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"Trouble Is My Business"

A fun movie whose dialogue gets you gripped from the very beginning to the end.

Jennifer Montemar (Brittney Powell) and Roland Drake (Thomas Konkle)

What a lot of people don't realize is how much energy, creative effort, time and money are required to produce a movie/film. Being a video creator myself, it's a ton of work....but the final results are incredibly rewarding. Producing movies is a natural passion; It's an art; It's a visual form of storytelling, be it true or fictional. Ever wonder why these made-for-web projects are getting all the viewership and praise? Peek through the over-hyped movies marketed every 6 yoctoseconds, and you'll find that there are a chock full of independent, low-budget and under-recognized movies that the film industry *wishes* they made. Ladies and gentlemen of all ages, I present to you this: Trouble Is My Business.

The story is about a detective named Roland Drake, played by Thomas Konkle, whose sexy client Katherine Montemar asks for help in snatching a diamond—the Orlov Diamond—that belonged to her family. Along with detering the corrupt, mob-laden black market, Drake contacts those who may have connections as to where this may lead to while keeping innocent and anonymous. During his journey are a bunch of people intercepting his path trying to get him killed, like corrupt police officer Detective Tate, played by Vernon Wells. The movie overall gives off that classic film noir—the early days when the story and the dark life of gangsterism were the goings-on (still goes on today).

There's a bunch of things that go on in this movie that mentioning some parts are enough to ruin the entire thing. While, yes, movie/TV/video game reviews generally contain spoilers, it is a rare instance that a movie this good challenges us not to spill the beans too much. A mention of one or two things can ruin the next plot, but however, if you've watched enough gangster films, murder mysteries and/or the James Bond series, you'll find that this isn't just another movie in contrast to those titles. It's a story with sudden twists and hairpin turns, it'll drop your jaw. I was in awe at the transition from scene to scene.

Roland Drake played by Thomas Konkle

"Well, I can't say no to a lady."
— Roland Drake

This is likely one of the classic lines in this movie—a modest detective reluctantly accepting the meeting with a beautiful woman needing his help. This happened twice to Mr. Drake with two women who happen to be sisters. I won't say anymore beyond that.

"I don't like a man with a sense of humor. I find it almost as unattractive as a woman with one."
— Evelyn Montemar

This made me smirk, but should inform you the kind of people—family—who are incredibly serious protecting prized possessions in the underworld. Gangsters do not have a sense of humor, since their operations involve not saying anything to where CIA or FBI could spot suspicious activity going on.

However, in my world above, women love men with a sense of humor and vice versa. Laughter is the best medicine, and is part of the universal language around the world.

"Just because you read accusations in the newspaper doesn't make them true."
— Jennifer Montemar

I feel this should tie to the skepticism people ought to adopt in the real world. Ever wonder why some news reports are served as "distractions?" Think about that.

Jennifer (Brittney Powell) and her mother Evelyn Montemar (Jordana Capra).
Roland Drake (Thomas Konkle) and Jennifer Montemar (Brittney Powell) in bed.
Bert The Cabble (Paul Hungerford) and police officer Ostrowski (Steve Olson).
Lew MacDonald (David Beeler).

As for the movie, you can tell the budget put into making this. It uses a lot of green screen, but remember, that this isn't focused on special effects compared to, say, space movies or scenes featuring explosions and flying (hello, Transformers, Star Wars and Superman fans). This movie is heavily focused on the story giving homage to the old, black & white movies when technology was so limited, movie producers worried more about the story and the acting. It's not like that today—promoting A-list actors to give low-rated movies some financial leverage. Give me a break....

The story overall is like a roller coaster ride: Once you're in it, buckle up because there'll be some surprising twists and turns. Just don't fall off the ride.

Blu-ray Disc Features review:
There's only two options on the Blu-ray menu: Play Movie and Play Trailer. There's no option for Scene Selections which may bother some Blu-ray fans. Whether you want that option or not, it gives the viewer a requirement to completely watch the film from start to finish, and there should be nothing wrong with that.

Trouble Is My Business Blu-ray menu - Black and White and Color

You may wonder why there are two discs: One for color and one for B&W. Why not put the same on one disc? I figured that they wanted to preserve the video quality putting them in separate discs. Putting two of them in one disc sacrifices the quality of the film which, as you know, will turn off a lot of movie/Blu-ray fans (let's not forget that a Blu-ray holds 25GB of data and a DVD only holds 4GB). The Black & White version of the movie gives that authentic mid-1900s feel, catering to those who dig the classic film library. As for the audio, there is no option on the Blu-ray as it is strictly 5.1 Surround. Majority of movie fans, depending on your audio system, prefer 5.1 audio anyway, but if you have a simple stereo system, it works just as well.

A movie specializing in detecting lives of crime finding truth in-between the lines while extracting secrets from a bunch of sketchy people and a family is what makes this a unique story-telling experience. I really want to talk about the film but, again, it'll spoil too much. It was so good we screened the film twice (perhaps again, after this review).

I want you, the viewer/fan, to enjoy the roller coaster ride this film brings especially when you arrive at the ending. The best way to describe it—I can't believe I'm doing this—I'll quote the bridge and chorus from the hit song "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift:

And he's long gone
When he's next to me
And I realize the blame is on me

'Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So shame on me now
Flew me to places I'd never been
So you put me down

— Lyrics from "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift

Enjoy that scene as it will raise eyebrows.

While this movie just released on Blu-ray as recent as this month of June (2018), some of you may have obtained this packaging:

Scanavo Blu-ray case packaging

I've personally never seen this packaging. From all the Blu-rays we own in our SHOWSOTROS video library collection, this is a huge first. I thought it was an imitation but after doing research, this Blu-ray case is by a company brand Scanavo. I feel these cases are uncommon, but unveiling it on this review, expect studios and networks to invest and do business with them showing up more frequently at your local video and electronics stores. (Yeah, I was scared for a second fearing I got a pirated copy. You'd have to be a serious low life to still produce pirated copies in this modern age.)

It's been a long while, for me at least, to finally watch and enjoy something that grips you from start to finish. Now that we've brought this amazing piece into the spotlight, we'll likely see more of this story-telling style. Because of how much the story stacks up, it's good enough to turn into a TV series (you heard it from us first, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Amazon and many of you TV writers/producers reading this). Actually, you know, turn this movie into a TV series because we'll definitely tune in.

This Blu-ray release is still hot, fresh and new. Grab your copy as we strongly recommend this movie!

FEATURE PRESENTATION5/5

ARTWORK5/5

CONTENTS5/5

QUALITY5/5

PLUSES
  • Brilliant writing.
  • A perfect example depicting our belief that the story makes a movie great.
  • One of the few independent films done nicely.
  • Received a handful of awards.
  • Feels like a mix of "James Bond," "Godfather," and "Murder She Wrote."
  • Includes both the color and Black & White versions on Blu-ray.
  • The story potentially can expand into an episodic series.
MINUSES
  • Some chroma key imperfections on some scenes.
100% (A+)
Fan Rating
PROFILE
Title Trouble Is My Business
Description [FRONT]
2-Disc Special Edition COLOR and BLACK & WHITE in HI-DEF

PASSION MURDER BETRAYAL... JUST ANOTHER DAY ON THE JOB

[BACK]
Private Investigator Roland Drake falls for two sisters of the Montemar family.
One may be dead and the other wants to kill him.


In 1940's Los Angeles, Roland Drake (Thomas Konkle) cracks cases and romances femme fetales, while corrupt cops rule the underworld of the city. Drake has fallen on hard times - evicted from his office, ruined in the public eye and watched by the police. Redemption walks in - with curves - a sexy, dark haired beauty named Katherine Montemar, begging for help. The chemistry is immediate and Drake is pulled into her case - and into bed. Drake wakes up to a pool of blood where Katherine used to be. After a nervous encounter, with the skilled but unscrupulous Lew MacDonald (David Beeler). Drake is confronted by Katherine's icy blonde sister, Jennifer (Brittany Powell) - a dangerous beauty who knows more than she should about everything. Their destiny becomes entwined in a dark descent that leads them on a hunt for a priceless gem. Dogged by the corrupt police in the form of Detective Tate,(Vernon Wells) [sic] Drake must navigate a sinister world of betrayal, murder and secrets that might lay buried forever.
ISBN / Bar Code number 8 10162 03402 3
Blu-ray Amaray Movie Credits A Random Media RELEASE OF A LUMEN ACTUS PRODUCTION "TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS"
VERNON WELLS BRITTNEY POWELL TOM KONKLE
STEVE TOM DAVID BEELER BEN PACE JORDANA CAPRA
CASTING BY THOMAS KONKLE COSTUME DESIGNER ERIC SHANE JOHNSON
SOUND YANCY PON & CHUCK ROCKFORD ORIGINAL MUSIC BY HAYDEN CLEMENT & THOMAS CHASE
ART DIRECTORS REED JOHNS AND MICHAEL J. SMITH
EDITED BY THOMAS KONKLE & MICHAEL J. SMITH DIRECTORS OF PHOTOGRAPHY JESSE ARNOLD & P.J. GAYNARD
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS THOMAS KONKLE & MICHAEL J. SMITH WRITTEN BY THOMAS KONKLE & BRITTNEY POWELL
DIRECTED BY THOMAS KONKLE
HD Video Format 1.90:1 (16:9) / Widescreen (Letterbox) / 1080p
Audio Format DOLBY AUDIO

5.1 Surround
Disc Count Two (2) - Color & Black & White
Features Play Movie, Play Trailer
Genre Drama / Thriller / Action / Adventure / Crime
Run Time 112 Minutes

Disc 1: Color Feature: FBI Anti-Piracy Warning - :10, Random Media presentation clip - :12, Menu - 05:19, Play Movie - 1:52:57, Play Trailer - 02:04. Total disc time: 2:00:42

Disc 2: Black & White Feature: FBI Anti-Piracy Warning - :10, Random Media presentation clip - :12, Menu - 05:19, Play Movie - 1:54:56, Play Trailer - 02:04. Total disc time: 2:02:41

Total time for both discs: 4:03:23
Language(s) English
Subtitles English [SDH]
Closed Captioning Yes
Rated Not Rated
Region Region A - NTSC
Original Film Release April 03, 2018
Blu-ray Release June 05, 2018

(DVD Release: April 05, 2018)
Production Lumen Actus Production
Company Random Media / Lumen Actus, LLC
Distributed by Allied Vaughn
Specification Color and Black & White
Blu-ray Product Number ????
Copyright © 2018 Lumen Actus. All Rights Reserved. Art and Design © Lumen Actus. All Rights Reserved. Manufactured and Distributed by Allied Vaughn, 7600 Parklawn Ave. Ste #300 Edina, MN 55435.

© 2018 LUMEN ACTUS, LLC
Other Formats DVD, Digital Stream (YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, iTunes, Vudu, FandangoNOW, Xbox)
Quoted Reviews "The phrase 'they don't make them like this anymore' could not be more apt..." — Chris Olson, UK Film Review

"Trouble Is My Business means business... it doesn't mind having a good chuckle as it walks the dark and winding path of double-crosses, corruption, and death" —Tim Cogshell, Rotten Tomatoes, Alt-Film Guide

"It's a stylish love poem, really, lifting many of the timeless elements that made noirs so powerful..." —Dan Franzen, FrothyRuminations.com

"Trouble is to film noir what Once Upon a Time in the West was to the western: the final word." —Kevin Ranson, MovieCrypt.com
Other WARNING: Federal Law provides severe penalties for the unauthorized reproduction, distribution or exhibition of copyrighted motion pictures, video tapes or video discs. Criminal copyright is investigated by the FBI and may constitute a felony.

Blu-ray Disc
Movie Awards The Noir Fest (2018)
Best Film

New York Film Critics Circle Awards (1995) <Second place>
Best Screenplay — Amy Heckerling

Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival (2018)
Official Selection

L.A. Noir Film Festival (2017)
Best Film — Narrative Feature

Valley Film Festival (Los Angeles) [2017]
Best Narrative Feature

Culver City Film Festival (2017)
Best Director — Narrative Feature

L.A. Noir Film Festival (2017)
Best Actress — Brittney Powell
Credits
Trouble Is My Business








A Lumen Actus Production

A Thomas Konkle Film

Vernon Wells

Brittney Powell

Tom Konkle

Steve Tom

David Beeler

Jordana Capra

Ben Pace

Mark Teich

TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS

Music by
Hayden Clement
&
Thomas Chase

Executive Producers
Michael J smith & Thomas Konkle

Edited by
Thomas Konkle
&
Michael J Smith

Directors of Photography
Jesse Arnold
P.J. Gaynard

Screenplay by
Thomas Konkle
&
Brittney Powell

Directed by
Thomas Konkle








CAST

Detective Barry Tate     VERNON WELLS

Jennifer Montemar & Katherine Montemar     BRITTNEY POWELL

Roland Drake     THOMAS KONKLE

Lew MacDonald     DAVID BEELER

Gavron Grozney     STEVE TOM

Evelyn Montemar     JORDANA CAPRA

John Shannon     BEN PACE

Manservant Rivers     MARK TEICH

Richard Montemar     GERRICK LAVON

Claude Allen     WILLIAM JACKSON

Bert The Cabble     PAUL HUNGERFORD

Officer Ostrowski     STEVE OLSON

Wilson Montemar     BENTON JENNINGS

Scottie the Newsie     SEAN KONKLE

Nadia     KSENIA DELAVERI

Bernice the Hotel Receptionist     JANA BANKER

Waitress Marylou     LAINE SCANDALIS

Jake the Valet     E. SEAN GRIFFIN

Officer Bradley     DOUG SPEARMAN

Officer Paduano     PETE HANDELMAN

Officer Burke     PATRICK HIGGINS

Officer Kreiger     MATT FORMAN

Officer Matthews     CARL BRYAN

Hotel Cab Driver     PAUL IDELSON

Harold the Herald Reporter     GINO C. VIANELLI

Russian Goon #1     JOE SOBALO JR.

Russian Goon #2     STEVE MOULTON

Screaming Russian Guard     AARON LAPLANTE

Hoodlum Kid     TYSON O'BANNON

Mavis the Maid     MOLLIE FITZGERALD

Nadia's Kidnapper     NIHILIST GELO

Pencil'd Kidnapper     JULIAN GIANTONIO

Head Museum Guard     DAVID ALLEN MOORE

Museum Guards     Brian Greene
JORDAN DESTIN
PATRICK H. BREEN

Voice of Newspaper Magnate     BROOKS WACHTEL

Voice of Russian Mob Messenger     CARL BRYAN

Voice of Police Dispatcher     MICHAEL J. SMITH

Newspaper Photographer     MATTHEW SPENCER

Jewelry Story Woman     LAUREN BYRNES

Drake's Ex-Wife In Picture     DANA HAMM

Extras     MARK JACOBSON
VAUGHAN MURRAY


Stunts Consultant     JIN KELLEY

Producers     BRITTNEY POWELL
DAVID PEELER

Associate Producer     EZEQUIEL SOLIS

Line Producer     MOLLIE FITZGERALD

Production Coordinators     DIANE LOTE
VICTOR SOLIS

Office Production Assistant     DONNIE BEACHAM

First Assistant Director     GLENN R. MILLER

Second Assistant Director     MICHELLE SUGIHARA

Art Directors     REED JOHNS
RAE DESLICH
MICHAEL J. SMITH
CARL SOTO

Assistant Art Director/ Set Builder     JUSTIN HARRIS

Set Decorator     JENNIFER ALONDRA MUNOZ

Set Dressers     ALEXX BONOVICH
ALISSA GIACONA

Set Dresser (Swing)     RYAN STANLEY

Set Dresser (Digital)     MICHAEL J. SMITH

Illustrator     RICHARD DAVIES

Stylized Character Drawings     LORENZO BARRUSCOTTO

Directors of Photography     JESSE ARNOLD
P.J. GAYNARD

Additional Camera & Lighting     JOEY RASSOOL

Camera Operators     JESSE ARNOLD
JORDAN LANHAM
SETH JOHNSON
DEWEY TANN
ROGELIO MOSQUEDA

First Assistant Camera     NICK GOTO
STEVE CARTER

Second Assistant Camera     ARIC ABRAHAM
ALEX KEEME
JEN HOOK
CHRISTOPHER ENDOM
JORGE A GOMEZ
DEWEY TANN

Still Photographers     DAVID BEELER
DEBBIE MAJOR
GINO C. VIANELLI
CHUCK ROCKFOLD


Sound Recordists / Mixers     YANCEY "PON" FRANCO
CHUCK ROCKFORD
CALEB HOLLENBACK

Boom Person     NICHOLAS BORSELLINO

Additional Sound Recording     RYAN DEREMER
T.J. YOSHIZAKI


Lighting Supervisor (2nd Unit)     RALPH KING


Master Armorer     MIKE TRISTANO

Armorer     VAUGHAN MURRAY


Script Supervisor     MOLLIE FITZGERALD


Gaffer     SAM COHEN-WADE

Rigging Best Boys Electric     MICHAEL SHANMAN

Best Boy Electrician     JACK ALEXANDER
JAY B. JULIO

Electrician     JOEY HENDERSON
DAVID LECH
MATT HIBBS

Key Grip     BOBBY CROCKET

Best Boy Grip     ISABELO PASCUAL
KATE JOHNSON

Company Grips     BENJAMIN SMYTHE
Swing Grip     RON M. WILSON


Costume Design     ERIC SHANE JOHNSON

Costume Supervisor / Consultant     CHANTAL FILSON

Key Costumer     SHEA WOLFE

Set Costumer     SIERRA BARRETT

Seamstress     MARCIE HALE
VERONICA TEONG

Tailor     CHARLES NOHAI

Makeup Artists     SABRINA SWEET
REBECCA HEAP
LINDSAY DABALOS

Makeup Assistant     STEPHANIE UNGUEZ

Special Hair and Makeup     REBECCA HEAP
ESSENCE KING
VANCE HARTWELL


Special Effects Coordinator     THOMAS KONKLE


VISUAL EFFECTS BY LUMEN ACTUS


Visual Effects Producer     MICHAEL J. SMITH



ROTOSCOPING BY BLEND FLUX VISUAL EFFECTS

Rotoscoping Leader     PUNIT SHARMA

Rotoscoping Artists     JITIN SHARMA
VINIT SHARMA



Additional 3D Modelling     LIAN BANGGOR
XEZER ALLAHVERDIYEV

Additional Compositing     THOR MELSTED


Studio Manager     MARK JACOBSON


Construction Coordinator     ARNOLD DASILVA

Construction Foreman     MICHAEL VALENZUELA

Assistant to Producer     DONNIE BEACHAM JR.

Set Production Assistants     KARLOS "KC" CORTEZ
STEPHANIE UNGUEZ

Truck Driver     RON M WILSON


AUDIO POST PRODUCTION BY MONKEYLAND AUDIO, INC


Supervising Sound Editor/Re-Recording Mixer     TRIP BROCK, MPSE

Sound Effects Editor     K. JOSHUA FERNBERG

Dialogue Editor     DEMETRI EVDOXIADIS


Music Composed & Recorded by     HAYDEN CLEMENT
THOMAS CHASE JONES

Logo & Promotional Music by     DANIEL BEIJBOM


DIT     THOR MELSTED
JESSE ARNOLD
JOEY RASSOOL



Colorist     MICHAEL J SMITH


TITLES AND OPTICALS BY LUMEN ACTUS


Legal Services     WILLIAM VU

Film Sales     CIRCUS ROAD FILMS
GLEN REYNOLDS
JOSH HALLMAN

SPECIAL THANKS TO
NICKEL DINER
PASADENA CEMETARY ASSOCIATION
JACOBSON PHOTOGRAPHIC INSTRUMENTS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY


Special Thanks to     WILLIAM JACKSON
KIMBERLY STRONG
TY KLOCK
RALPH KING
EARL RUBENSTEIN
ROLAND CANAMAR at silver dream factory
NOREEN KONKLE
STEPHANIE SMITH
KAREN BORSTAD
MARCIA SMITH
MARK JACOBSON
DOUGLAS KENT
MONICA MAY
TINA BERG


The Producers Wish To Thank     JIM SICKONIC
EARL RUBENSTEIN
KRISTEN TRATTNER




IN MEMORIAM
RALPH KING     |     REED JOHNS     |     MATT FORMAN




KICKSTARTER SUPPORTERS

KIMBERLY STRONG     TY KLOCK     EMILY DANYEL
DOUGLAS KENT     BEN ROSS     CAROLINA HOYOS
EMILY MANTHEI     RONALD CARROLL     VICKI LINES
CHIP JOSLIN     JK LEONARD     JOEL BAULCH
BILL FORS     LAURENT     SCOTT BAKER
SCOTT ELSON     TIFFANY CAMPBELL     GRUBNASH
JIM WILSON     EDWIN HEIJMEN     LINDA
KEVIN A. RANSON     PAUL HICKMAN     JEREMY SCHERLE
JOHANNES     RENEE CARSON     ALEC CORDAY
JOSEPH K. CURTIS     LEWIS SRYGLEY     WAYNE ROBINS
ADAM A. LOHNES     PAUL EAGLETON     JEFF ELWELL
LANCE RUNKLE     JIM RODNEY     BRIAN WARD
BRIAN Q. KELLEY     GISELLE ACHECAR     JESSE A. PRESNALL
TAI FAUCI     ELAINE EWING     STEVEN ITANO WASSERMAN
CANDICE FREEMAN     BRIAN LEHRER     SJ ZEITZEW
DAVID NETT     MIGUEL DURAN     CLINT CULP
MELINDA CHILTON     SAM JULIANO     ALFIE
JEREMY J. CAMPBELL     MICHAEL NEILL     ALISSA BLACK
MAXWELL G     SHAWNA BENSON     FRANKLIN TSE


INDIEGOGO SUPPORTERS

MICHAEL NELSON     JOSEPH DUNN     FRANK CHINDAMO
JOHN K. FREEMAN     CHRIS M. CHARMICHAEL     MISTY A. JOBE
MICHELLE MILLER     JONATHAN WATTS     TY L. KLOCK
JACKIE LARSON     ERIK LUNDMARK     VAUGHAN R MURRAVY
JOSHUA BERMAN     BRENDA WHITE     MATTHEW CARVERY
CHRIS M. CHARMICHAEL     LAURA NIEMI     SCOTT A. MERCER
ADRIA TENNOR     ROSS MILSTEIN     PETER PASQUALE


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THE AUTOMOBILE DRIVING MUSEUM, EL SEGUNDO, CA
AUTOMOBILEDRIVINGMUSEUM.ORG




CAMERA SYSTEMS BY
PANASONIC & RED CINEMA








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