The Toy Soldiers

The Toy Soldiers is a 2014 American coming-of-age drama film was written and directed by Erik Peter Carlson, and starring Najarra Townsend, Constance Brenneman, Chandler Rylko, and Jeanette May Steiner.[1]

The Toy Soldiers
Theatrical Release Poster
Directed byErik Peter Carlson
Produced byMark Baier
Written byErik Peter Carlson
Starring
  • Najarra Townsend
  • Constance Brenneman
  • Chandler Rylko
  • Jeanette May Steiner
  • Samuel Nolan
Music byNathaniel Levisay
Edited byAlex Bordino
Production
company
Riding Hood Motion Pictures
Distributed byMance Media (See Matthew Mancinelli)
Release date
Running time
144 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Set in the 1980s, five coming-of-age stories unravel together on the final evening that local hangout, The Soldiers Roller Rink, closes its doors. During an ongoing night of sex, drugs, and rock "n" roll, the innocence of youth will unravel and each individuals life will be changed forever.[2]

Background

Erik Peter Carlson's sophomore feature film portrays an unsentimentally realistic story about the life, complexities and savageries faced by teens and their families in the 1980s culture of America. Many scenes from the film were shot at the Huntington Beach Pier and the Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale.[3][4]

The film premiered on June 8, 2014 at the Dances With Films festival as the Closing Night Feature at the TCL Chinese Theatre.[5] The film was theatrically released November 14, 2014 in AMC Theatres.[6][7]

Plot

On one evening in a decade of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll, the innocence of youth and family unravels. Five parallel coming-of-age stories dramatize the stages of grief. A youthful mother in a custody battle over her children finds tranquility with the bottle. The abuse of her ex-husband still haunts the children; a nineteen-year-old drug addict, and his younger brother, a bullied closet homosexual. There's the story of the dog; a teen who offers sexual favors to gain acceptance, the challenged classmate who would do anything for her love, and the redhead beauty, haunted by a secret, tragic past. These lives and others will change forever on this final evening before their hangout, The Toy Soldiers Roller Rink, closes its doors for the final time.[2]

Cast
  • Najarra Townsend as Angel
  • Constance Brenneman as Mary Harris
  • Chandler Rylko as Elliot Harris
  • Jeanette May Steiner as Layla
  • Samuel Nolan as Jack Harris
  • Nick Frangione as Steve
  • Amelia Haberman as Sue Harris
  • Matt Harrelson as The Stud
  • Megan Hensley as Cricket
  • Andre Myers as Wilson
  • Kevin Pinassi as Clyde Harris
  • Thatcher Robinson as Jason
  • Izzy Pollak as Harold Beaver
  • Marco Tazioli as Freddie
  • Danno White as Sean

Screenings

June 8, 2014: Dances With Films

October 2, 2014: SoCal Independent Film Festival[8]

October 18, 2014: The Hollywood Film Festival[9]

November 14, 2014: Red Carpet Premiere Universal CityWalk Hollywood

Awards and nominations

The film received multiple nominations at its 2014 festival screening:

  • 'Industry Choice Award' and 'Audience Award for Best Feature Film' at Dances With Films
  • Nominated 'Best Emerging Filmmaker' for Erik Peter Carlson at Hollywood Film Festival
  • Nominations for 'Best Actor' for Samuel Nolan, 'Best Actress - Achievement in Acting' for Constance Brenneman, 'Best Cinematagraphy - Feature Film' for Dan Witrock, and 'Best Screenplay' and 'Best Director - Feature Film', and 'SoCal IFF Award' for Erik Peter Carlson at the SoCal Independent Film Festival.[10]

Reviews

References
  1. Webster, Andy. "A Nightmare of a One-Night Stand." The New York Times. The New York Times, 21 Nov. 2013. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.
  2. Sites, Brandon. "THE TOY SOLDIERS, a Tale of Disaffected Youth, Coming to Theaters This November." Indiebration.com. Indiebration, 24 July 2014. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.
  3. Miller, Michael. "Surf City Fits the Film Festival Bill." HB Independent. Huntington Beach Independent, 24 Sept. 2014. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.
  4. Coker, Matt (October 1, 2014). "SoCal Film Festival Celebrates 10 Years Starting Today and Earns Much Praise from Filmmakers". OC Weekly. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  5. Gettell, Oliver. "Dances With Films Festival to Shine a Light on Emerging Filmmakers." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2014. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.
  6. Cipriani, Casey. "Watch: The Kids Are Not All Right in Trailer for '80s-Set 'The Toy Soldiers'" Indiewire. 24 July 2014. Web. 22 Sept. 2014.
  7. "The Toy Soldiers". Washington Post. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  8. Coker, Matt. "SoCal Film Festival Celebrates 10 Years Starting Today and Earns Much Praise from Filmmakers." OCWeekly. OCWeekly, 1 Oct. 2014. Web. 1 Oct. 2014.
  9. Weinstein, Shelli. "Hollywood Film Fest Announces Celebrate Hollywood Lineup." Variety. Variety, 30 Sept. 2014. Web. 2 Oct. 2014.
  10. staff. "2014 nominations". SoCal FilmFest. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
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