The independent production company adds a unique point of view to the local film
and television scene
DENVER, Colo. — Denver’s burgeoning film scene gained a new production company in 2015, and it’s already earning rave reviews. gritHouse Films, formed by four Denver-based film industry veterans, filmed ‘Hush Money’ in the Mile High City in July, 2015 and privately previewed the film on June 4, 2016. Since then, the aptly gritty independent film has received glowing reviews from multiple trade publications and shown gritHouse to be a company to watch.
Formed around the idea that “life takes grit; so does film,” gritHouse is a lean and nimble shop that values perseverance and resourcefulness. Its founding members –Terrell Lamont, Justin Lewis, Heather Webb and Alicia Cole Heinrich – were brought together by a love of storytelling, and they pride themselves on doing whatever it takes to get the shot and remain true to their vision.
‘Hush Money’ is the latest example of the gritHouse team’s skilled filmmaking prowess and perceptive understanding of the human condition. The gripping film tells the story of Doug Shaw, a recently unemployed art teacher desperately trying to provide for his family. Seemingly faced with no other option, Doug decides to kidnap the daughter of a professional baseball player and hold her for ransom. What follows is a series of unexpected, unfortunate events that leaves the lives of everyone involved drastically changed forever.
Upon viewing the film, Kevin Kincaid of Film Fervor gave ‘Hush Money’ a rare 5-star review and praise for its “perfect mix of wit, suspense and drama.” Langdon Alger at Independent Movie Review, meanwhile, called attention to the film’s strong acting, high-quality production and detail-oriented cinematography. At the end of his review he declared, “’Hush Money’ raises the bar for other indie produced projects.”
‘Hush Money’ stars Joshua Ray as Doug Shaw and Kennedy Waite as the kidnapped Kennedy Joseph. It was produced by Arthur O. Thomas of Main Man Films and gritHouse’s Heinrich, Lewis and Lamont, who also wrote and directed the film.
“I wanted to tell a story that would grab and resonate with viewers,” says Lamont, “and I am so proud of the end result. It’s exactly the type of project we want to create here at gritHouse, and I couldn’t have done it without the rest of my team. It’s very hard to make a film and it can be very painful but despite the difficulties, when you see it all come together in the end, it’s transcending.”
gritHouse Films is dedicated to telling engaging, phenomenal stories that make lasting impressions on its audience. From feature-length films to television series, the enterprising group of filmmakers focuses on developing interesting characters, creative plot lines and motivated imagery. For more information about gritHouse Films and its current projects, visit www.grithousefilms.com.
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About gritHouse Films
Formed in 2015, gritHouse Films is a minority-owned, Denver-based film production company founded by Justin Lewis, Terrell Lamont, Alicia Cole Heinrich and Heather Webb. Based upon the idea that “life takes grit; so does film,” the company is dedicated to telling engaging, phenomenal stories that make lasting impressions on audiences. From feature-length films to television series, gritHouse focuses on developing interesting characters, creative plot lines and motivated imagery. For more information on the production company and its projects, visit www.grithousefilms.com.