Directed by Usher Morgan Cinematography Louis Obioha | Produced by Usher Morgan | |
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Starring Elyse Price
Katie Vincent
Joel Bernard
Joe Trombino
Emil Ferzola Production
company Digital Magic Entertainment Release date August 15, 2017 (2017-08-15) | ||
Pickings is a 2017 American neo-noir crime film written, produced, edited, and directed by Usher Morgan. The film stars Elyse Price, Joel Bernard, Katie Vincent, Joe Trombino, Emil Ferzola and Taso Mikroulis. Price plays Jo Lee-Haywood, a mysterious bar owner defending her family and business from the wrath of a short-tempered mobster and his protection racket. The film will be released to theaters in the United States in late 2017.
Contents
Premise
When a short-tempered mobster and his gang of thugs try to shake down a neighborhood bar, they're soon confronted with the wrath of its owner - a mysterious southern woman with a dangerous past.
Production
Usher Morgan wrote the script and served as the film's director and producer. Principal photography began in New York City in March, 2016 and wrapped in November. The production of the film was announced during a press event at the 2015 Manhattan Film Festival and a pitch trailer was released on August 7, 2015 in a press release by Digital Magic Entertainment.
Pickings is Morgan's first feature film. Principle photography was held in the New York City area under a $350,000 budget, the film was shot in Yonkers, Staten Island, Southampton and New York City. The film introduces elements commonly found in Neo-noir, comic books and Spaghetti Western films to produce an experimental new look, which Morgan refers to as "Spaghetti Noir". Digital Magic Entertainment released the film's Red Band trailer on December 20th, 2016 and the Green Band trailer on March 5th of 2017. Both trailers are accompanied by an original musical track recorded by Katie Vincent.