— His pilot “The Productive Lie” and written script “Letters to My Father” have already gained noteworthy respect. —
Mike Ray
Atlanta, GA — You may have heard him, voicing commercials for Home Depot, Verizon, BMW, Nationwide Insurance, and IBM. You may have seen him, appearing in roles on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, USA Network’s Necessary Roughness, and BET’s 2-hour movie, Let The Church Say Amen, just to name a few… but Mike Ray is an actor, voiceover artist and also a rising filmmaker with a passion for creating content.
Mike Ray’s pilot The Productive Lie and written script Letters to My Father have already gained noteworthy respect, earning him recognition as Best New Filmmaker at the 2015 Peachtree Village International Film Festival. Letters to My Father is a drama about a dying Army sergeant’s plight to protect the future of his family, in the wake of an ALS diagnosis (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). This emotional telefilm is based on the struggle and actions of Mike Ray’s own father, a veteran of two wars, when faced with the disease.
The Productive Lie, which won the Audience Award at the 2015 Charlotte Black Film Festival, is a feature length production. This crazy, sexy, cool dramedy starts as a telefilm, but finds legs as the story develops into an episodic, were Mike has written several episodes. “I want people to see themselves in the works I create,” says Mike Ray.
The Productive Lie is a comedy about LOVE, LUST, LIES AND THE PURSUIT OF A DREAM. Mike Ray, who acted, wrote, and directed, stars as Chris Parks, a mechanic by day and internet radio personality by night. Chris is also the doting father of Nicole, a precocious 11-year-old, portrayed by NaDej K. Bailey (Containment, Resurrection, Being Mary Jane). Being divorced, he is trying his best to stay focused long enough to turn his following of 1 million internet listeners, into a FM syndication deal. This would be easy, were it not for the antics of his crazy friends…an obsessed childhood gal pal, a difficult ex-wife, and his less-than-honest girlfriend. Audiences get a snapshot of the obstacles of dating for a divorced father, and how co-parenting works, despite their differences.
This story features comedian Rodney Perry (Raising Izzie, Madea’s Big Happy Family), who plays Lester in the film. He states, “Mike Ray is the ultimate triple threat actor, producer and director. I was inspired watching him bring The Productive Lie to life. I just wrote, produced and directed my first film, The Leap. Thanks Mike Ray, for showing me how to be great.” Veteran actor, Tony Vaughn (Drop Dead Diva, Saints & Sinners, and Meet The Browns’ Colonel Cleophus Jackson) adds, “There are not enough words to describe the multi-talented, Mike Ray. When working with him, I was most impressed with his work ethic, and not at all surprised by his writing, acting, and directing. Hats off to him, for all the blessings God has in store.”
Mike Ray has been compared to the likes of pioneer filmmakers, Spike Lee, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Robert Townsend and Tyler Perry… with the versatility to operate both in front of, and behind the camera. He’s an Army brat who has lived in many places, but spends most of his time between Atlanta and LA, networking, and carving out his path. A former standup comedian, who gave up the road to raise his daughter, because at the time, “being a Dad” was more important. He couldn’t give up on his creative side, so you can always find jokes “marching” their way into Acts 1, 2, or 3, of whatever he’s working on.
As a writer, Mike Ray’s greatest gift is his ability to create content that transcends genres. His latest creation, In the Zone, a hilarious sitcom about an aging ex-college basketball phenom, Otis Johnson, who barely missed making it to the NBA, due to a failed play that cost his team a championship, and earned him a lifetime of embarrassment. He tries to live out his dreams through his son, DJ… another highly sought-after, college standout. But, at 5′ 7″ tall, the NBA passed on recruiting him as well. Otis somehow, feels responsible for his son being short. And they both must now live vicariously through DJ’s son, Scooter… who at 14 is already 6′ 6″ tall. There’s just one problem though… he doesn’t want anything to do with basketball… he wants to be a dancer!
If inspiration is what you’re looking for, then you’ll find The Helen Lindsey Story, exceptionally inspiring and heart-changing. It’s a documentary about a woman who became a quad-amputee, as a result of contracting bacterial meningitis. She puts on her arms and legs to do things that most of us take for granted, or wouldn’t even attempt. This story is so powerful that the overwhelming feedback has simply been one word, “WOW!” The Helen Lindsey Story has already received industry credits, winning Best Documentary at the BronzeLens Film Festival, and The Urban Media Makers Film Festival, as well as winning Best of Festival and the Audience Award from Black Women in Film.
Mike Ray is one to keep your eyes on… as audiences will witness another gifted and talented actor/ writer/ director and rising-star… develop his amazing vision.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
For press or media inquiries, including promotional photos, interviews or bookings, please contact Karen Michelle at (317) 496-5759 or via email to karen@mikerayvision.com. For more information on Mike Ray, visit the official website www.mikerayvision.com
To watch the award-winning pilot The Productive Lie, visit:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=varAlpW1bWY
To watch the award-winning documentary The Helen Lindsey Story, visit:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSKVU_6aoTo
PRESS CONTACT:
Karen Michelle
317-496-5759
karen@mikerayvision.com
