Trending...
- Continued Connections at Southern Ocean State of the Chamber
- Connecting Communities: CONTACT of Ocean & Monmouth Counties Stands Ready to Listen
- Boston Bridal Atelier Enhances Luxury Experience with New Bridal Shop Location
Film sheds light on the escalating crisis of human trafficking in North Texas.
DALLAS - JerseyDesk -- DONDAGA Films is excited to announce the premiere of its debut feature film MISTER GATES, written and directed by Desmond Donahue. The film premieres June 8th at Grandscape Galaxy Theatres located at 5740 Grandscape Blvd, Unit 100, The Colony, TX 75056. Doors open at 5:30 PM.
MISTER GATES follows the events in the life of Christopher Gates upon his return from the military to take over his family's prestigious real estate business. Unbeknownst to him, his life is about to take a drastic turn that leads to unexpected loss, homelessness and a life-threatening mission that lands him in the seedy underworld of human trafficking. Written and directed by filmmaker Desmond Donahue, MISTER GATES was inspired by a past role Donahue played in the film 8 DAYS where he portrayed the leader of a human trafficking ring. "After my role in 8 DAYS, while the role itself was great and really challenged me as an actor, the experience left me really disturbed in my spirit," says Donahue. "My character was never apprehended; so, it became very important to me to create a narrative that told the story of someone who fights against these horrible crimes and becomes a hero to his community by standing up against it. I also wanted to shed light on this growing problem especially since Dallas/Ft. Worth ranks second in the nation when it comes to the number of victims of human trafficking. I also wanted to shine a light on the homeless epidemic facing our communities."
More on Jersey Desk
MACK WHITE III shines in the lead role as Christopher Gates. White tackled his breakout role in the 2015 football drama Carter High where he played high school stand-out star and former NFL player Jessie Armstead. The feature, based on true events, is also where White met and impressed Donahue. "When I originally wrote MISTER GATES, it was intended to be a starring vehicle for me to elevate my acting career to the next level," explains Donahue. "As a Black male actor in Dallas, the kind of roles I really wanted, the ones that pushed me outside my comfort zones, just weren't available in this market. So, I decided to create the role I wanted to bring to life on screen. However, with the passage of time and after working with Mack on Carter High, I knew that if I decided not to portray Christopher Gates, Mack was really the only other choice for the role. I knew I would get what I needed from him, and he showed up and delivered!" The film also stars HAWTHORNE JAMES (The Five Heartbeats, Cheers, Speed, The Color Purple) as Charles Gates, Christopher Gates's father, who has run the family real-estate business for years. He hands the business over to Chris when he steps down after a visit from a Russian family looking to buy him out.
Securing James for the project was a highlight for Donahue, a long-time fan of the versatile actor's work. "When Hawthorne called me and said he would be honored to be in my debut film, that was a moment I will never forget," recalls Donahue. "As a young boy growing up in Oak Cliff [Dallas], I remember the Five Heartbeats having a tremendous impact on my life. The music, the dancing, it got me through a really difficult time following a car accident where I almost lost my life. As I was learning to walk again, that film was a light during some very dark days. That's why I'm so committed to this industry and the power it has to inspire and change lives because that's what it did for me.' Actor and voiceover icon VIC MIGNOGNA (Dragon Ball Z, Sonic the Hedgehog and Star Trek Continues as Capt. James T. Kirk) plays Senator Campbell. He and Chris are part of the same social circles as the Senator who is up for reelection wields a great deal of influence in the community and with the City's Chief of Police. Rounding out the cast are MILA McCOY (Private Target, False Profits) as Emily Baker and AVA PERKINS (Generation Hope, My Dear) as Tiffany Harrison-Gates.
More on Jersey Desk
MISTER GATES is produced by DONDAGA Films and Whoville Productions. The soundtrack features music from JYoung MDK from Jamie Foxx's record label and CinSation.
Register now to receive information about the premiere screening of MISTER GATES at www.mistergatesmovie.com. Tickets are $35 for General Admission and $65 for VIP seating. Select cast and crew will be in attendance.
MISTER GATES Trailer:
Mister Gates 2024 Official Trailer (youtube.com)
Desmond Donahue, Hawthorne James, Vic Micnogna and Mack White III are available for in-studio and telephone interviews.
MISTER GATES follows the events in the life of Christopher Gates upon his return from the military to take over his family's prestigious real estate business. Unbeknownst to him, his life is about to take a drastic turn that leads to unexpected loss, homelessness and a life-threatening mission that lands him in the seedy underworld of human trafficking. Written and directed by filmmaker Desmond Donahue, MISTER GATES was inspired by a past role Donahue played in the film 8 DAYS where he portrayed the leader of a human trafficking ring. "After my role in 8 DAYS, while the role itself was great and really challenged me as an actor, the experience left me really disturbed in my spirit," says Donahue. "My character was never apprehended; so, it became very important to me to create a narrative that told the story of someone who fights against these horrible crimes and becomes a hero to his community by standing up against it. I also wanted to shed light on this growing problem especially since Dallas/Ft. Worth ranks second in the nation when it comes to the number of victims of human trafficking. I also wanted to shine a light on the homeless epidemic facing our communities."
More on Jersey Desk
- Association Headquarters Graphic Designers Honored with Prestigious GDUSA Awards
- Vane Airport Media Inc, The Best Travel Idea of 2025
- Jersey City . . . Get Ready for an Epic Night of Laughter: at the "Jersey Love Comedy Show"
- Tri-County Fair returns with huge new ride
- Gold Coast Health Plan Distributes $225,000 for Fire Relief and Preparedness Efforts
MACK WHITE III shines in the lead role as Christopher Gates. White tackled his breakout role in the 2015 football drama Carter High where he played high school stand-out star and former NFL player Jessie Armstead. The feature, based on true events, is also where White met and impressed Donahue. "When I originally wrote MISTER GATES, it was intended to be a starring vehicle for me to elevate my acting career to the next level," explains Donahue. "As a Black male actor in Dallas, the kind of roles I really wanted, the ones that pushed me outside my comfort zones, just weren't available in this market. So, I decided to create the role I wanted to bring to life on screen. However, with the passage of time and after working with Mack on Carter High, I knew that if I decided not to portray Christopher Gates, Mack was really the only other choice for the role. I knew I would get what I needed from him, and he showed up and delivered!" The film also stars HAWTHORNE JAMES (The Five Heartbeats, Cheers, Speed, The Color Purple) as Charles Gates, Christopher Gates's father, who has run the family real-estate business for years. He hands the business over to Chris when he steps down after a visit from a Russian family looking to buy him out.
Securing James for the project was a highlight for Donahue, a long-time fan of the versatile actor's work. "When Hawthorne called me and said he would be honored to be in my debut film, that was a moment I will never forget," recalls Donahue. "As a young boy growing up in Oak Cliff [Dallas], I remember the Five Heartbeats having a tremendous impact on my life. The music, the dancing, it got me through a really difficult time following a car accident where I almost lost my life. As I was learning to walk again, that film was a light during some very dark days. That's why I'm so committed to this industry and the power it has to inspire and change lives because that's what it did for me.' Actor and voiceover icon VIC MIGNOGNA (Dragon Ball Z, Sonic the Hedgehog and Star Trek Continues as Capt. James T. Kirk) plays Senator Campbell. He and Chris are part of the same social circles as the Senator who is up for reelection wields a great deal of influence in the community and with the City's Chief of Police. Rounding out the cast are MILA McCOY (Private Target, False Profits) as Emily Baker and AVA PERKINS (Generation Hope, My Dear) as Tiffany Harrison-Gates.
More on Jersey Desk
- The Dallas Group of America, Inc. Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Landmark Facility
- Kelvin Emtech and Colm Engineering Unveil Strategic Joint Venture, to Boost Data Center and Building M&E Capabilities
- Citizens for West Virginia Election Integrity Calls for Urgent Reforms to Safeguard State Elections
- Patton Launches SFP-based RS-232/422/485 Serial Device Server
- Local Tech Entrepreneur Partners with WonderSouq To Offer Downtown Medford Businesses a Virtual City Experience
MISTER GATES is produced by DONDAGA Films and Whoville Productions. The soundtrack features music from JYoung MDK from Jamie Foxx's record label and CinSation.
Register now to receive information about the premiere screening of MISTER GATES at www.mistergatesmovie.com. Tickets are $35 for General Admission and $65 for VIP seating. Select cast and crew will be in attendance.
MISTER GATES Trailer:
Mister Gates 2024 Official Trailer (youtube.com)
Desmond Donahue, Hawthorne James, Vic Micnogna and Mack White III are available for in-studio and telephone interviews.
Source: DONDAGA Films
0 Comments
Latest on Jersey Desk
- The Power Of Online Reviews & Why They Matter
- Connected Technologies Delivers Cutting-Edge Technology to Landmark Properties' Student Housing Communities
- Craft Holsters Unveils Comprehensive SIG Sauer Guides for Firearm Enthusiasts
- Why More Pet Owners Are Choosing Freeze-Dried Raw Additions for Their Pets
- Is Chauffeur On Demand the Best Option for Teterboro Airport Transfers?
- Kelly Bradford Unveils Empowering New Book: "Butterfly Tribe Life: Women Thriving Through Change"
- How Technology is Making the Florida Court System More Accessible
- Park Avenue Estates Chooses Corner Property Management to Manage its Scenic Residential Community
- Corner Property Management AAMC Selected to Manage Summit at Neptune Condominium Association, Inc
- DivX Unveils Revamped Guide on Mastering PS4 Streaming & Media Playback
- The Rise of Fresh & Gently Cooked Diets for Pets: Why More Owners Are Making the Switch
- Discover the Culinary Heart of Le Marche: A 5-Night Food & Wine Tour + Farm to Table Cooking Classes in Italy's Hidden Gem
- CRAZY NEON® Announced Sustainable LED Neon Sign Manufacturing
- The One Experience™, Inc. Announces Presenting Sponsors and Partners for Flagship Event
- Introducing HOME-OMETRY, the Social Media Network for Real Estate
- Winners Announced for 2025 International Juried Exhibition at The Center for Contemporary Art
- Southern Ocean Chamber Women in Business set for February 25
- Job Seekers - Connect Your Career Feb 27
- See Your Business Benefit at Feb 27 Job Fair
- Winter Non-Profit Forum focuses on Actionable Insights