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Mark Ciardi
Mark Thomas Ciardi (pronounced ''CHAR-dee''; born August 19, 1961) is an American film producer and former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently the Founder and CEO of Apex Entertainment. Mark has a rich breadth of experience as a Film Executive, and Producer. Apex Entertainment is an independent content production firm that also serves as a financier for media properties. Prior to Apex, Ciardi was the co-founder of Mayhem Pictures that had an overall first look deal with Walt Disney Studios for twelve years. At Mayhem, Ciardi produced several sports films for Walt Disney Pictures including '' The Rookie'', ''Miracle'', ''Invincible'', ''The Game Plan'', ''Secretariat'', ''Million Dollar Arm'', ''McFarland, USA'', and ''Safety''. Awaiting release is the worldwide best-selling novel, ''Fallen''. He also produced the Emmy Award winning, ESPN 30 for 30 documentary titled ''Big Shot''. A native of Piscataway, New Jersey, Ciardi was an All-State high school pitcher, gr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is assigned the number 1. The pitcher is often considered the most important player on the defensive side of the game, and as such is situated at the right end of the defensive spectrum. There are many different types of pitchers, such as the starting pitcher, relief pitcher, middle reliever, lefty specialist, setup man, and the closer. Traditionally, the pitcher also bats. Starting in 1973 with the American League(and later the National League) and spreading to further leagues throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the hitting duties of the pitcher have generally been given over to the position of designated hitter, a cause of some controversy. The Japanese Central Le ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Safety (2020 Film)
''Safety'' is a 2020 American biographical sports drama family film based on the story of Ray McElrathbey, a football player who battled family adversity to join the Clemson Tigers. Directed by Reginald Hudlin, produced by Mark Ciardi, and written by Nick Santora, the film features Jay Reeves in the lead role. The feature film, a Walt Disney Pictures production, was made available to stream on Disney+ from December 11, 2020. It received generally positive reviews from critics. Plot Set in South Carolina in the 2000s, Ray McElrathbey is a freshman at Clemson University, having been accepted on a football scholarship for their team, the Tigers. He is quickly thrust into campus life as he tries to balance his school work and football career. He begins to receive numerous phone calls from his younger brother Fahmarr, but tries to ignore him to study. He quickly takes an interest in sports journalist student Kaycee Stone while also butting heads with football captain Keller. One day, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Welcome To Hollywood
''Welcome to Hollywood'' is a 1998 mockumentary film directed by Adam Rifkin. Synopsis A young man (Tony Markes) tries to make it in Hollywood as an actor. Various attempts to get noticed for consideration for roles in film and television fail. He finally gets a break and lands a guest spot on ''Baywatch'', but it ends with disaster when he steps on a stingray and has to be hospitalized. Celebrity cameos The film includes cameos from numerous actors, actresses, producers, models, athletes, and other Hollywood figures, including: * Alison Anders * Tom Arnold * Halle Berry * Sandra Bullock *Glenn Close *Wes Craven *Cameron Crowe *Cameron Diaz * Roger Ebert *Carmen Electra * Angie Everhart *Laurence Fishburne * Peter Fonda *Jeff Goldblum *Cuba Gooding Jr. *Woody Harrelson *David Hasselhoff *Salma Hayek * Evander Holyfield * Dennis Hopper *Ron Howard *Mike Leigh *Matthew McConaughey *Ewan McGregor *Anthony Minghella *Kelly Monaco *Julianne Moore *Cathy Moriarty *Pat O'Brien *Nancy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heat (Lupica Novel)
''Heat'' is a 2006 young adult novel written by Mike Lupica. Summary The book is set in the Bronx, New York. The main character is a young boy named Michael Arroyo, a gifted baseball player/pitcher. Coaches from other teams say that he is too good to be just 12 years old (He can pitch a ball at 80 mph). With no parents, and a birth certificate back at his native home Cuba, Michael will have to somehow prove with the help of his best friend, Manny, and his brother Carlos that he really is the age that he says. Later on in the book, Michael also meets a girl named Ellie who is beautiful and mysterious. Also, he has to lie to everyone else that his father is still alive otherwise he will be possibly separated from his brother. His brother is a couple of months from reaching 18 years old, making him almost able to legally take care of his brother. His father died a few months before the plot of the story. He was a great man and encouraged Michael to do his best in everything and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
American Underdog (film)
''American Underdog'' is a 2021 American biographical sports film about National Football League (NFL) quarterback Kurt Warner. Directed by Andrew and Jon Erwin, the film follows Warner's journey as an undrafted player who ascended to winning Super Bowl XXXIV. It stars Zachary Levi as Warner, alongside Anna Paquin as his wife Brenda and Dennis Quaid as his head coach Dick Vermeil. The film was released theatrically in the United States on December 25, 2021, by Lionsgate. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and grossed over $26 million. ''American Underdog'' was nominated for the GMA Dove Award for Inspirational Film/Series of the Year at the 2022 GMA Dove Awards. Plot The film starts out with a young Kurt Warner who watches Super Bowl XIX. He makes a lifelong commitment to become a Super Bowl and MVP quarterback. Several years later, Kurt is playing his fifth year for the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) Panthers football team with coach Terry Allen, and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Way Back (2020 Film)
''The Way Back'' (titled ''Finding the Way Back'' in the United Kingdom) is a 2020 American sports drama film directed by Gavin O'Connor and written by Brad Ingelsby. It stars Ben Affleck in the title role, Al Madrigal, Michaela Watkins, and Janina Gavankar, and follows an alcoholic construction worker who is recruited to become head coach of the basketball team at the high school where he was a star. The film was theatrically released in the United States on March 6, 2020, by Warner Bros. Pictures. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic causing movie theaters across the globe to close, Warner Bros. made the film available to own digitally on March 24, 2020. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with Affleck's performance receiving praise. However, the film suffered at the box office due to COVID-19 because it was only in theaters for two weeks. Plot Jack Cunningham is an alcoholic ironworker who is separated from his wife, Angela. While at Thanksgiving din ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Miracle Season
''The Miracle Season'' is a 2018 American sports drama film directed by Sean McNamara and starring Erin Moriarty, Helen Hunt, William Hurt, and Danika Yarosh. The film is based on the true story of the Iowa City West High School volleyball team after the sudden death of the team's heart and leader, Caroline Found, in 2011. It was released in the United States on April 6, 2018. The film received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed $10 million worldwide. Plot Caroline "Line" Found is the star volleyball player on the Iowa City West High School volleyball team and well-loved by members of the community. With Line as the captain, the Trojans have been undefeated and everyone in the city has high hopes for them to win the championship against their long-time rival, City High. During a party at her house, Line sneaks off to visit her mother Ellyn who is being treated for cancer in hospital. Line is killed in a moped accident, leaving the entire community in mourning. At Line's ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chappaquiddick (film)
''Chappaquiddick'', sometimes known as ''The Senator'', is a 2017 American political drama film directed by John Curran, and written by Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan. The film stars Jason Clarke as U.S. Senator from Massachusetts Ted Kennedy and Kate Mara as Mary Jo Kopechne, with Ed Helms, Bruce Dern, Jim Gaffigan, Clancy Brown, and Olivia Thirlby in supporting roles. The plot details the 1969 Chappaquiddick incident, in which Kennedy's negligence caused an automobile accident which resulted in the death of his 28-year-old passenger Mary Jo Kopechne trapped inside the vehicle, and the Kennedy family's response. Principal photography began in Boston, in September 2016. The film originally premiered at the Gala Presentations section at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2017, and was released in the United States on April 6, 2018, by Entertainment Studios. It received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its balanced screenplay and Clar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fallen (2016 Film)
''Fallen'' is a 2016 American romantic fantasy drama film directed by Scott Hicks, based on Lauren Kate’s 2009 novel of same name. The film stars Addison Timlin, Jeremy Irvine, Harrison Gilbertson, and Joely Richardson. The film was released on November 10, 2016 in certain countries including Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore by Lotus Entertainment. It released to theaters in the United States on September 22, 2017, by Relativity Media. Plot Lucinda Luce Price is sent to Sword and Cross Academy for troubled young teens after she is blamed for the death of a boy named Trevor who perishes in a fire started by mysterious shadows that Luce sees after kissing him. Luce feels cursed, blaming herself for Trevor’s death. Upon arriving at her new school, Luce meets various students, including Cameron “Cam” Briel, who has taken an interest in her; Arriane Alter, who takes Luce under her wing; Molly Zane, who harasses Luce; Pennyweather "Penn” Van Syckle-Lockwood, who befrie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tooth Fairy (2010 Film)
''Tooth Fairy'' is a 2010 fantasy comedy family film directed by Michael Lembeck, produced by Jim Piddock, Jason Blum, Mark Ciardi and Gordon Gray, written by Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel, Randi Mayem Singer, Joshua Sternin and Jennifer Ventimilia with music by George S. Clinton and starring Dwayne Johnson, Ashley Judd, and Julie Andrews. Filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, it was co-produced by Walden Media and distributed and theatrically released by 20th Century Fox on January 22, 2010. The movie was given a negative reception from critics but it earned $112.5 million on a $48 million budget, making it a success at the box office. ''Tooth Fairy'' was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc/DVD/digital copy combination pack on May 4, 2010. A direct-to-video sequel, ''Tooth Fairy 2'', starred Larry the Cable Guy as the title character and was released on March 6, 2012. Plot Derek Thompson is a minor league ice hockey player, nicknamed the "Tooth Fairy" for his habit of knocking oppos ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The New Guy
''The New Guy'' is a 2002 American teen comedy film directed by Ed Decter, written by David Kendall and starring DJ Qualls and Eliza Dushku. The film tells the story of high school loser Dizzy Harrison (Qualls) who gets himself expelled so that he can move schools and reinvent himself. Learning how to be cool from a prison inmate, he renames himself Gil Harris and is quick to make new friends and soon gains respect from jocks and geeks alike. He begins dating popular girl Danielle (Dushku) and unites a once-divided school, also greatly improving its football team. Eventually, Gil has to face his demons from his old school when they face each other in a football game. The film received generally negative reviews, but was a modest box office success. Plot Prison inmate Luther speaks directly to the camera in the opening, telling the story of Dizzy Gillespie Harrison, an 18-year-old nerdy high school senior in Austin, Texas. Dizzy is friends with Nora, Kirk, and Glen, who togethe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization with the stated goal of advancing the arts and sciences of motion pictures. The Academy's corporate management and general policies are overseen by a board of governors, which includes representatives from each of the craft branches. As of April 2020, the organization was estimated to consist of around 9,921 motion picture professionals. The Academy is an international organization and membership is open to qualified filmmakers around the world. The Academy is known around the world for its annual Academy Awards, now officially and popularly known as "The Oscars". In addition, the Academy holds the Governors Awards annually for lifetime achievement in film; presents Scientific and Technical Awards annually; gives Student Academy Awards annually to filmmakers at the undergraduate and graduate level; ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
