-Courtesy of Punch Media
Sparkle: A Unicorn Tale — a heartwarming feature length action/fantasy/family film — produced, directed and filmed in the Philadelphia region by MilkBoy Entertainment — has been picked up for international distribution. Sparkle is now being enjoyed not only in North America, but on screens and via streaming services in the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Italy, Russia. India and the Middle East. Further distribution worldwide is expected.
Sparkle: A Unicorn Tale, released by Lionsgate, is the story of 15-year-old orphaned Annabelle who runs away from an orphanage with two other kids to rescue the animals on her family’s farm before they’re taken by a greedy neighbor. The orphans discover a magical unicorn has taken up residence, and they try to determine the mythical beast’s purpose.
“It is pure entertainment for kids, that adults can enjoy along with them. It is a family experience that will spark children’s imaginations and is filled with real emotion. It will make them laugh, make them cry, it will have them anxious and scared for the characters and leave them with a positive message in the end,” said Director and Producer Jamie Lokoff of MilkBoy Entertainment.
Sparkle: A Unicorn Tale can be seen on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, YouTube and Google Play among other platforms. Sparkle is one of five films nominated in the Best Family Film Category for the Canadian International Faith and Family Festival.
Lokoff’s circuitous route to directing and producing a family fantasy movie dates back to the early days of the pandemic when “out of sheer boredom and a lack of any filmmaking prospects” he made a six min horror/fantasy film with his kids called My Sister (2021) that got attention in a number of film festivals, winning awards. Automatic Entertainment who were the Foreign reps for Lokoff’s previous feature length film Slow Learners (2015) which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival led him to the script that would become Sparkle: A Unicorn Tale.
“They saw me working with kids,” Lokoff said. “Automatic had been looking for the right person to Direct and Produce a unicorn script they had created. With “My Sister” in mind they proposed it to me. As it turns out there is a high demand for unicorn stories” he said with a smile. “I read the script and suggested changes and they hired another writer to do the re-write. There are so few live action family films anymore – everything is animated and kids don’t get to experience real human characters. This film is a throwback and hits all the marks of the kind of film my generation and the generation before me grew up watching when they were young. It covers you like your favorite warm blanket.”
Lokoff who cast the entire film himself, has an acting role, appearing in two scenes. He also co-wrote the music for the film. He and the MilkBoy Entertainment team Cody Cichowski and Tommy Joyner composed a beautifully written, whimsical score that helps tell the story and inform young viewers how to feel. MilkBoy an audio post house by origin, of course, did all the sound sweetening, sound design and final mix and master. “That’s what we do!” Lokoff said referring to all that MilkBoy Entertainment contributed.
ABOUT SPARKLE A UNICORN TALE:
Sparkle: A Unicorn Tale is a heartwarming, action/fantasy/family film produced directed by Jamie Lokoff of MilkBoy Entertainment. Released by Lionsgate, this is the story of 15-year old orphaned Annabelle who runs away from an orphanage with two other kids to rescue the animals on her family’s farm before they’re taken by a greedy neighbor. The orphans discover a magical unicorn has taken up residence, and they try to determine the mythical beast’s purpose.
ABOUT MILKBOY:
Philadelphia-born MilkBoy encompasses live-music venues, bars, restaurants, and a recording studio with an extensive repertoire of notable artists including Miley Cyrus, Meek Mill, James Taylor, Jazmine Sullivan, and Ariana Grande. MilkBoy is the brainchild of music industry’s Tommy Joyner and Jamie Lokoff of MilkBoy Recording Studio. MilkBoy’s original bar and restaurant is MilkBoy Philly at 11th & Chestnut., a popular place for gathering from early mornings through late night, with a second-floor live music venue. Additionally, MilkBoy Entertainment recently released its second feature film with national and international distribution. Sparkle: A Unicorn Tale is a heartfelt family film now streaming on multiple platforms; while the comedy Slow Learners (2015) plays on more adult themes.
MilkBoy Philly, on Chestnut Street, offers an upstairs music venue that hosts an impressive lineup of local and nationally recognized musicians, two full bars and a stepped-up food and beverage program. MilkBoy Philly does triple time with early AM crowds opening weekdays at 7 a.m. offering the full drink and food menu thanks to neighboring hospitals, as well as a happy hour following and the late-night scene. MilkBoy Philly’s food menu reflects a dedication to quality product and a devotion to the Philadelphia dining and bar scene with options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and every snack in between. The drink menu offers one of the city’s best canned beer selection, a variety of rotating craft beers on draft, and a variety of chilled and hot craft cocktails. A new marquee and mural beacon on the corner of 11th & Chestnut sts. https://www.milkboy.tv/
MilkBoy South Street sits on the world-famous South Street in Philadelphia, across from the renowned Jim’s Steaks, on the 400 block. Since opening in August 2016, MilkBoy South Street has brought music, great food, beverage and service to this iconic and culturally significant corner. A lively events schedule includes Open Mic Nights, comedy and other spirited live events. https://www.milkboysouthstreet.com/
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