three former dancers given one last chance to discover a dream they lost, and face their demons to dance again.

Niemi and Swayze said of the project, “Without A Word started as a play that was born from a magical place. The material and the dance within has a huge emotional impact that moves from achingly romantic to intensely sensual. It has been a labor of love from stage to screen.”

Niemi and Swayze have been working to create the films many dance sequences with acclaimed choreographers Doug Varone, Alonzo King, and Dwight Rhoden. Additional cast includes Timothy Webber (Bethune, Matinee), Marie Stillin (Valentine, Kitchen Party), and Aundra Ford. The film’s list of world-renowned dancers include Rasta Thomas, Kathryn Bradney, Igor Piovano, Bambi Swayze, Jamie Bishton, Desmond Richardson, Stephanie Slater, Heather Thompson, Tai Jimenez, and Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Yosuke Mino.

Executive produced by Kevin Dewalt of Minds Eye Entertainment (headquartered in Regina, SK, with offices in Vancouver, Edmonton and Los Angeles), Without a Word marks the first feature film Minds Eye brings to Winnipeg. “Winnipeg has proven to be a wonderful place to film this movie, with the world-class Royal Winnipeg Ballet being right here, and a variety of great shooting locations to pick from. The city has been very cooperative in helping us along, and we’re happy for the opportunity to make a movie here,” says Dewalt.

Minds Eye Entertainment is a fully integrated production, post-production and distribution entity with offices in Canada and the U.S. Over the last 15 years the company has produced over 500 hours of programming that is presently seen in more than 350 million households worldwide. Its award-winning feature films, television series, and documentaries have been translated into a dozen languages, and sold in more than 100 countries. The company’s web site is www.mindseyepictures.com.

For More Information Contact:

Kerry Fraser
359-7618 (Ph)
359-3466 (F)
kfraser@mindseyepictures.com