- Notes provided by Sony Entertainment -

The millennia-old battle between Vampires and Lycans rages on in stunning 3D in Underworld Awakening, the fourth and most spectacular installment in the hugely popular franchise. Taking the celebrated saga's signature action and mayhem to a new level, Underworld Awakening pits the legendary Vampire warrioress Selene (Kate Beckinsale) against her most powerful adversary yet, just as she discovers a shocking secret that will change everything she has ever fought for.
Fifteen years have passed since Selene and her human-Lycan hybrid lover Michael vanquished the Vampire Elder Marcus in Underworld Evolution. In the intervening years, mankind has discovered the existence of both the Vampire and Lycan clans, and launched an all-out war to eradicate both species. Selene, captured during the genocide, awakens after more than a decade to find herself captive in a sealed laboratory at Antigen, a powerful biotech corporation dedicated to developing a vaccine against the viruses that have created the Vampires and Lycans.
Selene is heartbroken to discover that Michael is dead, but her grief is soon overshadowed by the shock of her discovery that, while in a cryogenically frozen state, she has given birth to his daughter, Eve (India Eisley). As she seeks asylum for herself and her child, Selene finds herself in a world in which her once proud people have been hunted nearly to extinction and the few survivors hide underground.
Shunned by the remaining clans, Selene enlists the support of a young Vampire, David (Theo James), who joins her in a bloody vendetta against Antigen, where shadowy forces conspire to destroy both her and her child. With their traditional enemies, the Lycans, once again in ascendance, even Selene seems powerless in the face of the most ferocious opponent in Underworld history-a genetically enhanced uber-Lycan.
Underworld Awakening stars Kate Beckinsale (Underworld, The Aviator, Nothing But The Truth), Stephen Rea (V for Vendetta, The Crying Game), Michael Ealy (Seven Pounds, Barbershop), Theo James (You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger), India Eisley (The Secret Life of an American Teenager), and Charles Dance (``Game of Thrones, Alien3).
Underworld Awakening is directed by Mårlind & Stein (Shelter, Storm). The screenplay is by Len Wiseman (Underworld, Underworld: Evolution) & John Hlavin (The Shield), and J. Michael Straczynski and Allison Burnett (Untraceable, Fame). The story is by Len Wiseman and John Hlavin; based on characters created by Kevin Grevioux and Len Wiseman & Danny McBride. It is produced by Tom Rosenberg (The Lincoln Lawyer, Million Dollar Baby), Gary Lucchesi (The Lincoln Lawyer, Million Dollar Baby, Underworld), Len Wiseman and Richard Wright (The Lincoln Lawyer, Underworld).
The film's executive producers are David Kern (The Lincoln Lawyer, Fame), James McQuaide, David Coatsworth (John Adams, Grey Gardens), Eric Reid, Skip Williamson (Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Crank), and Henry Winterstern (Conan The Barbarian, Underworld Evolution).
Director of photographer is Scott Kevan (Death Race, The Losers). Production designer is Genie award-winning Claude Paré (Barney's Version, Night at the Museum). Editor is Jeff McEvoy (Wonderland, The Lincoln Lawyer). Costumes are by Academy Award(R) nominee Monique Prudhomme (Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Juno). Music is by Paul Haslinger.
The film has been rated R by the MPPA for the following reasons: strong violence and gore, and for some language.
Running time is 89 minutes.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

For the fourth installment of their mega-hit Underworld franchise, producers Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi and Richard Wright, and franchise creator Len Wiseman have taken the extraordinary risk of reinventing and reinvigorating an already hugely successful, internationally acclaimed property. The filmmakers have transported their Vampire and Lycan characters into a contemporary, human-dominated world in which they are hunted to near extinction, adding the excitement of cutting edge 3D technology into the mix.
With other commitments pending, including helming the upcoming remake of Total Recall, franchise creator Len Wiseman chose not to direct the film, but was on hand as a producer and provided the inspiration for the extraordinary storyline. ``Len imagined a scenario where Selene and Michael have created a child, says Gary Lucchesi, president of Lakeshore Entertainment. ``That was the starting point for this movie. It would have been impossible to make such a good movie without Len's contribution. He was involved in everything from production design to writing the script and casting the film.
Kate Beckinsale, who starred in the first two installments of the Underworld saga, once again returns as the Vampire Death Dealer Selene, who escapes a lengthy imprisonment to discover that humans have almost successfully eradicated both the Vampire and Lycan clans.
``This is a continuation of the story that ended in Underworld Evolution, says David Coatsworth, executive producer of the film. ``Putting Selene into the context of a modern world and having her interact with humans is one of the two big new elements. The second is the discovery that she's the mother of a teenage daughter. It brings a whole new twist to the evolution of Selene and sets up the possibility of continuing on into the future.
Set 15 years after the conclusion of Underworld Evolution, Underworld Awakening adds new characters and new rules to the story. ``I think the hardcore fans are going to find a more action-packed and, to a certain degree, more violent Underworld than they've seen before, says Lucchesi. ``Selene's rougher in this movie than she's ever been. She's capable of greater violence. It's a very strong dramatic story and extremely well-acted. We've set a high bar with the earlier films and I think the audience will find this really intriguing.
The updates take the story out of its mythological past and place it squarely in the world of the science-fiction action thriller. ``It doesn't take place in our past or present or future, says Richard Wright of Lakeshore. ``It takes place in its own version of all three of those temporal periods.
With series stalwart Wiseman unavailable to direct, the filmmakers launched an extensive search for someone to take the helm of the new production. ``We considered a number of young filmmakers who had demonstrated an interest in the Underworld franchise, says Lucchesi. ``That group included a team of Swedish directors, Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein . They had co-directed a really interesting film called Storm, which seemed to us to have been heavily influenced by Underworld.
``We could see from watching their earlier movie that they understood how the heroine was set up, the way that the film was shot, the camera movements, the color palette, everything, says Wright. ``Then they gave us a very detailed presentation book that showed us what they thought the movie should look like. It was obvious these guys were going to bring a lot to the party.
Mårlind and Stein, who have previously directed separately as well as together, have known each other since they were children. They have developed an uncanny connection that allows them to work most effectively in tandem, with each directing on alternate days. ``We flip a coin the day before the shoot, says Stein. ``Usually Måns wins, which is not necessarily a win. If you win the coin toss, you have to direct the first day, and first day is always chaos.
``When Måns is directing, I'm 'best buddy,' he continues. ``I'm always next to him, supporting him. He runs the show and makes all the decisions about the actors, the camera-everything. I'm there to handle questions about anything that's not immediately urgent, whether it's casting, production design, visual effects or anything else.
Directing on alternate days gives the pair what they feel is an enormous advantage. ``We each have time to recharge and prepare for the upcoming day, says Mårlind. ``When you don't have to put out fires all day long, you can be clear headed and think more about the big picture.
As unorthodox as their method sounds, the film's actors and producers solidly endorse the result. ``I don't know how I'm going to go back to having one director, says Beckinsale. ``By trading off, they are able to stay incredibly excited to have their turn. They never get burned out. I'm married to a director, so I realize that it's such a miserably nonstop job. There are always 50 people asking you questions. With a partner to answer those questions, the one who's directing can stay focused on the actors and the shot at hand.
The directors were well aware of all the work that been done to create the series through the previous three installment and had the utmost respect for the franchise. ``The films are based in a strong, interesting and well-developed mythology, which is why we've always been fans, says Mårlind. ``Here we are dealing with universal themes like love, survival and death. We take that part of it seriously, but there is so much cool stuff going on that it never becomes pretentious. The series is distinguished by a good mix of performances and visual style, which is something we like. We don't see ourselves as just visual directors or just acting directors. We love both.
The pair's primary concern, says Stein, was being able to bring new, compelling elements to the screen while preserving the best of the past. ``We jumped into it because it was such a good script, says Stein. ``The concept of the film itself actually deviates slightly from the earlier movies, so we are walking a fine line. Underworld Awakening is not today, it's not set in our world. That has been challenging because we've had to create a new world, while keeping the Underworld stamp on it and staying true to the franchise.
``We talked a lot with Len Wiseman and he was very helpful in setting up guidelines for what's cool and what's not cool in terms of the Underworld mythos, he continues. ``All these new situations are presented in a totally different environment, and we had to make a lot of decisions on the fly as well, which was fun.
The timeless archetypes of werewolves and Vampires remain. ``The Vampire is the sexy, dark side of all of us, says Mårlind. ``But we also have the werewolf side which is the destructive force.
The biggest difference is in the balance of power, according to Stein. ``The Vampires are underdogs for the first time, so they become a minority that you root for, says the director. ``They can kill a man easily, but they can't kill mankind. I think what's exciting for fans is that we are taking another step deeper into the mythology that will expand the universe.
There are several new characters who will help to do just that, including an underground coven of defeated Vampires and Selene's daughter, Eve (played by 17-year-old India Eisley), whose combined Vampire-Lycan bloodline make her an unknown quantity with powers still to be discovered. ``Eve's not a Vampire or a Lycan, Eisley says. ``She's the first Lycan-Vampire hybrid and the last descendant of Alexander Corvinus, which makes her unwelcome among either the Lycans or the Vampires.
Another new development in the Underworld myth is a divide in the evolution of the Lycan race that threatens to upend the balance between the age-old enemies. ``There are now three different types, says Lucchesi. ``A devolved, barely surviving type of Lycan has been driven underground. They're suffering from malnutrition. They're vicious, almost zombie-like Lycans. We also have the regular Lycans that we've seen in the earlier movies.
But the most significant development is the uber-Lycan. ``This is an all new creature, explains the producer. ``The uber-Lycan is massive. It stands twelve feet tall and weighs 1,200 pounds. It has a bigger torso and longer arms and slightly shorter hind legs, more like a gorilla than the previous Lycans. There's only one of them so far and it always seems to be angry. It's throwing cars, it's smashing holes in walls, and it's not especially fond of Selene.
Mårlind calls the new creature, ``the ultimate Lycan. He is the result of mankind's experiments. We learn that he can survive an attack with silver, which is the Achilles' heel for werewolves, so he's pretty unstoppable.
``There's a certain poetry to the Underworld characters, Burnett adds. ``The actors are for the most part extremely skilled with language. We wanted to give them and their characters a high degree of eloquence.

With the Underworld Awakening, the filmmakers set out to create an all new story that would appeal to both long-time franchise fans and attract the attention of those who have not yet experienced the Underworld saga. ``I think that when people who have enjoyed the earlier films come to a new one, there are certain things they expect to see, certain conventions to be adhered to, says Coatsworth. ``But I think they also want something new. That presents a two-fold challenge. We had to be loyal to the rules of the game and also provide a new dimension to the story.
Coatsworth believes the film succeeds on both levels and will be able to stand on its own as an exciting and entertaining film. ``You don't have to have seen any of the other Underworlds to appreciate it. I think a new group of people who enjoy action films and 3D will be a big part of our audience.
By giving Selene and Michael a daughter, the filmmakers hope to extend the life of the franchise well into the future. ``Since both Selene and Eve are immortal, who knows what will happen. says Wright. ``They may be together for a thousand years.

DISCOVERING THE NEXT GENERATION

Fans of the first two Underworld films are sure to be thrilled by the return of actress Kate Beckinsale in the role of the fearsome Vampire huntress Selene. ``We really wanted to work with Kate again, says Lucchesi. ``Sometimes the stars just align themselves perfectly and this is one of those times.
Beckinsale admits she thought twice about slipping back into the familiar skintight black latex suit before accepting the part again. ``But it was a life-changing role for me, so I feel very affectionate towards it. It's exciting to be able to follow a character over such a long period of time. It's rare to get that chance.
Tom Rosenberg, Lakeshore Entertainment chairman and CEO, says he's thrilled to have Beckinsale in the film. ``She is Selene, and Selene is the heart and soul of Underworld. Right from that first scene in the first film, she embodied the perfect tone.
On set, it was clear she had lost none of the edge that made Selene an iconic figure in Underworld lore. ``Kate can switch into Selene like that, says Mårlind, snapping his fingers. ``She can be having a laugh, but when action's called, she has those guns up and she looks like she's going to kill you. She has a highway into Selene that is fantastic. As a director, it's marvelous to have someone who is so close to their character.
Revisiting the character and mythology that helped launch her career as a bona fide movie star was great fun for the actress. ``It was exciting to do this together with the people who created the original film in a new environment with a different set of problems for Selene, she says. ``We all wanted a really fresh take and I think we've achieved that.
The most unsettling change for Selene is finding that she has a daughter. ``Suddenly being presented with a child who's almost fully grown is a shock, especially when the girl's father is gone, says Beckinsale. ``It's quite a lot to handle. I wouldn't say Selene is suddenly soft and maternal, but she's protective in a new and different sort of way.
After a centuries-long lifetime of being answerable to no one, Selene is only slowly able to embrace her daughter, says co-writer J. Michael Straczynski. ``It brings out another side of her, he notes. ``In the previous movies, she was primarily focused on battling the bad guys. She was fighting against them, not fighting for someone, as she is now.
The child opens up the character of Selene to a host of new possibilities and allows the character some emotional moments unlike anything in the previous films. ``For the first time, there is a certain amount of vulnerability in Selene, says Wright. ``She has an interplay with Eve that is very un-Selene like. Selene is very cold and nothing gets under her skin. She loves no one, she's a killing machine-and then she has a daughter.
Eve's presence adds a new dimension to an already unique storyline, observes Beckinsale. ``There aren't very many female-led franchises, that work without being deliberately titillating or objectifying the lead character. I think that's one of the great things about Selene becoming a mother, with all the attendant conflicts.
Newcomer India Eisley plays the now teenaged Eve, whose life has been lived as a test subject for the biotech conglomerate that imprisoned her mother. Eisley, who takes on her first major film role in Underworld Awakening, captivated the filmmakers with her solemn precocity and otherworldly beauty. ``India has an exotic quality to her, says Lucchesi. ``She's also completely believable as Kate's daughter. She tested the first day of casting and we never topped her.
Eisley won the role against stiff competition, perhaps a testament to her show-business roots. ``She was terrific, Rosenberg recalls. ``I remember her enchanting mother, Olivia Hussey, when she first came on the scene in Zefferelli's Romeo and Juliet, so it was very exciting to find India.
In a strange coincidence, Eisley was in a coffee shop in Santa Monica shortly after her audition and was spotted by Kate Beckinsale, who was there with Len Wiseman and their daughter, Lily. ``She turned to Len, and said, 'look at that girl,' recalls Eisley. ``'You should go ask her if she wants to be in the movie. She's like a mini me.' And he told her, 'we just saw her audition tape.'
In the film, Eve is discovered by Selene and David huddled in a damp underground hallway where she has taken shelter from a Lycan attack. ``She's spent her whole life at Antigen as kind of a lab rat, says Eisley. ``She broke out in her hybrid form, but she has no idea what to do because she's never been outside. Once she gets out into the real world, it's a complete shock.
Eve is a bundle of contradictions, says the young actress, unaware of her powerful abilities, she's frightened by everything she is experiencing for the first time. ``Eve is both really tough and vulnerable, Eisley says. ``Like most teenage girls, she has extremes of emotion, but it's enhanced. She has these conflicting impulses within her that she can't control, so it goes from being very restrained to being completely animalistic.
As a longtime fan of the franchise, Eisley applauds the changes that Underworld Awakening brings to the story. ``It is really great how they're re-introducing Kate and at the same time introducing new characters, she notes. ``They've interwoven all of the storylines seamlessly. Kate's one of my favorite actresses and she's just as lovely as I thought she would be. I just feel lucky to be working with her.
Also new to the franchise is the Vampire David, played by Theo James. David has been searching for Selene, whose reputation has inspired him to want to fight back against human aggression. ``For David, Selene's a kind of legend, says James. ``She's this super hot Vampire, but also hard as nails. When David hears she may be alive, nothing can stop him from trying to find her.
David and his coven, which is led by his father Thomas, have taken shelter from ongoing human attacks below ground. But David is aching to take action. ``The script is really strong, says James. ``We've got a mix of blood ties, family bonds and revenge, plus the genocide angle. I did a lot of work to make sure I knew exactly where my character was coming from, where he sat in the history of it. I talked with Måns and Björn about where David would have been born, when he would have been turned, all those kinds of things.
David is the first Vampire that Selene encounters at a moment when she fears there aren't any left in the world. He takes her to his secret coven, where the remaining Vampires are hidden, but his father wants to turn Selene and Eve away. ``To be fair, Selene has a reputation for killing Elders and causing all sorts of trouble, says Beckinsale. ``David becomes a champion of sorts for her. She's never had anyone on her side before.
Beckinsale served as a mentor for James in his entry to the Vampire world. ``Kate is so embedded in the mythology, he says. ``She knows Selene like no one else can. She was so helpful with little pointers about the limits of the Vampires, what they can do and what they can't.
Adding new young actors like Eisley and James opens up more possibilities for the franchise, says Lucchesi. ``The story that does not feel complete at the end of the movie. You really feel that the franchise must go on and I think you're going to see prominent roles for Eve and David in future Underworld films, as well as for Thomas, Charles Dance's character.
Dance plays David's father, an Elder Vampire and head of one of the few remaining Vampire covens. ``They've been in hiding and they're no longer as wealthy and as powerful as Vampires used to be, says Lucchesi. ``But by the end of the movie they will have a resurgence.
Dance brings a natural, slightly sinister elegance to his role. ``He's extremely tall, so he's very imposing, says Björn Stein. ``But it's also his voice. He could talk about pebbles and dirt and I would still listen, because it's just one of those voices.
Thomas is hidden in his outlaw coven when David appears with what seems to be the body of a dead child. ``It's Eve, says Dance. ``She's not dead, not quite, but she is a hybrid and Thomas is not happy. We're a threatened species, we Vampires, and there is a general agreement that we don't bring strangers into our place of sanctuary.
The decision to play Thomas was a simple one for Dance. ``My daughter is a fan and said she wouldn't speak to me again if I didn't, says the veteran actor, whose numerous film and television roles include Clemens in Aliens3 and more recently, Tywin Lannister on HBO's hit series ``Game of Thrones. ``Joining an established franchise isn't really any different from jumping into any other film and introducing a new character. The only continuing factor running through it is Kate Beckinsale.
The stellar cast also includes Stephen Rea as Dr. Lane, the ruthless director of Antigen. ``Jacob is one of those bad guys who's at war with himself, says Beckinsale. ``He's defined by his self-loathing and regrets. The various tragedies in his life have caused him to go the wrong way for the wrong reasons, which makes him rather a dark, vulnerable figure.
Rea's character appears to have simple motivations for his actions, but he has a well-hidden secret that affects everyone in the film. ``I think what's most interesting about this series is that there's a tremendous depth to the characters, Rea says. ``They're not just superficial. There's a great sense of history to their pain and their quest.
In addition to David, Selene finds an ally in Detective Sebastian, played by Michael Ealy. Sebastian is a human who lost his Vampire wife in one of the savage purges. ``Working with Kate has been a lot of fun and an honor, says Ealy. ``Obviously, she is Underworld, but she's as humble and as sweet as one could be. And she's completely professional. In our first scene together, I was amazed at how she could instantly transform into Selene without thinking about it.
Hardcore fans of the franchise are going to be thrilled that Beckinsale is back and badder than ever, Ealy says. ``On the other hand, this is the perfect film for anyone who is not familiar with the franchise. As the first fully fleshed-out human character in the series, Detective Sebastian represents a dynamic that has been missing from some of the other films. For the first time we get a chance to see what it's like for a human to live amongst these powerful supernatural creatures.
The changes have opened up the movie and brought it out of the Underworld, according to Beckinsale. ``There are some really great new characters played by some really great actors, she says. ``India's fantastically talented and Theo's a real find. Stephen and Charles bring something new to it, but with a very familiar vibe. They have some of the same gravitas that Bill Nighy, who played Viktor, the Vampire Elder in the earlier films, had. It all adds yet another layer of intrigue and danger.

A NEW VISION OF UNDERWORLD

With Underworld Awakening bringing Vampires and Lycans into the cold light of the human world, the filmmakers strove to differentiate the Old World fantasy-based Underworld from the modern urbanity in which Selene finds herself. Shooting in Vancouver B.C., they found much they could take advantage of: the city's modern skyline, the outlying wilderness and the moody atmosphere. ``Vancouver is one of the great filmmaking cities, says Coatsworth. ``We embraced both the contemporary and the older aspects of the city to try to create an extension of our European city, while subtly bringing it into the future.
The damp, overcast streets of Vancouver provided the dark, wet mood the filmmakers sought for their dystopian future, while the modernist architecture provided inspiration for the vast unnamed city. Underworld is not our world, says Mårlind. ``You can't say it's Moscow or New York or Rome. It's Underworld. This was what was very attractive to us, because we were able to explore new ideas.
``If you look around, you will see very hard concrete architectural types, he continues. ``It is very unlike the Gothic style of a place like Budapest, but it has a very cool feel that has been extremely fun to explore.
The filmmakers gave the fictional city a skyline inspired by the buildings of Soviet-era Eastern Europe. ``We went with a very specific look, the architectural style known as brutalism, says production designer Claude Paré. ``Brutalism was the predominant style of the Communist era. It is functional, unadorned and rectilinear. Typically it's built from stark, grey slabs of poured concrete in bold symmetrical forms. In Vancouver, there are many buildings designed by the architect Arthur Erickson that fit the profile and we were fortunate to be able use of some of these buildings, including Simon Fraser University, which we made our key location, the headquarters of Antigen.
With a laser technology called LIDAR, the filmmakers were able to reshape the Vancouver skyline based on the specifications of the directors, in essence building an entirely new city for Underworld Awakening's human world. James McQuaide, the film's executive producer and visual effects supervisor used LIDAR's ability to capture the geometry of volume to custom build a completely original skyline for a modern city that isn't geographically recognizable, because it doesn't really exist.
``We scanned different buildings from all over Vancouver, then brought those images together to create a kind of composite photo, says McQuaide. ``The buildings may be recognizable, if you know Vancouver well, but they are not situated next to each other except in our cityscape. Once we captured the actual geometry of the space, we recreated what was there practically. Because it's data, we're not married to any particular angle, so the camera can move freely in the virtual space.
Production designer Paré also created a cave-like home for the Vampire coven. Hunted to near extinction, a small group has taken refuge in an underground lair beneath a giant hydroelectric dam. ``There just happened to be fantastic hydroelectric dam about a half an hour north of Vancouver, says Wright.
The lair is a monument to earlier times, filled with relics of formerly luxurious lives. ``Everything is dripping and very moldy, says Paré. ``It's done in tones of ochre, brown, dark green and there's lots of black.
It contrasts sharply with the hard geometry of the city, says Mårlind. ``We wanted the Vampire world to be old and sensual and round, he explains. ``It has a feeling of the womb to it, because that is a theme in the film for Selene.
Both the coven and the Antigen interiors had to be custom built for the shoot. ``Vancouver has a number of sound stage facilities that allowed us to spread out and build all of these sets, says Wright. ``Vancouver also has very, very highly skilled set construction people, which came in handy. We were creating a medieval crypt-like coven and then we were doing very high-tech concrete and glass interiors for Antigen and those are two completely different finishes.
Selene's iconic costume had to be recreated down to the last detail by Academy Award(R)-nominated costume designer Monique Prudhomme. ``The first time I saw her in the costume, I thought, she's back! Prudhomme says. ``The challenge was to find a fabric that would give the same feel and comfort. The costume is very simple, but it was critical to get it right. The latex suit has absolutely no hanger appeal, but because Kate is so beautiful and athletic, she fills it out and makes it look fantastic. The detail in her costume comes from the leather corset that is boned and embroidered. It's like her armor.
Giving the actress added panache is her oversized death dealer coat. ``It's a leather coat that is elaborately embroidered on the shoulders, in the front and on the sleeves, says the designer. ``That coat gives her a big 'swoosh' of movement, and also brings the Vampire tradition to her look.
Putting on the costume the first time was like coming home, says Beckinsale. ``Just the sound it makes is very specific. I was very intimidated by the costume in the beginning, but I trust it now. It actually gives me a help, if anything.
Special-effects makeup designer Todd Masters was entrusted with the task of creating an original visual concept for Eve, the first Vampire-Lycan hybrid. ``It was a really great honor to be handed this mantle, says Masters. ``The technology and artistic technique have developed so quickly that the bar is very high. The Eve hybrid went through quite a few developments. It was important to be able to see India inside, so she isn't just a monster when she goes through this dynamic transformation. We wanted to see a lot of performance. We made some really cool teeth for her, as well as contact lenses and amazing ruby nails.
Eisley says the elaborate makeup completed the character for her. ``I just loved it. I got the Lycan fangs which are very big and gnarly and just very, very intense, plus blood red, very long claws. The contact lenses are a unique mix of black and ice blue, because Eve's not full Lycan or full Vampire. The contact lenses were very comfortable, but the claws were very painful. They were glued onto my fingers and it felt like they were going to rip my nails off, so it wasn't too pleasant. But it looks great!
In addition to introducing new characters and a new setting, Underworld Awakening reaches a new level of action for the franchise. ``For the first movie, we had no real budget at all, says Wright. What made it work was the atmospherics and story points and acting. This is the most wirework I've ever done on any film. You'll see Selene jumping over fences and making impossible leaps. The bar has been raised so high and I think we have elevated the game.
Brad Martin, who began as a stunt coordinator on Underworld, served as second unit director as well this time out. ``Brad knows the Underworld franchise as well as anybody, so we had tremendous good fortune in getting him to play a directorial role in the second unit action sequences of the film, says Lucchesi. ``He's also a great friend of Kate's, so he had her confidence in terms of asking her to perform some pretty impressive moves. Kate did a lot of her own stunts because Brad made her feel comfortable.
Martin was given ten weeks to prep for the film and develop the tricks and tools he needed for this major enterprise. ``There were a couple things that we needed to do some research and design for, he says. ``The biggest R & D we did was for the uber-Lycan. How do people interact with this enormous creature that is purely CG?
According to Martin, Beckinsale didn't require a lot of training for the role. ``Kate's retention is ridiculously good, he says. ``On the first Underworld we did a month of training with her. We worked three times a week and she trained hard. But it's been ten years since then. We were showing her stuff on set and she might have been rusty at first, but after a rehearsal or two, she got right in there. She brings the attitude.
The actress says she sometimes felt out of her depth, but knew she could rely on Martin and his team. ``Because I know this character very well and have had such thorough training, it was a bit like riding a bike, she says. ``I sort of assumed I wouldn't be able to do things and then found, oh actually, I just ran up a wall ... and that was really fun!
Martin had a huge impact on the design and execution of the high-powered action sequences in the movie. ``Brad wasn't just setting up stunts, says Wright. ``He's phenomenally talented at putting together whole action sequences.
Detective Sebastian fights side-by-side with Selene in some of the movie's most thrilling scenes. ``After I did Takers, I wanted to become the next action hero, so my thing is, any time I get a chance to shoot guns on a movie set in a safe environment, I jump at the opportunity, Ealy admits. ``It's so much fun and this particular crew has found a way to make me look so cool with a gun. That's like every young actor's dream...to try and look as cool as Bruce Willis and the guys from Miami Vice, because those are the guys you saw coming up.
Underworld's visually dynamic, action-heavy and highly stylized look made 3D a logical next step in the development of the franchise. The directors, cinematographer, stereographer and VFX team agreed to treat 3D not as a gimmick but as a way to capture truer, more beautiful images, not unlike the transition from standard definition to high definition. ``In look, the movie is very true to the franchise, says Lucchesi. ``We maintained the same color palette and style. It feels very much the same in terms of its beauty and its elegance, but what differentiates it in a big way is that it's shot in 3D.
The film was shot with new RED Epic cameras. The cameras' extraordinary 5K resolution is roughly five times greater than that of HD. ``So it's an amazing image quality, says Kasimir Lehto, the film's stereographer, who advised on all 3D issues and monitored the stereoscopic image while it was being recorded. ``It is really clean and crisp.
While 3D is more prevalent than ever, many filmmakers opt for the simpler process of postproduction dimensionalization, says Wright. ``Unlike many of the live action films out there, we actually shot in stereoscopic 3D for the entire film. It's immensely time consuming, it's very difficult and it makes every single shot of the movie a special effect.
It also creates an image that affects the human brain differently than post-production dimensionalization, according to the producer. ``It just looks more real. It may not look as flashy because you're not carving out the different planes and highlighting them differently. The two cameras mimic the two eyes of the viewer, so you are seeing something that affects you emotionally and intellectually as a viewer.
Lehto concurs: ``When the viewer is watching stereoscopic 3D, there's a psychophysical reaction. Since the visual information is received in the same way as we receive visual information from the world around us in real life, the body's actually sending signals to the brain that are consistent with the experience of reality. So the Lycans in Underworld Awakening are going to be super scary!
The filmmakers take the technology to an even higher level for the finale of the film, a brutal battle that pits Selene and her small band of followers against the uber-Lycan. ``We asked RED to give us a build that would allow us to shoot at a faster rate in 3D, says James McQuaide. ``Until that point, we were only able shoot 72 frames a second. RED was good enough to make that a priority and they sent us what in essence is a pre-alpha build of the firmware that allows us to shoot 120 frames a second. It was the first time these cameras were ever used on a real movie. And I think people will really notice the difference. The tests that we did were phenomenal.
Lucchesi can't recall ever seeing such a visually stunning live-action 3D movie. ``Most of the movies made have had such a large CG component, he says. ``This has lots more live action, which is more challenging to make look good. The combination of the new RED Epics cameras, plus the inspired work done by our cinematographer, Scott Kevan, and our production designer, Claude Paré, and Len Wiseman's initial vision, has made for a uniquely beautiful 3D movie.

ABOUT THE CAST

KATE BECKINSALE (Selene) English actress Kate Beckinsale is revealing herself to be one of films' most versatile and charismatic actresses. She first gained notice in Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing and then subsequently appeared as the heroine of John Schlesinger's Cold Comfort Farm, Whit Stillman's The Last Days of Disco opposite Chloe Sevigny, Jonathan Kaplan's Brokedown Palace opposite Claire Danes and in the British comedy Shooting Fish. Additional film credits include Haunted opposite Aidan Quinn, and Manuel Fleche's Mary Louise ou la permission.
In 2001, Beckinsale starred opposite Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett in Disney's epic Pearl Harbor. She starred opposite John Cusack in Serendipity, opposite Matthew McConaughey and Gary Oldham in Tiptoes and opposite Christian Bale and Frances McDormand in the ensemble drama Laurel Canyon. Film appearances include starring opposite Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing and starring in the hit vampire tales Underworld and sequel Underworld: Evolution for Sony Screen Gem. Beckinsale also starred as screen legend 'Ava Gardner' in Martin Scorcese's The Aviator, in the Screen Gems thriller Vacancy opposite Luke Wilson and the comedy blockbuster Click opposite Adam Sandler. Recent films include the independent drama Snow Angels opposite Sam Rockwell, directed by David Gordon Green and the independent drama Fragments (aka Winged Creatures) opposite Forest Whitaker and Dakota Fanning,
Her television appearances include playing the title role in A&E's Emma and in One Against the Wind for Hallmark Films. On the stage, she has appeared in ``Clocks & Whistles, ``Sweetheart, and the British National Touring production of ``The Seagull.
In 2009, Beckinsale starred in the action thriller Whiteout produced by Joel Silver, and the dark comedy Everybody's Fine opposite Robert Deniro and Drew Barrymore. That same year, she also starred in the independent political drama Nothing But The Truth opposite Alan Alda and Matt Dillon, which garnered her great recognition for her accolade worthy performance. Beckinsale will next be seen in the suspense thriller Contraband opposite Mark Wahlberg out January 2012. Beckinsale recently wrapped production in the adaptation of Total Recall opposite Colin Farrell and Jessica Biel directed by Len Wiseman.

STEPHEN REA (Dr. Jacob Lane) achieved international recognition when he was nominated for an Academy Award(R) and a Golden Globe for his performance in Neil Jordan's The Crying Game. Previously, Rea had worked with Jordan on Angel (aka Danny Boy), his feature film debut, and Company of Wolves, and they have since collaborated on Interview with a Vampire, Michael Collins, The Butcher Boy, In Dreams, End of the Affair, Breakfast on Pluto, and Ondine. Stephen will be seen this year the indie Blackthorn with Sam Shepard, the indie Stella Days with Martin Sheen, and the indie Styria. He starred in the BBC mini-seriesThe Shadowline that recently aired in the UK. He recently shot The Untitled Werewolf Thriller for Universal.
Among his other film credits are Mike Leigh's Life is Sweet, Robert Altman's Pret a Porter, Still Crazy, Guinevere, Bruce Beresford's Evelyn, Ulysses, Tara Road, V for Vendetta, Spies,The Reaping, Sisters, Sixty Six, and Till Death. Other feature films include Neil Jordan's Ondine, Devil's Mercy and The Heavy.
Rea starred at the Public Theater in New York in Sam Shepard's new play Kicking a Dead Horse. The play was also done at The Abbey Theater in Ireland. Stephen also starred in Sam Shepard's new play Ages of The Moon at The Abbey in Ireland. The play had its American debut at The Atlantic Theater Company in NY in January of 2010. Stephen also starred at The Abbey Theater in the world premiere production of Sebastian Barry's Tales of Ballycumber directed by David Leveaux.
Stephen Rea trained in Ireland's Abbey Theatre School and divided his time in the 1970s and 1980s between fringe theatre, major stage productions, TV and films. He also starred in or directed all of the productions of the Field Day Theatre, a group he formed with playwright Brian Friel in 1980.
Rea was nominated for Broadway's 1993 Tony Award as Best Actor for Frank McGuiness' Someone Who'll Watch Over Me. He has starred in numerous theatre productions in Dublin and London's West End, as well as appearing in several television productions for the BBC, Channel 4 and HBO.

MICHAEL EALY (Detective Sebastian) From his breakout role in Barbershop and Barbershop 2, Michael Ealy is quickly rising through the ranks as one of Hollywood's leading young actors. He will next be seen starring opposite Kate Beckinsale in Underworld Awakening: New Dawn and opposite Taraji P. Henson in Screen Gems' Think Like A Man, based off the widely successful Steve Harvey novel.
Ealy most recently co-starred in Takers opposite Matt Dillon, Idris Elba and Hayden Christensen which was a box office smash this summer. The film centered around a world of a notorious group of criminals who continue to baffle police by pulling off perfectly executed bank robberies. He also starred in Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls with Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, Kimberly Elise, Whoopi Goldberg and Phylicia Rashad which earned him the Best Supporting Actor Award from the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA).
On television, Ealy joined the cast of the hit CBS series The Good Wife with Julianne Marguiles and Christine Baranski this season. He also returned to Showtime for a five episode arc in Californication playing Natascha McElhone's love interest on the show. Last year, Ealy appeared on the hit ABC series FlashForward where he portrayed CIA agent Marshall Vogel. He will next be starring in the USA series Common Law which will premiere next year.
Previously, Ealy starred in Sony Pictures' Seven Pounds opposite Will Smith. Smith personally selected Ealy to play the pivotal role of Smith's younger brother in this dark drama. He also starred in Spike Lee's World War II drama The Miracle at St. Anna which portrayed the story of four buffalo soldiers who risk their lives to save a young, Italian boy, while in enemy territory. Ealy was also featured in the docu-mini-series, The People Speak, based on Howard Zinn's acclaimed book. One of the historical figures he portrays is ``Malcolm X. Other star-studded performances include: Matt Damon, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin and Don Cheadle, to name a few.
On television, Ealy starred in the Showtime mini-series Sleeper Cell where he portrayed Darwyn, a Muslim FBI agent sent undercover to infiltrate a terrorist cell in Los Angeles. Sleeper Cell quickly went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination for Best Miniseries and an AFI Honor for Best Program of the Year and Ealy also earned a nomination for a Golden Globe for his lead performance in the mini-series.
In addition, Ealy was handpicked by Oprah Winfrey to star opposite Halle Berry in the ABC and Harpo Films telepic, Their Eyes Were Watching God. The special received rave reviews and was viewed by over 26 million people. Ealy earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special for his portrayal of ``Teacake. Ealy also starred in a Sundance selection: the film noir, Never Die Alone, opposite DMX, for Fox Searchlight Pictures.
A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Ealy graduated college with a degree in English. Shortly after, he headed to New York where he performed in several stage productions, including the Off-Broadway hits Joe Fearless and Whoa Jack, for which he earned an Adelco Award nomination for his performance.

THEO JAMES (David) an up-and-coming your star whose film credits include
Woody Allen's You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger, A Passionate Woman and The Inbetweeners Movie.
On the small screen he has been seen in the BBC production Room at the Top and in Lucasfilm/HBO's Red Tails. His television credits also include ``Bedlam and ``Downtown Abbey.
James trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and his numerous theatre credits include, Closer, Zoo Story and The Slippery Soapbox.

INDIA EISLEY (Eve) Nurturing an impressive body of work that encompasses film and television, India Eisley has not only carved her own path in Hollywood but is also rapidly becoming a household name.
India also stars in the ABC Family drama ``The Secret Life of an American Teenager. Since the show's premiere in July of 2008, ``Secret Life has been nominated for numerous Teen Choice Awards as well as a People's Choice award. India portrays Ashley Juergens, the quick-witted, feisty teenage sister of Amy Juergens (Shailene Woodley). Her intriguing and rebellious character was also adapted into the book titled The Secret Diary of Ashley Juergens.
Coming from a family well versed in the entertainment industry, India attributes her aptitude for acting to her childhood. India is the daughter of British-Argentine actress Olivia Hussey and musician/actor David Glen Eisley. Surrounding herself with her parents and fellow actors, and spending endless hours on movie sets, ignited her passion and dedication to her work in both film and television.
Segueing effortlessly between the big and small screen, India's early film credits include Headspace in 2005 and TV movie ``Madre Teresa in 2003.
India's sweet and alluring nature also compels her passion for caring for animals. She has rescued over 20 animals including dogs, pigs, parrots, rabbits and horses. Recently, India shot a campaign for the Humane Society U.S. to stop puppy mills. India and her mother are also co-patrons of ANIMAL SOS Sri Lanka, a charity dedicated to saving, spaying and neutering stray animals. With her charming nature, India would rather bake pies or frequent vintage clothing stores than party on the weekends.
India currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her family.

CHARLES DANCE (Thomas) In some thirty five years as an actor Charles Dance has amassed an impressive body of work in all media from title roles with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and major work in London's commercial theatre including, Good, and Long Day's Journey Into Night with Jessica Lange, and Shadowlands for which he received the London Critic's Circle Award for best actor, through award-winning television series - The Jewel in the Crown (BAFTA nomination for best actor) Rebecca, Nicholas Nickleby, Fingersmith, Bleak House for which he received an International Emmy(R) nomination and won the Press Guild Award for best actor, Consenting Adults about the ground-breaking Wolfenden Report of 1957 which resulted in the de-criminalisation of homosexuality, and more recently Dickens Secret Life - a documentary about Charles Dickens' turbulent personal life.
Dance's major film credits include, Plenty, White Mischief, Good Morning Babylon, The Golden Child, Alien 3, Last Action Hero, Hilary and Jackie, Michael Collins, Starter For Ten for Sam Mendes' Company, Robert Altman's Gosford Park, and Kabloonak for which he received the best actor award at the Paris film festival in 1996, The Perfect Disagreement, directed by Antoine de Caunes, and The Shooter with Wesley Snipes.
His debut as a film director and writer was the hugely successful Ladies in Lavender with Judi Dench and Maggie Smith for which both 'great dames' were nominated for European Film Academy Awards(R). He has appeared in the television series Trinity, and Merlin as well as the television adaptation of Going Postal by Terry Pratchet and a two-part adaptation of the Peter Pan story for Sky entitled Neverland directed by Nick Willing also featuring Rhys Ifans, Anna Friel and Bob Hoskins.
His recent film roles include Roland Joffe's feature There Be Dragons, Your Highness, a feature directed by David Gordon Green and staring James Franco and Natalie Portman, Ironclad, directed by Jonathan English, also featuring Derek Jacobi and Brian Cox, and Deepa Mehta's Winds of Change.
Dance currently appears as ``Tywin Lannister in the new HBO series Game of Thrones.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

MÅRLIND (Director) co-directed (with Bjorn Stein), the feature thriller Shelter, starring Julianne Moore and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. He co-direccted (with Stein) the Swedish action thriller Storm, which garnered the Stockholm 'The Star' audience award, the Silver Melies Award at the Amsterdam Film Festival, The Silver Raven Award at the Brussels International Film Festival and the Best Director Choice Award at South Korea's Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival. Also with Stein, Mårlind co-directed the historical action adventure film Snapphanar and the short film Disco Kung Fu.
Mårlind and Stein created the television series The Bridge, a Swedish/Danish co-production that commenced airing in September, 2011, for which Mårlind wrote two episodes. In 2001, Mårlind created, wrote and directed the Swedish television series The Befallen. He also wrote and directed for the tv series The Sixth Day, directing nine episodes in the penultimate season and writing all twelve of the final season's episodes and directing six of them. The year prior, Mårlind created and wrote the episodic police series Crimewave, penning twenty-four scripts for the show.

STEIN (Director) co-directed (with Mans Mårlind), the feature thriller Shelter, starring Julianne Moore and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. He co-directed (with Mårlind) and edited, the Swedish action thriller Storm, which garnered the Stockholm 'The Star' audience award, the Silver Melies Award at the Amsterdam Film Festival, The Silver Raven Award at the Brussels International Film Festival and the Best Director Choice Award at South Korea's Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival. Also with Mårlind, Stein co-directed the historical action adventure film Snapphanar and the short film Disco Kung Fu.
For the small screen, Stein and Mårlind created the television series The Bridge, a Swedish/Danish co-production that commenced airing in September, 2011. Stein directed numerous episodes of the dramatic television series Spung for SVT Stockholm. He also directed multiple episodes of the series The Befallen, a thriller for SVT Goteborg created by Mårlind.
Stein has worked with numerous international advertising firms directing and editing commercials for clients such as Toyota, Coca-Cola, Ford and Ikea.


LEN WISEMAN (Screenplay By, Story By, Based on Characters Created By, Producer) started his career in the art department on blockbuster special effects features such as Godzilla, Men in Black and Independence Day. He wrote and directed both Underworld and Underworld Evolution and directed Bruce Willis in the action hit Live Free or Die Hard.
Wiseman served as director on the Hawaii Five-0 pilot. Most recently, Wiseman directed Total Recall starring Colin Farrell.

JOHN HLAVIN (Screenplay By, Story By) writes for television and film, having worked on The Shield before selling his first feature to Warner Bros. Hlavin currently has features set up at Warner Bros, New Regency, Summit and an original international heist picture with DreamWorks. He is currently writing the feature Risk for Sony.

J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI (Screenplay By) produced screenplays include Changeling for director Clint Eastwood, Ninja Assassin for the Wachowki Brothers, and did the story for the 2011 hit Thor. He is also writing ``Voices of the Dead for DreamWorks (on which he is also serving as executive producer), as well as ``Shattered Union and ``Vanishing Point, both for Bruckheimer/Disney. For television, Straczynski created and produced the series ``Babylon 5, ``Crusade and ``Jeremiah, and in the comics field he has written for both Marvel and DC, writing The Amazing Spider-Man, Thor, Wonder Woman, Superman and others. His Superman: Earth One graphic novel has been on The New York Times Bestseller List for 20 straight weeks.
Born in New Jersey, Straczynski's family moved 20 times in his first 18 years, which is how he developed a love of words and writing: the neighborhoods were always changing, but the books in the library were always the same. He received degrees in clinical psychology and sociology from San Diego State University, and was a reporter for many years, publishing over 500 articles for such publications as the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, Writer's Digest, and TIME, Inc. He has also written a number of published novels and short stories.
In addition to being nominated for a British Academy Award(R) for his screenplay for ``Changeling, Straczynski's writing has received the Eisner Award, the Inkpot Lifetime Achievement Award, the Saturn Award, the Hugo Award (twice), the Ray Bradbury Award, the Christopher Foundation Award, the Space Frontier Foundation Award and the E Pluribus Unum Award from the American Cinema Foundation, in addition to a dozen other awards.
He writes ten hours a day, every day, except his birthday, New Year's Day and Christmas Day. He is single and in the market.

ALLISON BURNETT (Screenplay By) is a novelist and screenwriter based in Los Angeles. His first novel, ``Christopher, was a finalist for the 2004 PEN Center USA Literary Award in Fiction. Since then, he has published two novels: ``The House Beautiful (Carroll & Graf 2006) and ``Undiscovered Gyrl (Vintage, 2009).
Among Burnett's produced films are Autumn in New York, Resurrecting the Champ, Feast of Love, Untraceable, and Fame. His latest film, Gone, starring Amanda Seyfried, will be released by Lakeshore in February, 2012.

TOM ROSENBERG (Producer) is the chairman and CEO of Lakeshore Entertainment, which he founded in 1994. He produced Million Dollar Baby, which won the 2004 Academy Award(R) for Best Picture. Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood and co-starring Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, the film also won Oscars(R) for Eastwood (Best Director), Swank (Best Actress) and Freeman (Best Supporting Actor). Rosenberg recently produced The Lincoln Lawyer, starring Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei and Ryan Phillipe and the upcoming film One For The Money, starring Katherine Heigl. Rosenberg also produced The Ugly Truth, starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler, directed by Robert Luketic; Crank and Crank: High Voltage, starring Jason Statham. Additonally he recently produced Gone starring Amanda Seyfried. Rosenberg produced Elegy, the film adaptation of Philip Roth's novel, ``The Dying Animal, starring Penelope Cruz and Ben Kingsley.
Among the other recent feature film projects produced by Lakeshore is the reinvention of the movie classic Fame; Untraceable, starring Diane Lane and directed by Gregory Hoblit; Feast of Love, starring Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear, directed by Robert Benton; The Dead Girl, which was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, including best feature, directed by Karen Moncrieff; and The Last Kiss, starring Zach Braff and Jacinda Barrett, directed by Tony Goldwyn.
Additional Lakeshore projects include the first three Underworld Films, The Exorcism Of Emily Rose, The Cave, Wicker Park, The Human Stain, The Gift, Autumn In New York, Passion Of Mind, The Mothman Prophecies, Runaway Bride, Arlington Road, 200 Cigarettes, Kids In The Hall: Brain Candy, 'Til There Was You, Box Of Moonlight, The Real Blonde and Going All The Way.
Rosenberg began his film career as co-founder of Beacon Communications, under whose banner he served as Executive Producer of such films as The Commitments, Sugar Hill, A Midnight Clear, Princess Caraboo, The Hurricane and The Road To Welville.

GARY LUCCHESI (Producer) serves as President of Lakeshore Entertainment, an independent film company based in Los Angeles. Lucchesi executive produced Million Dollar Baby, which won the Oscar(R) for Best Picture of 2004. Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, the film won Oscars(R) for Eastwood (Director), Swank (Actress) and Freeman (Supporting Actor). He most recently completed Lincoln Lawyer, starring Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei and Ryan Phillippe, and One For The Money starring Katherine Heigl.
Lucchesi also produced the Underworld Trilogy starring Michael Sheen. He also produced such recent films as The Ugly Truth directed by Robert Luketic and starring Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl; and Elegy, directed by Isabel Coixet and starring Penelope Cruz and Sir Ben Kingsley. Other credits include THE Last Kiss, starring Zach Braff and Jacinda Barrett, directed by Tony Goldwyn; Crank, starring Jason Statham and Amy Smart; and the box office smash The Exorcism Of Emily Rose. In 2004, Lucchesi produced Wicker Park, directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Josh Hartnett.
Prior to that, he produced The Mothman Prophecies, starring Richard Gere and Laura Linney; Autumn In New York, starring Gere and Winona Ryder; and Sam Raimi's The Gift, which starred Cate Blanchett, Katie Holmes, Greg Kinnear, Hilary Swank and Giovanni Ribisi. Lucchesi was the Executive Producer on the box office hit Runaway Bride, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere and directed by Garry Marshall.
Lucchesi previously served as president of Gary Lucchesi Productions, an independent production company where he produced Primal Fear, for which Edward Norton was nominated for an Oscar(R). He also produced the Emmy(R)-nominated Gotti and Breast Men for HBO. In addition, Lucchesi produced the Emmy(R)-winning Showtime movie Wild Iris.
Prior to becoming an independent producer, Lucchesi was President of Production at Paramount and oversaw such films as Ghost, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, Fatal Attraction, The Hunt For Red October, Coming To America, The Naked Gun, The Godfather: Part Iii, Star Trek, Black Rain and The Untouchables. Prior to his tenure at Paramount, Lucchesi worked at TriStar Pictures for four years as both Vice President and Senior Vice President of Production.
Lucchesi began his career in Los Angeles as an agent for the William Morris Agency where he represented such stars as Kevin Costner, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon and John Malkovich.

RICHARD WRIGHT (Producer) has headed feature film production at Lakeshore Entertainment since 1995.
At Lakeshore, Richard has supervised and produced over fifty films, including all the Underworld films; Lincoln Lawyer; Fame; Crank and Crank 2: High Voltage; Independent Spirit nominee The Dead Girl, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Mothman Prophecies, The Gift, Runaway Bride, and Arlington Road.
Prior to joining Lakeshore, Richard has degrees in comparative literature from Brown University and from the University of Grenoble, France.

DAVID KERN (Executive Producer) serves as the Vice President of Production at Lakeshore Entertainment. Kern executive produced Lakeshore's recent films The Lincoln Lawyer and Fame and co-produced Lakeshore's Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans and Henry Poole Is Here.

JAMES McQUAIDE (Executive Producer/VFX Supervisor/2nd Unit Director) has been the Executive Producer and VFX Supervisor on all four of the Underworld pictures. He was most recently the VFX Supervisor and 2nd Unit Director of Julie Anne Robinson's One For the Money, the VFX Supervisor of Renny Harlin's 5 Days of War and the Executive Producer and Visual Effects Supervisor of Neveldine/Taylor's Gamer and Crank: High Voltage. Additionally, McQuaide produced and was the VFX Supervisor of Kevin Tancharoen's internet short Mortal Kombat: Rebirth which was one of the most viewed YouTube clips of 2010.
Among his many credits, McQuaide was also the VFX Supervisor and 2nd Unit Director of Robery Luketic's The Ugly Truth, the Executive Producer and VFX Supervisor of Greg Hoblit's Untraceable, the Executive Producer and VFX Supervisor of Bruce Hunt's The Cave and the Co-Producer of Mark Pellington's The Mothman Prophecies. He is the Senior Vice-President of Production for Lakeshore Entertainment.
Prior to joining Lakeshore, McQuaide, as a screenwriter, wrote the script for a Sherlock Holmes project and adapted Sidney Sheldon's novel The Doomsday Conspiracy, both for Warner Bros. He began his career as Director of Creative Affairs for producer Joel Silver's Silver Pictures. McQuaide is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

DAVID COATSWORTH (Executive Producer) recently served as executive producer on the feature Larry Crowne, directed by Tom Hanks. He produced the HBO telefilm Grey Gardens, starring Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore, and the miniseries John Adams, both of which were honored with Golden Globe and Emmy(R) Awards. John Adams also garnered the prestigious Peabody Award.
Coatsworth executive produced Barry Levinson's film Man of The Year; Underworld Evolution for Lakeshore Entertainment and Sony Screen Gems; Welcome to Mooseport for Fox and The In-Laws for Warner Bros. His credits as executive producer also include the features 6th Day and Dick. Coatsworth produced The Crossing for Columbia Tristar, served as co-producer on My Big Fat Greek Wedding, directed by Joel Zwik, and associate producer on the The Tuxedo for Dreamworks.
Coatsworth produced the pilot episode of ``Boardwalk Empire for director Martin Scorsese and HBO and his television producing credits also include the HBO movies Rebound, Gotti and Sugartime.

ERIC REID (Executive Producer) is the Chief Operating Officer and a Director of the Lakeshore Entertainment Group. He has been with the company since its formation in 1995. He oversees all day-to-day business, finance and operational activities of the Lakeshore group of companies, as well as executive producing/producing the company's motion pictures. The Lakeshore films that Mr. Reid has executive produced include The Lincoln Lawyer, The Ugly Truth, Crank, The Last Kiss, Feast of Love, Untraceable, The Dead Girl, Pathology, Elegy, Henry Poole is Here, The Midnight Meat Train, Crank 2: High Voltage, Fame, and Gamer.
Prior to joining Lakeshore, Mr. Reid was an entertainment attorney with the law firm of O'Melveny & Meyers in New York and in Los Angeles. In addition to graduating from New York University's acclaimed Film School and New York University Law School, Mr. Reid has produced and edited numerous music videos for MTV and VH1.

SKIP WILLIAMSON (Executive Producer) started Will Records in his garage in 1994. Three years later he partnered with Lakeshore Entertainment to form what is now Lakeshore Records. Over the years he has released many records including the first two albums by indie rock darlings 'Granddaddy' and has executive produced over 100 soundtracks including Napoleon Dynamite, for which he received a Grammy nomination. Lakeshore Records is now the biggest independent soundtrack label in the world.
Along with heading Lakeshore Records, Williamson now produces films for Lakeshore Entertainment-bringing Lakeshore the Underworld franchise, the Crank film series starring Jason Statham and Gamer with Gerard Butler.

HENRY WINTERSTERN (Executive Producer) brings over 20 years of creative and business experience to his post as one of Hollywood's most innovative and artistically accomplished producers and distributors of independent films in the motion picture industry.
Winterstern has completed the upcoming feature ``Conan, which he produced, along with Avi Lerner and Nu Image/Millennium Films, to be distributed by Lionsgate this month.
Winterstern is the Executive Producer of the feature films Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (released in 2009); Thick as Thieves (aka ``The Code), released in 2009; Underworld: Evolution (released in 2006); The Breed (released in 2006) and producer of Wassup Rockers (released in 2005). Other notable films that he executive produced include Wicker Park on behalf of Lakeshore Entertainment (released in 2004) and Underworld (released in 2003).
In 2007, Winterstern was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature for The Dead Girl (2006), shared with producers Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi.
His post as Co-Chairman of First Look Studios was formed in 2005 through the merger of First Look Media and Winterstern's Capital Entertainment. The merger combined each company's unique entertainment assets to create a strong independent studio platform focusing on theatrical distribution, home entertainment, film development and production and foreign sales.
Winterstern's business acumen expanded First Look Studios' library to almost 700 titles in November 2005, when he negotiated the acquisition of all equity interest of DEJ Productions Inc., a wholly owned film-acquisition and distribution subsidiary of Blockbuster, Inc. Since the merger he successfully released: Australian box-office hit The Proposition; Larry Clark's Wassup Rockers; Dito Montiel's Spirit and Gotham Award-nominated A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, starring Robert Downey Jr.; and Karen Moncrieff's star-studded and Spirit Award-nominated drama The Dead Girl. Prior to merging with First Look Media,
Winterstern was co-founder of Capital Entertainment and managed CDPQ's entertainment investments, including Lakeshore Entertainment Group, Mosaic Media Group, Mosaic Music Publishing, MGM and Dick Clark Productions. A seasoned business executive, Winterstern has an impressive 20-year track record as a strategic advisor for acquisitions and financing in the media, entertainment and real estate sectors.
During his career, Winterstern has been a board member for a number of prestigious business and cultural organizations including MGM Studios, Dick Clark Productions, Mosaic Media, Mosaic Music Publishing, the Saidye Bronfman Center, the Consoltex Group Inc., Algo Group and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Wet Seal. Winterstern also served as Co-Chairman of Lakeshore Entertainment.
Other feature films distributed on Winterstern's slate include Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, from the popular Adult Swim series on the Cartoon Network and Paris je'taime, which joins celebrated directors from around the world with an outstanding cast of actors; King of California starring Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood, produced by Michael London and Alexander Payne; Gregg Araki's comedy Smiley Face, starring Anna Faris; and An American Crime, a Killer Films co-production directed by Tommy O'Haver, starring Catherine Keener and Ellen Page.


SCOTT KEVAN (Director of Photography) has garnered both critical and popular attention for his cinematography on an impressive selection of films. He has been recognized for creating startling images, iconic silhouettes and hallucinogenic, brightly colored dreamscapes.
Since earning his MFA from The American Film Institute in 1998, where he received the Mary Jane Pickford award for excellence, Kevan went on be included in the Hollywood Reporter's 2007 Next Generation list of ``the brightest and most talented cinematographers under 35. Kevan's credits include Cabin Fever, Borderland, Beauty Remains, Cleaner, Stomp the Yard, Death Race, Fame and The Losers.
Most recently Kevan has completed work on the sci-fi project The Darkest Hour shot in 3D on location in Russia.

CLAUDE PARÉ (Production Designer) served as production designer on Rise Of The Apes, Night At The Museum and Night At The Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, all for 20th Century Fox. He recently won a Genie Award for Best Art Direction for Barney's Version starring Paul Giamatti and Dustin Hoffman.
Pare served as production designer for The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus (development) and Elegy, starring Penelope Cruz and Ben Kingsley for Lakeshore Entertainment. He was the supervising art director on The Aviator, which received Academy, BAFTA, LAFCA and Art Directors Guild award nominations for Best Art Direction.
Pare served as supervising art director on the blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow, directed by Roland Emerich and The Sum Of All Fears, starring Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman. His credits as supervising art director also include The Score, The Bone Collector, Grey Owl and 7 Years In Tibet (London).

JEFF McEVOY (Editor) graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Broadcast Journalism in 1993. He began his career in the film industry working as a post-production assistant on the Renny Harlin film, The Long Kiss Goodnight. He soon transitioned into the role of assistant editor and main title designer on several independent films including Dog Park, Two Of Us, and Human Nature, as well as earning associate editor credits on such movies as Made Men, Witchblade and Sundance Film Festival hit Happy, Texas.
McEvoy, quickly began working as a feature film editor, building a resume that includes the movies Wonderland, starring Val Kilmer and Kate Bosworth, Turistas, and Swing Vote with Kevin Costner, Dennis Hopper and Paula Patton. Most recently McEvoy served as editor on The Lincoln Lawyer starring Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei and Ryan Phillippe.

MONIQUE PRUDHOMME (Costume Designer) designed the costumes for Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus, and was recognized with a 2010 Oscar(R) nomination for Best Costume Design, as well as the award for ``Best Fantasy Costume Design by the Costume Designers Guild, a ``Satellite Award for Best Costume Design and a LEO award nomination in Vancouver.
Prudhomme designed the costumes for Jason Reitman's runaway hit comedy Juno starring Ellen Page and Jennifer Garner, which earned her a nomination for ``Excellence in Contemporary Costume Design by the Costume Designer Guild.
Prudhomme's feature film costume design credits include, Christopher Guest's Best In Show, Thor Freundenthal's Diary Of A Wimpy Kid, Griffin Dunne's Fierce People starring Diane Lane, and Case 39 starring Renée Zellweger and Bradley Cooper, and David Frankel's The Best Year, starring Owen Wilson, Jack Black and Steve Martin.
Prudhomme is currently back with the Wimpy Kid team, doing Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, with David Bowers directing.

PAUL HASLINGER (Music by) Austrian-born Paul Haslinger has secured a distinctive reputation for composing film scores which incorporate both robust classical elements and compelling electronica. Formally trained in his hometown of Linz, he continued his classical studies while exploring the new domain of electronic music. Auditions for the band Tangerine Dream led to a five year collaboration, four albums, and several films, including Miracle Mile, Near Dark, and Canyon Dreams.
Haslinger released three solo albums and scored two landmark animated science-fiction films, Planetary Traveler and Infinity's Child. He continued honing his skills as the programmer for Graeme Revell, supplying memorable textures and atmospheric style to Blow, The Negotiator, The Siege, Pitch Black, and Tomb Raider. Haslinger earned his first solo credit as a film composer for the 2000 movie Cheaters, directed by John Stockwell. Since then, he has worked on Stockwell's Crazy/Beautiful, Blue Crush, and Into the Blue. He recently did the music for The Three Musketeers for Summit.
2002 found Haslinger composing and producing musical segments for the thriller Minority Report and in 2003, Haslinger scored Underworld. In recent years, Haslinger's score for the Ubisoft/Xbox release ``Far Cry: Instincts was enthusiastically received by the gaming community; while his work on the Golden Globe nominated series ``Sleeper Cell (Showtime) received wide critical acclaim for its integration of Western and Middle Eastern music elements. He also worked on Turistas for John Stockwell and the upcoming The Fifth Commandment for Rick Yune.

BRAD MARTIN (2nd Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator) has acted as 2nd Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator on numerous feature films including Abduction, The Other Guys, Angels and Demons, Tropic Thunder and Live Free or Die Hard.
As a native of Sun Valley, Idaho, Martin grew up skiing and is a former member of the U.S. Development Ski Team. He is well versed in numerous martial arts and holds a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Sports are Brad's passion and after graduating with a degree in Philosophy from the University of Washington, Brad made the move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in stunts.
After excelling in martial arts and acrobatic stunts, Martin quickly became distinguished among the top stunt performers in the world and has worked in scores of feature films and dozens of television episodes. Some of his more recent stunt credits include: Water for Elephants, Salt, Couples Retreat, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Spider-Man 2 & 3, Dawn of the Dead, Daredevil, SWAT as well as the last two Matrix films. Martin has also been the exclusive stunt double for George Clooney in such movies: Batman & Robin, The Perfect Storm, Three Kings, Out of Sight, O Brother-Where Art Thou and The Peacemaker.

TODD MASTERS (Make-Up FX Supervisor), artist, producer, toy maker, founding board member of the Visual Effects Society, and President of MASTERSFX, Inc., began his film career at age 12, as an animation assistant.
At 18 he ran-away to Hollywood and was immediately involved in a myriad of early genre classics such as Big Trouble in Little China, Poltergeist II, Predator, The Lost Boys, Twilight Zone, Night of the Creeps.
After several years of assisting in both makeup effects and visual effects, Masters started his own company that would blur the distinction between FX technologies. Now, nearly twenty-five years later, Todd's company, MASTERSFX is a leader in motion pictures & television FX, with studios in Los Angeles and Vancouver, British Columbia - offering a full palette of FX options, with integrated digital and practical departments.
He over-sees many talented and diverse teams, and is personally involved in each project's design and FX. Over the years his contributions include, Nightmare on Elm Street 5, Look Who's Talking, Six Feet Under, The Horse Whisperer, What Dreams May Come, Tales from the Crypt, SLiTHER, Stargate SG-1, Star Trek: First Contact, Hidalgo and hundreds more...
Recently he and his company have completed work on Season 4 of HBO's Emmy(R) nominated vampire show, 'True Blood'. And currently their work can be seen on the big & small screens, in James Gunn's SUPER, Spielberg's alien invasion saga, Falling Skies, Fox's alternate universe saga Fringe.

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