- Notes provided by Lionsgate Films. -

SYNOPSIS

Twenty years after the last film in the series, John Rambo (SYLVESTER STALLONE) has retreated to northern Thailand, where he's running a longboat on the Salween River. On the nearby Thai-Burma (Myanmar) border, the world's longest-running civil war, the Burmese-Karen conflict, rages into its 60th year. But Rambo, who lives a solitary, simple life in the mountains and jungles fishing and catching poisonous snakes to sell, has long given up fighting, even as medics, mercenaries, rebels and peace workers pass by on their way to the war-torn region.
That all changes when a group of human rights missionaries search out the "American river guide" John Rambo. When Sarah (JULIE BENZ) and Michael Bennett (PAUL SCHULZE) approach him, they explain that since last year's trek to the refugee camps, the Burmese military has laid landmines along the road, making it too dangerous for overland travel. They ask Rambo to guide them up the Salween and drop them off, so they can deliver medical supplies and food to the Karen tribe. After initially refusing to cross into Burma, Rambo takes them, dropping off Sarah, Michael and the aid workers...
Less than two weeks later, pastor Arthur Marsh (KEN HOWARD) finds Rambo and tells him the aid workers did not return and the embassies have not helped locate them. He tells Rambo he's mortgaged his home and raised money from his congregation to hire mercenaries to get the missionaries, who are being held captive by the Burmese army. Although the United States military trained him to be a lethal super soldier in Vietnam, decades later Rambo's reluctance for violence and conflict are palpable, his scars faded, yet visible. However, the lone warrior knows what he must do...
Sylvester Stallone writes, directs and stars as RAMBO, filmed on location in and around Chiang Mai, Thailand. Also starring are Julie Benz ("Dexter"), Paul Schulze ("The Sopranos"), Matthew Marsden (RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION, BLACK HAWK DOWN), Graham McTavish (HBO's "Rome"), Rey Gallegos (AMERICAN WEDDING), Tim Kang ("Third Watch"), Jake La Botz (GHOST WORLD), Maung Maung Khin and Ken Howard. RAMBO is produced by Avi Lerner, Kevin King Templeton and John Thompson. Executive producers Randall Emmett, George Furla. Executive Producers Jon Feltheimer, Peter Block, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein. Executive Producers Andreas Thiesmeyer, Josef Lautenschlager. Executive Producers Danny Dimbort, Boaz Davidson, Trevor Short.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

"Old men start wars an' young men fight 'em.
Nobody wins. Everybody in the middle dies
and nobody ever tells us the truth..." -- John Rambo

In October 1982, film audiences around the country cheered as they watched a Vietnam vet named John Rambo single-handedly take down a posse of blood-hungry policemen and National Guardsmen in the Oregon wilderness. A rousing populist fable that reflected the public's growing discontent with the political establishment, RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD became a world-wide box office hit, spawning two sequels and transforming Sylvester Stallone, fresh off the success of ROCKY, into one of the biggest stars of his generation. Most notable, however, was John Rambo's ascension to the ranks of global icon, a position which, two-and-a-half decades later, is undiminished. One can still find Rambo mudflaps and shopping bags in the Far East, Rambo T-shirts in Africa and Rambo action figures in Central America. His presence continues in our political discourse as well, whether it's former soldier Jessica Lynch disavowing the "little girl Rambo" scenario of her Iraqi capture, or the recent 2007 Pentagon report on the military's mental health programs that was dubbed, "The Rambo Problem." Now, twenty-five years after RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD's premiere, Oscar-winner Sylvester Stallone contributes his talents as writer, producer, director and star to JOHN RAMBO, the next chapter in the saga.
Despite nineteen years having transpired since the last Rambo installment, Stallone and producers Avi Lerner, Kevin King and John Thompson were confident that audiences would still connect with Rambo's personal fortitude. "Rambo harkens back to that mythic one man who has been chosen to do a job that he really doesn't want to do, but he's been born to do it," Stallone explains. "He imparts a sense of virtue that's immediate. Bad and evil should be punished and the weak should be protected. It harkens back to the stories we all grew up with, the mythology of good and evil."
"Rambo embodies the individual triumphing over enormous odds," says producer Kevin King. "He's become an internationally recognized character because only one man has played him and only one man can play him. That's Sylvester Stallone and he brings a consistent ferocity to the character that is undeniable."
Unlike comic book heroes who are often endowed with fantastical powers, Rambo represents a powerful primitivism that transcends cultural boundaries. He forges his own weapons, overpowers armed men with only a bow and arrow, and uses his combat wits to outsmart his opponents. Most importantly, his intentions are unwaveringly noble. Despite being betrayed by his own countrymen, he never fails to be guided by a higher, moral purpose.
"Rambo is a man who has dropped out of a very complex, civilized modern world to live in a simple, instinctual way," says producer Avi Lerner. "He speaks to a sense of disenfranchisement and to a very basic sense of rugged individualism."
"He's that classical warrior archetype that translates into any language," adds co-star Graham McTavish, who portrays the mercenary leader, Lewis. "He's in the tradition of Beowulf, Achilles -- people who are bigger than the men around them, who live outside normal society. The great thing about him is that he doesn't reflect. He acts. He moves forward while other people are standing still and wondering what to do."
Having purchased the rights to the Rambo sequels from the Weinstein brothers at Miramax, NuImage producer Lerner was the first to approach Stallone about continuing the Rambo story. Stallone volunteered to write the script; however, he was adamant that they should go forward only if they found a compelling story for the next installment. "I thought, `If I do another Rambo film, I want it to be about something,'" explains the actor. "I didn't want it to be a caper or about drugs or a jewel heist. I wanted it to be about the human condition."
Several ideas and scripts for a sequel had already been circulating Lerner's office, all of them set against well-known conflicts such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Colombia, even Darfur; but Stallone wanted to find a less obvious backdrop, set in one of the word's lesser-known areas of conflict. "I started researching and asking around," he explains. "I called Soldier of Fortune magazine and I called the United Nations. I asked them `What is the most under-reported, most graphic and devastating abuse of human rights on the planet?' And they said, `Burma.' This story is based on fact, on a war that has been going on for sixty years."
JOHN RAMBO focuses on a particular conflict within Burma between the Karen ethnic tribe -- a minority group -- and Burma's ruling military junta, which assumed control of the country after the collapse of British colonialism at the end of WWII. For sixty years, the Karen have been fighting to establish an autonomous state while suffering a brutal and systematic genocide at the hands of the Burmese government.
"I thought the Burmese setting would be ideal because it's a story that's not just about Rambo. It's actually happening. It's true," says Stallone. "From the time I heard about it and began researching it, I thought, `If I could just combine the two -- raising awareness of the Karen-Burmese civil war and giving the audience a good adventure story -- that would be perfect.'"
Suppression of the Karen genocide story has succeeded largely because Burma has cut off its diplomatic and media ties to the west. "The Burmese government is extremely, extremely secretive about this conflict," says King. "Hopefully, there is an awareness that will come out with the film and this is inspiring to everyone who's worked on it. We hope it will provoke thought and make a difference."
While each of the previous Rambo films addressed the pressing political issues of its day, JOHN RAMBO has managed to prefigure recent headlines. Less than five months after production ended, in late September, 2007, Stallone, the filmmakers, and the rest of the world watched dramatic, rare images of massive pro-democracy protests in Burma/Myanmar led by thousands of Buddhist monks in deep red robes. The military junta quelled the demonstrations by beating, arresting and killing protestors, blocking the Internet and controlling telephone communications. Official death tolls are difficult to know, given the secrecy and lack of information available.
Picking up Rambo's story some 20 years later, Stallone imagined him still psychologically unable to return home, living a solitary, monastic lifestyle in Southeast Asia. "Rambo is like a dropout," says Stallone. "He's lost his faith in humanity and is basically living out his life in solitude."
When a group of Christian missionaries ask Rambo to transport them up the Salween River to a remote Karen village, he refuses. But an idealistic young missionary named Sarah appeals to his long-dormant sense of duty and changes his mind. Weeks after the journey, Rambo learns that the same missionaries are being held captive by the Burmese military, outside diplomatic reach. Accompanied by a group of Church-hired mercenaries, he agrees to go up the river again, feeling a responsibility to rescue the captives.
Stallone researched the story for months, wanting to return to the spirit of Rambo in FIRST BLOOD -- a damaged but dedicated man nearly destroyed by the violence he's seen. "This is not the body-oiled Rambo of twenty years ago," says co-star Julie Benz, who portrays Sarah. "This is Rambo decades later, worn down by life, much more sympathetic. You see how everything he has gone through and experienced ¬-- in Rambo I, II and III -- has affected his life."
"If you look at FIRST BLOOD, there was a reason behind the violence, and Rambo really had a soul," says actor Tim Kang, who plays the mercenary En-Joo. "I think with this film that kind of depth has come back full force."
Rey Gallegos, who plays the mercenary Diaz, agrees. "In a nutshell, the film is about John Rambo finding himself. The incidents in this movie bring him back again to the man he was. He finds his way home again."
Stallone says he never intended to write and direct JOHN RAMBO, but after his positive experience writing and directing ROCKY BALBOA, he realized he enjoyed the creative control. "When someone else does it, you have regrets and it doesn't have your personality," he admits. "This way it's a direct through-line and very pure. If something does go wrong, I will have no regrets. I'll say, `Well, I did the best I can. It's no one else's fault but mine.'"
Stallone's first challenge as a director was finding the appropriate cast, and he found a particularly effective co-star in Julie Benz (PUNISHER: WAR ZONE, Showtime's "Dexter"), who brings a convincing depth and tenacity to the character of Sarah. "Sarah is a Christian missionary and it's her first time on this mission with her fiancé, Michael," says Benz of her character. "She's a person who is led by her faith."
"I think Sarah stirs something in Rambo, his innate sense of good versus evil," explains Stallone. "He sees this beautiful young woman, and her doctor boyfriend, who are willing to risk their safe and comfortable lives to help people they don't even know who live on the other side of the world. That awakens something in him. By saving Sarah, and trying to save the missionaries, he's also saving part of himself."
Benz, who had never worked on an action film before, hired a trainer as soon as she got the role. "I started training twice a day, six days a week because I knew as the only woman in the film I was going to have to hold my own against all these very, very tough men, including Sylvester Stallone," she says.
Stallone also researched the mercenary industry in detail and created authentic roles for the group of hired soldiers that accompanies Rambo upriver. British-born actor Graham McTavish portrays the group's leader, Lewis, a violent, money-driven man who experiences an unexpected redemption in the course of battle. Jake La Botz's Reese is a former soldier who's unfazed by the violence he witnesses; Diaz, played by Rey Gallegos, is a lapsed idealist who has become a mercenary to support his family; and School Boy, played by British actor Matthew Marsden, is the youngest and least jaded, a young man who still believes in the moral worth of the mission. "He's the most naive mercenary of the group," explains Marsden. "He still has this noble ideal of what he's doing, whereas the rest of them are in it for the money."
Apart from the Western roles, Stallone's script called for a vast array of Thai/Burmese actors. Stallone urged Thai casting director Pasiri 'Noiy' Pana to avoid professional actors and cast native Karen/Burmese who were from the region and knew about the conflict. While locating real Karen refugees, amputees, land mine victims and former Burmese soldiers, Pana was amazed by how many people knew of John Rambo. "I asked them, `Do you know Rambo?' and the answer was always, `Yes. Yes,'" she says. "They said that in their villages and homes many of them had watched the films in secret."
The production even cast a former resistance fighter for the Karen rebels in one of the lead roles. Muang Muang Khin, who plays the vicious Burmese Major Tint, joined the Karen rebels after the September 1988 uprising in Rangoon and fought on the front lines against the Burmese for years. While he had no acting experience, he impressed Stallone with his real-life experience and passion for the subject. Khin took the role despite the threat of Burmese reprisals for appearing in the film. "After this film is released, I shall keep a low-profile because Burmese intelligence is everywhere, even in Thailand, and there could be some retaliation," explains Khin. "But I had to take the part. I want the world to know what is actually going on here."
The producers and Stallone worked closely with Pana to ensure the anonymity of many of the Thai and Burmese actors and extras working in the film. "We were concerned and explained the situation to them," Pana says. "But they all knew Rambo and wanted to be part of it. And Sly assured them that someone was going to tell their story."
Determined to be as authentic as possible, Stallone based the production in the northern Thai capital of Chiang Mai, an ancient city that was the closest possible base to the war-torn Thailand-Burma border. Logistically, JOHN RAMBO was a huge, complex production, with nearly 500 crewmembers communicating in five different languages. "We had a crew comprised of thirteen different nationalities," reports Thompson. "We had actors from seven different countries. Every day, we had more than sixty stuntmen and hundreds of extras. We even constructed a village and a small city."
In addition to creating a mobile production consisting of over 200 vehicles, the filmmakers also built six vessels, including replicas of a Burmese navy patrol boat, the Burmese pirate boat and Rambo's longboat. For the film's Burmese army compound, production designer Franco-Giacomo Carbone led his production team to clear more than four acres of jungle and construct over 50 buildings. The nearby Karen village set required leveling hillsides, creating irrigation and rice paddy terraces, building 34 bamboo structures, and bringing in plants, livestock and other animals.
Stallone shot daily with as many as five cameras at once, working with director of photography Glen MacPherson and camera operator Vern Nobles to find innovative ways to capture all of the action at once. The goal of using the camera to accentuate the terrifying and confusing moments of conflict meant running Steadicam and racing ATV-shots through the jungle and rigging cameras to leap off cliffs or fly above the wide-spread action.
Without any indoor or stage locations, the filmmakers worked for three months in rain, hail, thunder, lighting, flooding and high altitudes and spent weeks shooting at night in the jungle under rain machines. Daytime temperatures in the mountain jungles soared into the 100s every day. The mid-February start date also fell in the middle of Thailand's "burning season," the period of drought and field clearing from January to April. At some locations, fistfuls of ash and palm-size cinders rained down and covered the scorched jungle floor. The hours spent in the jungle also exposed the cast and crew to a wide variety of native insects, including spiders, scorpions, ants, mosquitoes, fleas and numerous poisonous snakes: cobras, green snakes, tree snakes, and vipers. "There were ants that you could put saddles on and ride home," says McTavish. "And snakes were everywhere. I saw four in one day on second unit, one of which was crawling up one of the actor's legs."
"It was a gloriously brutal experience," says Stallone. "The cast and crew worked under unbelievable hardship. In this day and age, when the film world has become mechanized and computerized, this was truly the last of old-school filmmaking. It's harder than anything I've ever done before, but also more rewarding."
"I thought I was prepared, but I was tested beyond what I thought I would experience," confesses Marsden.
While most of the cast echoes this sentiment, they were uniformly inspired by Stallone's unflagging energy and commitment to the production. "Sly works from the moment he gets up until the moment he goes to bed," reports McTavish. "When you have a director with that kind of focus and intensity at the top, it filters down, and everyone else follows it."
Remembers Benz, "You would watch Sly on the set and he'd be in there, literally shoveling pig shit, chopping down trees and then turning around and delivering this amazing, fully intense performance, then going back to figure out the camera work for the next shot, He inspired everyone around him. He's very smart, really funny and has amazing charisma. He was tough as a director, brutally sometimes, but he pushed us all to go the extra mile and do things we didn't think we could do."
Adds La Botz, "Sly has true artistic vision. He would come on set and wasn't afraid to make people crazy by changing things. The result was a collaborative process -- and a film -- that's raw and alive."
Thompson, who has been producing films for more than 30 years, found Stallone to be a consummate director. "Sly's one of the best directors I've ever worked with -- and I've worked with lots of them," he avows. "The powerful and economic way in which he creates the visual narrative is especially impressive to me."
King, who has known Stallone for years, sees the making of JOHN RAMBO as yet another formidable challenge in a career defined by them. "Sly is a risk-taker and he always has been," says King. "The first ROCKY was a risk for him. So was the first Rambo film. And now, to revive a character after twenty years, to be on screen at age 60 as an action hero, to get into that physical condition, to direct and handle this huge production, to deal with the dangerous and horrific issues in Burma, they're all risks. His career is full of taking risks and that's what makes him such an icon. He's not afraid."
Stallone simply hopes he can continue making films, especially now that he has the advantage of age and experience. "I feel like I have more experience, more knowledge, and more to offer," says the actor, writer, director and producer. "I have a lot left to say."

ABOUT THE CAST

Writer-director SYLVESTER STALLONE is "John Rambo" in this last installment of the classic action film series. The internationally known actor, writer and director originated and portrayed the character in the three previous films, "First Blood," "Rambo: First Blood Part II," and "Rambo III."
Stallone rose to international prominence with his film, "Rocky," which he wrote about a unknown boxer given the chance to fight for the heavyweight champion title. While numerous producers offered to buy the screenplay, wanting to cast a name actor in the role, Stallone insisted on playing the role himself. His perseverance finally paid off when "Rocky" scored 10 Academy Award nominations, won the "Best Picture Award" of 1976 and catapulted Stallone to superstardom.
Between "Rocky" and "Rambo," Stallone created two of the cinema's most enduring iconic characters and launched two of the most successful film franchises of all time. Over 30 years and 50 feature films, Stallone has become one of the biggest box-office draws of all time. In 2002, Stallone was honored by the Video Dealers Software Association with the "Action Star of the Millennium Award" at the organization's 21st Annual convention.
Stallone's films as an actor/writer/director are "Rocky II" and "Paradise Alley." As actor and co-writer, Stallone's feature film credits include "F.I.S.T." "First Blood," "Rambo: First Blood Part II," "Rhinestone," "Over the Top," "Rocky III," "Rocky V" and "Cliffhanger." He co-wrote, directed and produced "Staying Alive" and starred in "Nighthawks," "Victory," "Tango & Cash" and "Lock Up." Stallone also starred in "Demolition Man" and "Driven," both of which debuted in the No. 1 box-office spot. Other film credits include "Spy Kids 3," "Copland," "Shade," "The Specialist," "Assassins," "Daylight," "Judge Dredd" and "Get Carter."
Born in New York City, Stallone attended school in suburban Philadelphia, where he first started acting and also became a football player. He attended the American College of Switzerland and the University of Miami, obtaining a B.A. degree. He began writing and returned to New York where he struggled to find work as an extra and actor. He appeared in small parts in "Bananas" and "Klute" before co-starring with Henry Winkler in "The Lords of Flatbush."
In addition to his films, Stallone also co-created and produced "The Contender," an action-packed unscripted series, which aired on NBC and now on EPSN. He is also one of the founding partners in Planet Hollywood, the internationally famous chain of entertainment restaurants and complexes. He also launched INSTONE, a company created from his vision of a holistic product line for complete health and fitness management. It brings together his lifelong dedication to fitness with some of the preeminent minds in the sports nutrition industry.
Stallone lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Jennifer Flavin, and three daughters.

JULIE BENZ (Sarah Miller) stars alongside Michael C. Hall in Showtime's acclaimed crime drama "Dexter," which recently returned for its second season. Dexter just happens to be a serial killer and Benz won the 2006 Golden Satellite Award for her portrayal of Rita, Dexter's unknowing girlfriend. Benz had the leading role in the recent dramatic thriller "Circle of Friends" on Lifetime. She stars in the upcoming Indy feature "Kill Your Darlings," a dark "road trip" comedy about suicide.
Benz is most recognizable for her role as the evil vampire, Darla, which she originated on The WB's "Buffy" and continued the character on the hit series, "Angel." She also enjoyed a recurring role on the cult series "Roswell." Her feature film work includes "As Good As It Gets," Ursula in "George of the Jungle 2," the Tri-Star feature "Jawbreaker," and the Sony/Screen Gem's feature "The Brothers."
Her television episodic work includes: "Navy NCIS," "Peacemakers," "King of Queens," "Supernatural" and "CSI: Miami." Benz starred with Marsha Mason in the Hallmark feature, "The Long Shot" and starred in the Dream Works/ Steven Spielberg miniseries, "Taken," for the Sci Fi Channel. Julie joined a stellar cast, which included S. Epatha Merkerson and Jimmy Smits in HBO's Emmy-winning "Lackawanna Blues," produced by Halle Berry. Benz can also be heard as the voice of "Captain Miranda Keys" in the popular video game "Halo 2."
At the age of three, Benz began skating and competed professionally until she was sixteen. She was ranked thirteenth in the U.S., and competed in both singles and ice dancing. Her training was rigorous, but allowed Benz the opportunity to travel throughout the United States and around the globe. Benz, a native of Pittsburgh, and the daughter of a vascular surgeon, comes from a long line of doctors. She was determined to be the first female doctor in the family. However when her skating career ended, she auditioned for a local community theatre play and won the part. Soon after, she attended an acting seminar with two well-known West Coast casting directors and a New York-based manager, Vincent Cirrincione, who has represented her since that time. After studying acting at NYU, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career.

PAUL SCHULZE (Dr. Michael Burnett) has distinguished himself as a recognizable character actor with recurring roles in such acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning series as "The Sopranos," in which he portrayed Father Phil Intintola, and "24," in which he plays Ryan Chapelle. Schulze has dozens of episodic turns as police or military officers, lawyers or medical personnel, including "Justice," "The Closer," "CSI, Crime Scene Investigation," "Navy NCIS," "Law & Order," "JAG," "Without a Trace," "Strong Medicine," "The Division," "The West Wing," "Roswell," and "Homicide, Life on the Streets."
Schulze's feature film credits include "Zodiac," "Blindsight," "Crazylove," "Panic Room," "Last Writes," "Don't Say a Word," "Mimic 2," "Drowning Mona," "Kiss Toledo Goodbye," "Grind," "Flirt," "Clockers," "Laws of Gravity" and "The Unbelievable Truth."

MATTHEW MARSDEN (School Boy) quickly rose to prominence in the popular UK television series, "Coronation Street" in his role as Chris Collins. Marsden won the "Most Popular Newcomer Award" at the National Television Awards (1997) for his performance on the series. In 1998, the actor recorded the hit single, "She's Gone," with Destiny's Child, from his solo album of the same name. His debut single, "The Heart's Lone Desire," reached the top of the UK pop charts. Marsden was soon cast in lead roles in several television movies and feature films, including "Shiner," "Black Hawk Down," "The Legacy," "Helen of Troy," "Anacondonas, The Hunt for the Blood Orchid," "Tamara," "DOA Dead or Alive" and "Resident Evil, Extinction."
Marsden's television credits include guest-starring roles on "Navy NCIS," "CSI Miami," and "Emily's Reasons Why Not." He began his career on the series "Emmerdale," followed by a lead role in the series, "Island." Born in Walsall, West Midlands, in England, Marsden is an avid reader and athlete. In addition to soccer, biking, diving and boxing, he has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a PADI Dive Master certification, and trains with members of the German Navy Kampfswimmerkompanie. His interest in the arts was ignited during his time as a member of the acclaimed National Youth Theatre. He later earned a B.A. degree in performing arts at Middlesex University.

GRAHAM McTAVISH (Lewis) recently moved to Los Angeles after years of acting in his native Great Britain. He first gained attention in his role as Warden Ackerman in the series, "Red Dwarf." He also enjoyed a recurring role as Gerry Talbot on the popular, long-running series, "Casualty," as Urbo in the acclaimed HBO series, "Rome," and as Pete Larson on the series, "The Bill."
McTavish's feature film credits include "Sisterhood," "Pandemic," "King Arthur," "Lara Croft Tomb Raider, The Cradle of Life," "King Lear," "Macbeth" and "The Wind in the Willows." His television movies and miniseries credits include "Return to Treasure Island," "For Queen & Country," "Erik the Viking," "Merlin," "The Stretch," "Red Cap," "Charles II, The Power & The Passion," "D-Day 6.6.1944," and "Empire." His episodic television work includes "Ghost Whisperer," "Dinotopia," "Murder City," "Rosemary & Thyme," "Ali G Indahouse" and "Highlander."
KEN HOWARD (Arthur Marsh) has amassed generations of fans since his memorable and beloved starring roles in television series beginning in the 1970s, most notably as Coach Reeves on the classic MTM drama, "The White Shadow." Howard co-created the series in which he starred, based on his own experiences as the only white player on his high school basketball team. Since then, Howard has starred in numerous stage productions and nearly 90 films and television programs, including such recent feature films as "Still Waters," "Smother," "Michael Clayton," "In Her Shoes," and "Dreamer."
Howard also enjoys a recurring role as retired Lieutenant Max Cavanaugh on the popular NBC series, "Crossing Jordan" and as Walt Callahan on Showtimes' "Huff." He's guest-starred on such series as "Cane," "Law & Order, Special Victims Unit," "The Nine," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Conviction," "Ghost Whisperer," "George Lopez," "The Office," "The West Wing," "The Practice," "Diagnosis Murder," "Arli$$" as well as multiple episodes of "Melrose Place," "Hotel" and "Murder, She Wrote." In addition to "The White Shadow," Howard has starred in several other popular and successful television series including "The Colbys," "Dynasty," "The Manhunter" and "Adam's Rib."
Howard made his feature film debut in "Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon" in 1970. He has also starred in the films, "1776," "Independence," "Such Good Friends," "Clear and Present Danger," "Tactical Assault," "The Net," "Ulterior Motives," "At First Sight" and "Oscar." His miniseries and movies-for-television include, "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town," "The Thorn Birds," "Rage of Angels," "OP Center," "Mastergate," "He's Not Your Son," "Murder in New Hampshire" and "Memories of Midnight."
Born in El Centro, California, Howard attended Amherst College and studied at the Yale School of Drama. In 1968, while at Yale, he took a role on Broadway in Neil Simon's "Promises, Promises." He won the Tony Award as Best Supporting Actor for role as a young gym coach in "Child's Play." He also starred as Thomas Jefferson in the Tony Award-winning musical "1776," a role in reprised for film. His other Broadway credits include "Equus," "Seesaw," "The Norman Conquests" and "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue."
Howard won an Emmy Award for his on-camera narration of "The Body Human, Facts For Boys." He also has recorded more than 30 best-selling books on tape.

REY GALLEGOS (Diaz) began his career as a dancer in numerous stage productions, touring shows and music videos. Gallegos began acting only seven years ago and has quickly amassed an impressive list of episodic television and feature film roles. He made his television debut as the "Bad Guy" on "The King of Queens" in 2000 and played a gardener on the short-lived series, "Bette." Soon, Gallegos was guest-starring on such series as "The Practice," "Star Trek Enterprise," "Angel," "Strong Medicine," "NYPD Blue," "24," "CSI, Miami," "Without a Trace," "Monk," "Charmed," "CSI, NY," and "Standoff." His feature film credits include "Spider-Man 3," "American Wedding," "Bad Boys II," "Death Row," "Voodoo Moon," "Frozen Stars," "Wish" and "Monkey Trouble."

TIM KANG (En-Joo) includes among his feature film credits the upcoming "Mr. Sadman," as well as "What Remains," "Spectropia," "The Forgotten," "Two Weeks Notice," "Robot Stories," "Justice," and "Flight Safety." On television he portrayed Detective Kent "Yoshi" Toshihara on the acclaimed series, "Third Watch." His other episodic credits include "The Sopranos," "Monk," "Ghost Whisperer," "Chapelle's Show," "Law & Order Criminal Intent" and "Law & Order, Trial by Jury."
Kang was born and raised in and around San Francisco, California and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a B.A. in political science. Kang then moved back east and received a Master's of Fine Arts degree from the A.R.T. Institute at Harvard University before pursuing his acting career.

JAKE LA BOTZ (Reese) began acting after his singing-songwriting and live performances caught the attention of actor-director and independent filmmaker Steve Buscemi, who cast La Botz as a blues-singing convict in the film, "Animal Factory." He performed two original songs on screen and contributed more to the film's soundtrack. When Stallone heard La Botz playing his guitar on the set of "John Rambo," the writer-director added scenes where La Botz's character, Reese, plays and sings in the film. La Botz is also contributing music to the film's soundtrack.
La Botz has combined his lifelong passion for music with his increasing work as an actor and musician in films and television. His film credits include appearing as himself in "Ordinary Madness," and composing the film's music. He also acted as Homer in "The Grey" and composed the film's score. He was a Blueshammer Member in the film "Ghost World," a right-to-lifer in "13 Moons," a welder in Buscemi's "Lonesome Jim," and the character Eddie in "Night with You." One He also performed on the television series "Gilmore Girls," as a troubadour. He was the composer on the video "The life and Legend of Bob Wall" and the film, "Temple Street Blues." His soundtrack work includes "Unbeatable Harold" and "The Insatiable."
Raised in Chicago, La Botz' love of music began early as he combined his interest in punk rock with the city's legendary blues scene. His travels and interest in music took him to Europe, Mexico and throughout the United States, especially the Mississippi Delta and other parts of the South. La Botz has been well-known for his many musical tour venues around the country, which include tattoo parlors, gospel churches, blues clubs and bars.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

Writer-Director-Actor SYLVESTER STALLONE (Biography above in ABOUT THE CAST Section).

Production Designer FRANCO GIANCOMO CARBONE worked previously with writer-director-actor Stallone on the film, "Rocky Balboa." He has designed a wide variety of feature films including "Bug," "Hostel" (on which he also served as a costume designer), "Down in the Valley," "Starship Trooper 2, Hero of the Federation," "Perfect Opposites," "Wonderland," and "Cabin Fever."

Director of Photography GLEN MacPHERSON, CSC, ASC includes among his feature film credits "One Missed Call," "Trick 'r' Treat," "16 Blocks," "Rebound," "Walking Tall," "My Baby's Daddy," "Friday After Next," "All About the Benjamins," "Exit Wounds," "Camouflage" and "Romeo Must Die."
The Canadian-born and raised MacPherson has served as director of photography on dozens of television movies and series, including "Max Q," "Calm at Sunset," "Captains Courageous," "Bye Bye Birdie," "The Substitute," "The Sea Wolf" and "Conspiracy of Silence."

Composer BRIAN TYLER won an ASCAP Film and Television Music Award (2006) for his music in the film, "Constantine." He was nominated for a 2002 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Music Composition" for his score to the television movie, "Last Call."
Most recently, he composed for the following feature films, "Bangkok Dangerous," "Aliens vs. Predator, Requiem," "War," "Partition," "Finishing the Game," "The Fast and the Furious, Tokyo Drift " "Bug" and "Annapolis," and "The Greatest Game Ever Played." Other motion picture credits include "Paparazzi," "Frailty," "Last Stand," "The Hunted," "Darkness Falls," "Vampires, Los Muertos," "Timeline," and "The Big Empty."
Tyler's themes from his score for "Children of Dune" has become a popular musical choice for motion picture trailers, including "Master and Commander," "Sahara," "Cinderella Man" and "The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe."
Tyler has also served as a conductor, orchestrator and score producer and has contributed to many soundtracks as a writer and performer.

Costume Designer LIZZ WOLF previously served as associate costume designer on the film "The Black Dahlia" and assistant costume designer on the award-winning "Dreamgirls," "The Rules of Attraction" and "Spy Game." Prior to that, she was a costumer on numerous productions including "Deck the Halls," "Dodgeball, A True Underdog Story," "Pirates of the Caribbean The Curse of the Black Pearl, "Traffic," "Bounce," "Picking Up the Pieces," "The Muse," "Armageddon" and "Senseless." Wolf also worked as a costume supervisor and costumer on the movies "The Last Word," "Family Prayers," and "The Borrower."

Editor SEAN ALBERTSON previously worked with writer-director-actor Sylvester Stallone as editor of "Rocky Balboa." For more than 20 years, Albertson has worked as an editor, supervising or associate editor on feature films and television movies and series, including "E-Ring," "North Shore," "Clive Barker's Saint Sinner," "Two Blind Mice," "Trash," "The Last Ride," and "Shoot the Moon." He has served as an editor on the series "Lost" and an associate editor on "The Cat in the Hat."
Producer AVI LERNER, together with Executive Producers Danny Dimbort and Trevor Short, is a principal and partner of Nu Image, Inc.., which they co-founded, and Millennium Films. Lerner, co-chairman of Nu Image, Inc. and Millennium Films, has more than 300 films to his credit. Lerner started his film career as the owner and operator of a chain of movie theatres and began producing in 1984 with the action-adventure feature "King Solomon's Mines" starring Sharon Stone. Since then, he has become one of the industry's most successful and prolific producers of action, sci-fi and disaster films and a pioneer of international home video distribution.
Originally dedicated to action and thriller genres, Nu Image formed Millennium Films in 1996 to address the theatrical market's growing need for quality art films and higher budget action features. The two divisions have produced more than 230 films in less than 15 years, including the recent theatrical releases, "The Black Dahlia," "88 Minutes," "Wicker Man" "Lonely Hearts" and "16 Blocks." Upcoming Nu Image/Millennium releases include "John Rambo," "The Cleaner," "Mad Money," "The Contract" "Day of the Dead" and "Major Movie Star."

Producer JOHN THOMPSON grew up in Rome, where his outstanding body of work in the Italian film industry throughout the 1980s and '90s includes Franco Zeffirelli's "Otello" (two Oscar nominations, Cannes main competition, American Critics Award), Claude D'anna's "Salome" (Cannes main competition), Lina Wermuller's "Camorra" (four Donatello Awards, Berlin Film Fest official entry), Liliana Cavani's "Berlin Interior" (Donatello Awards, Berlin official selection), Paul Schrader's "Comfort of Strangers" (Cannes official selection), Ivan Passer's "Haunted Summer" (Venice Film Festival official selection), Jerzy Skolimowski's "Torrents of Spring" (Cannes official selection) and Giuseppe Tornatore's "Everybody's Fine" (Cannes official selection).
Thompson returned to Los Angeles to helm production for Avi Lerner's Millennium Films in 1998. With Millennium, he has produced or co-produced Paul Chart's "American Perfekt" (Cannes official selection), Susanna Styron's "Shadrach" (Venice official selection), Rory Kelly's "Some Girls" (LA Independent Film Festival winner for Best Director), Audrey Wells' "Guinevere," George Hickenlooper's "Big Brass Ring" as well as "Prozac Nation," "Nobody's Baby," "Replicant," "Try Seventeen" "and "Undisputed," to name a few. More recently, he produced Richard Donner's action-thriller "16 Blocks," Jon Avnet's "88 Minutes," Brian De Palma's "The Black Dahlia" (adapted from James Elroy's novel) and "King of California," starring Michael Douglas.

Producer KEVIN KING-TEMPLETON is an executive at Rogue Marble, Sylvester Stallone's production company, where he has worked for more than 20 years. Most recently, King-Templeton produced the acclaimed "Rocky Balboa" for MGM and executive produced the feature films, "Driven" and "Avenging Angelo." His other feature film producing credits include "D-Tox/Eye See You," "Get Carter" and Miramax's "Copland." He also served as vice president of marketing for "Pop Star" Magazine.
For television, King-Templeton developed and produced a pilot for CBS called, "Father Lefty."

Executive Producers DANNY DIMBORT, BOAZ DAVIDSON and TREVOR SHORT have financed and produced hundreds of films for Nu Image/Millennium Films. Danny Dimbort also serves as co-chairman of Nu Image/Millennium. He is a specialist in international film sales and the domestic and international home video market. Prior to co-founding Nu Image, Dimbort was Executive Vice President of Cannon Films in the '80s. When Cannon and Pathe took over MGM in 1990, he became President of International Distribution at MGM. In 1992, he left MGM to start and co-chair Nu Image, Inc. with Avi Lerner.
Trevor Short first worked with Avi Lerner in his South African-based Nu Metro Entertainment Group before becoming Chief Financial Officer of Nu Image/Millennium in 1992. As one of the three principals of Nu Image/Millennium, Short is responsible for the legal, financial and administrative operations of the corporation.
Short, who was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, received a law degree from the University of Rhodesia and a MBA from the University of Cape Town. In 1980, he entered the merchant banking industry, eventually developing various tax and subsidy structures to finance the production of international feature films in South Africa. In addition to heading corporate banking finance departments, Short became the primary consultant to the South African government regarding film investment and taxation legislation.
Boaz Davidson, born in Tel Aviv, started off writing poems and short stories for youth magazines while in his teens. After his Israeli military service, he expanded his writing career to filmmaking and left for the London Film School where he majored in directing and writing. Davidson returned to Israel after his studies where he wrote and directed many successful Israeli films, one of which is his biographical film "Lemon Popsicle" which still holds the #1 box office position in Israel to this very day. "Lemon Popsicle" was also the first Israeli film to break out around the world, and due to its huge success nine sequels were made. Among other famous Israeli films are "Charlie and a Half", "Snooker" and "Alex Love Sick".
In 1980, Davidson moved to the United States and teamed up again with Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, the producers of "Lemon Popsicle", at their prolific company, Cannon Films, and made several films, including the hit `80s film, "The Last American Virgin".
In 1992, he joined Nu Image, which had just started its first production company based in Los Angeles, with Avi Lerner, Danny Dimbort and Trevor Short where he continued to write and direct many films, such as "Looking for Lola".
Overall, Davidson has produced some 75 motion pictures, and written and/or directed over 40 films. He now devotes more of his time overseeing productions, serving as the company¹s Head of Production and Creative Affairs. Recent credits include "16 Blocks", "The Black Dahlia", "Lonely Hearts", "Wicker Man", "Home of the Brave", "King of California" and "Mad Money".

Executive Producers ANDREAS THIESMEYER, JOSEF LAUTENSCHLAGER and DR. FLORIAN LECHNER

Andreas Thiesmeyer started his career as a distribution and artist & repertoire manager for the music record company Deutsche Grammophon/Polydor (Polygram). From 1981 through 2001 he was with Bavaria Film, Munich, as managing director of subsidiary company Bavaria Entertainment and producer of television features and series. He developed and produced a stream of successful music shows as well as variety, sitcoms, quiz and game shows for German television.
In 2001, Thiesmeyer founded Equity Pictures AG with Manfred Speidel, Josef Lautenschlager and Gerd Koechlin. Equity partnered with Nu Image/Millennium Films on a number of pictures including "The Black Dahlia"," Wicker Man", "16 Blocks" and "Lonely Hearts".

Josef Lautenschlager can look back on many years of experience in the field of closed funds and financial management. His career began in the mid-'80s as a management consultant for various media, real estate and ship-building fund initiators and, since that time he has worked for and with several leading investment companies.
In 2001, he joined Equity Pictures as CFO. As a result of his fund management expertise, he was instrumental in developing Equity Pictures' mediafund investment framework. Due to this solid and financially sound concept, the Equity Pictures Media Fund, in the four years since its incorporation, has seen a healthy and steady investment growth.

Dr. Florian Lechner runs his own management consultancy firm as well as managing Equity Pictures. His objective is to serve as a catalyst for the consolidation of the German Media Fund sector. He gained his media expertise as a senior executive at ApolloMedia and InternationalMedia. His original background is from the strategic consultancy and private equity business where he acted as an entrepreneur in Spain, having worked throughout Europe for The Boston Consulting Group. He holds a Ph.D. in Law from Vienna/Madrid Universities and an MBA from Duke University, USA.

Executive Producers RANDALL EMMETT and GEORGE FURLA are partners in Emmett/Furla Films and have teamed to produce or executive produce nearly 15 films with Nu Image/Millennium Films productions, including "King Of California," "The Contract," "Finding Rin Tin Tin," "Room Service," "Edison," "16 Blocks," "Wicker Man," "Cleaner," "Home of the Brave," "88 Minutes," "Day of the Dead" and "Mad Money."
Emmett and Furla's first film together was "Speedway Junky" and the duo went on to produce "Good Advice" and the acclaimed "Narc" and "Wonderland." Other feature film credits include "Pop Princess," "Room Service," "Micronauts" and "Love Song for Bobby Long."
Born and raised in Miami, Emmett graduated from the prestigious performing arts high school, New World School of Arts, and then moved to New York City to attend The School of Visual Arts. Furla, a Chicago native, entered the entertainment industry by way of Wall Street. After graduating from University of Southern California with a B.S., he worked as an equity securities trader at the internationally known Cantor Fitzgerald.