ERIKA ERVIN, STAR OF AMERICAN HORROR STORY FREAKSHOW, ATTENDS CAYFILM FOR WORLD PREMIER OF NEW SHORT FILM “FALLING SOUTH”

“Falling South” will world premiere during The Cayman International Film Festival. Madeline Barr and Erika Ervin, who are lead actors in the film, will be in attendance with Writer/Director/Producer Lorraine Portman.

Erika Ervin played a starring role in American Horror Story: Freakshow. Erika Ervin, known professionally as Amazon Eve, tours the world modeling and making public appearances. At 6’8″ without heels, Amazon Eve has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest model in the world in 2011. Ervin has also appeared in Hemlock Grove, and more. She is in two feature films that are in post production, Chimera and Dead Squad.

“Falling South” is the first starring role for lead actor Madeline Barr. She is a graduate of Tisch and has been working with some of the best New York theater talent, Stephen Spinella, Austin Pendleton, and Stephen Adly Guirgis. Madeline is the niece of Philip Seymour Hoffman, who was very supportive of her theater training. Madeline is following in his footsteps in giving her all to her work.

Madeline and Erika will be in attendance at the world premiere of Falling South, Saturday July 1 at 1:00 pm in the Ritz Carlton, Ballroom Three.

Rita Estevanovich, Film Control Board of the Cayman Islands, will be moderating a Q & A after the film.

Cayfilm is a spectacular annual event that celebrates the Cayman Islands as a world class filming destination, as well as an incredible place to visit and do business. International films as well as local films are shown, with filmmakers in attendance. Workshops taught by industry professionals are presented. Past festival guests include Zoe Saldana, Gary Lucchesi, Robert Watts, Teri Schwartz, Paul Schrader, James V. Hart, Reno Wilson, and Anthony Mackie.

“Falling South,” a forty minute short film, has a very strong cast. Other cast members include Marlyn Mason, Eric T. Miller, and a comedy legend. Marlyn is loved the world over by Elvis fans. She was Elvis’ leading lady in The Trouble with Girls. Marlyn has also appeared in most of our classic television shows: The Odd Couple, Marcus Welby, M.D., Barnaby Jones, Bonanza, and many more.

Eric T. Miller is a New York City based actor who often brings new plays to life and has appeared on a number of television shows: Person of Interest, The Black List, The Unusuals, and Elementary.

Making a cameo towards the end of the film is a comedy legend that fans of Johnny Carson and SOAP will be tickled to discover.

Writer/Director/Producer Lorraine Portman is an award winning Playwright, Screenwriter, and Filmmaker. She taught Playwriting and Screenwriting at Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida for ten years. She holds a B.A. in Theater from Smith College and M.F.A. in Film from Florida State University. Lorraine also attended the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. She has written and directed seven short films and a feature. Her screenplays have been placing in national and international competitions. The past two years, Lorraine has had screenplays that were finalists for three years in the Cayfilm Screenplay Competition.

“Falling South” is about a woman who puts Rochester in the rear view as she runs away from her husband. She has never been on her own and doesn’t know if she’ll make it as her resources are stripped away. She meets diverse women who offer connection, insight, and laughter on the road to Florida and a possible new life. It is a drama with moments of comedy.

The cast and crew represent a very diverse group of people, with women in many key positions. Director of Photography Diana Matos has solid credentials as a camera assistant on TV Shows, Younger, House of Cards, and Project Runway, major motion pictures, Ricki and the Flash, Ghostbusters, and more, and has been shooting indie movies as the head of the camera department.

The cast and crew went on a two thousand mile road trip last October to make the film. They shot on location in Niagara Falls; Rochester, New York; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Tennga, Georgia; Crescent City and Pierson, Florida. There are worlds in this film that have never been explored on screen before.

During the shoot, Hurricane Matthew hit Florida and the filmmakers returned to find locations with downed trees and homes without air conditioning and water.

Erika Ervin, Madeline Barr, and Writer/Director Lorraine Portman will be in attendance at the Cayfilm world premiere. There will be a Q & A after the screening which is Saturday, July 1 at 1:00 pm at the Ritz Carlton on Grand Cayman.