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"Her Best Move" Movie

ABOUT HER BEST MOVE

High school is crazy enough, but for fifteen-year-old SARA DAVIS (Leah Pipes) it's about to get even crazier. A national caliber soccer prospect, Sara plays up a level on the best U-19 team in California. She dances through her opponents to make impossible shots on goal - skills honed by her father GIL (Scott Patterson), a women's soccer coach. But this success has come with a price - Sara has sacrificed her interest in dance, photography and of course, boys. Sara's mother JULIA (Lisa Darr) struggles with Gil's drive to perfect Sara as she guides her daughter through the trials of adolescence.

Encouraged by her best friend TUTTI (Lalaine) to jump-start her life outside soccer, Sara makes up for lost time. From hi-jinks in the chemistry lab and adventures in "Delilah’s Garden" to tender moments in the darkroom and anguish at the prom, Sara learns more about herself with each passing day. And while she relishes her freedom on the soccer field, Sara’s renewed connection with her mother leads her to question the athletic path that Gil has set out for her.

When Gil learns that Sara has a shot at becoming the youngest player ever on the U.S. National Development Team, he pushes even harder. Her hopes of performing in the dance recital and exploring a relationship with JOSH (Drew Tyler Bell), a hunky but shy photographer on the school newspaper, are shoved aside. With National Team scouts watching every shot, Sara faces the challenge of discovering who she is before making the best move of her life

LEAH PIPES

A popular, up-and-coming actress, LEAH PIPES plays “Sara,” a soccer prodigy facing first-time challenges beyond the field with life, love and the opportunity of a lifetime in Summertime Films’ HER BEST MOVE. Leah’s burgeoning acting career began in 2001 on the popular TV series “Angel,” the WB spin-off of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” She then starred in a number of television commercials, including spots for Nabisco and Disneyland, before landing a guest-starring role on the family TV show, “The Brothers Garcia.” In April of 2002, she was one of the stars on ABC's “Lost at Home,” a romantic comedy about a workaholic dad struggling to re-connect with his wife and kids. She has appeared on the popular “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Clubhouse,” as well as the made-for-television movies, “Pixel Perfect” and “Odd Girl Out.” Leah has since segued into young adult roles, as can be seen in her harrowing turn as a girl on the run in FOX’s forensic hit “Bones.” She stars as “Melanie,” a young woman with a mysterious past, in the upcoming independent thriller FINGERPRINTS. One of five children, Leah balances her acting career with time for her close-knit family. Like her character Sara, Leah has played soccer for years and still manages to find time to play for a competitive soccer team and stay active in several high school clubs. Her favorite subjects are science and math, and she is an avid reader. Leah has enjoyed working on HER BEST MOVE, as her first feature film combines two of her passions – soccer and acting.

DREW TYLER BELL

Ohio native Drew Tyler Bell plays “Josh,” the mysterious photographer and Sara’s “first crush,” in Summertime Films’ HER BEST MOVE. Currently a series regular on the CBS daytime soap “The Bold and the Beautiful,” Drew has also managed a steady career in film. He can be seen in the upcoming "Love's Abiding Joy" for the Hallmark Channel, as well as the thriller JEEPERS CREEPERS II from MGM/American Zoetrope. He recently played a lead role in the feature STATE’S EVIDENCE. Drew can also be seen as Marty in the feature WITHOUT CHARLIE. On TV he has guest starred on UPN’s “Jake 2.0” and has been featured in numerous national commercials. Drew lives in Los Angeles and spends his free time singing and playing a variety of instruments including piano, guitar and violin. A current member of “Tapsounds Underground,” a nationally touring tap troupe based out of LA, Drew enjoys many styles of dance—including tap, jazz and hip-hop. He is co-creator and co-host of the bi-weekly internet podcast "Garage Tap," which is a variety show focused on “all things tap dance.” An avid and excellent soccer player, Drew won’t be seen playing soccer onscreen in HER BEST MOVE. In the role of Josh he is an introverted, pensive photographer who falls for Sara, the soccer star. In real life, Drew also plays basketball and baseball, and is adept at both water skiing and snow skiing.

SCOTT PATTERSON

“Gilmore Girls” romantic lead SCOTT PATTERSON plays “Gil” in Summertime Films’ HER BEST MOVE. Gil, Sara’s overzealous soccer dad, is solely focused on Sara’s opportunity to be the youngest ever on the US National Team. Scott brings his own professional sports experience to his role as Gil. While studying comparative literature at Rutgers University, Scott left to pursue a career in professional baseball. Drafted at the age of 19, he spent seven years in the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations before retiring to pursue an acting career. For five years, Scott studied acting in New York with Robert Lewis and Sondra Lee at The Actors Studio before his first TV appearance. Since then, he has appeared on many notable shows including “Seinfeld,” “Will & Grace,” “Fired Up,” “Arli$$,” etc. He is also the voice of “Lieutenant Faraday” on the WB’s animated series “Justice League Unlimited.” Fans now tune in regularly to see Scott as “Luke Danes” on The CW’s “Gilmore Girls,” which has entered its seventh season on the air. Scott has also appeared in the feature films THREE WISHES, RHAPSODY IN BLOOM, LITTLE BIG LEAGUE, A BOY CALLED HATE, etc. In HER BEST MOVE, Patterson exhibits an intensity that has become a recognizable trademark, which when combined with his charismatic deliveries, make Gil a tough but sympathetic character.

LALAINE

Vivacious veteran performer LALAINE plays “Tutti,” Sara’s hip, sophisticated BFF in Summertime Films’ HER BEST MOVE. Lalaine has recently completed filming an independent feature entitled ROYAL KILL starring opposite Eric Roberts. She has also starred in the indie feature PROMISED LAND, playing the role of “Norma,” a troubled runaway teen. Lalaine currently can be seen as “Miranda” in the top-rated Disney show “Lizzie McGuire,” which airs weekly on The Disney Channel and on ABC. Also, Lalaine can be seen in the Disney feature YOU WISH, in which she starred in the lead role of “Abby,” and performs the title song “You Wish”. A native of Burbank, CA, Lalaine’s first professional job was at the age of 10, in the Broadway production of Les Miserables. She played “Little Cosette/Eponine” and toured nationally for almost a year. Lalaine’s return to California brought her numerous national commercials such as Microsoft, Burger King and many others. She also starred in the Tom Petty music video “Walls.” On stage, Lalaine played “Annette,” the lead character in Opera Pacific’s musical production of Brundibar. Lalaine’s vocal skills have also been utilized for such films as MRS. SANTA CLAUS, LOLITA, THE APOSTLE, INSPECTOR GADGET and GEPETTO. Lalaine’s talent as a singer/dancer landed her a plum role in the Disney movie ANNIE where she played the orphan “Kate”. Lalaine also starred as “Theresa” in the NBC Movie-of-the-Week “Borderline.” Now a recording artist on Warner Bros. record label, Lalaine is in the studio recording her next album. In addition to her passion for singing and acting, Lalaine participates in many charity events such as the Aids Benefit Concert and Kids with a Cause. When all is said and done, Lalaine loves hanging out with her friends, writing music and reading new material.

DARYL SABARA

Offering non-stop comic relief, DARYL SABARA plays “Doogie” in Summertime Films’ HER BEST MOVE. Doogie is smitten with Sara and wants nothing more than to make her his girl. Daryl can’t remember his first foray into show business. He was only seven weeks old and played Murphy Brown’s baby on the hit sitcom, “Murphy Brown,” alternating the role with his fraternal twin brother, Evan. By the time he was four, he was performing with a professional ballet company, the South Bay Ballet. This did not disrupt his acting career. At age seven, Daryl Sabara was introduced to the world as “Juni Cortez.” After spending close to four years filming SPY KIDS, SPY KIDS 2: ISLAND OF LOST DREAMS, and SPY KIDS 3D; GAME OVER, he returned to television to do many guest roles on series including “Friends,” “House,” and “Weeds.” He was also the regular voice of “Hunter” on NBC’s animated series, “Father of the Pride.” His other voice-over credits include, “Finding Nemo,” and the “Hero Boy” (the young Tom Hanks) in POLAR EXPRESS. Daryl’s most recent addition to his long list of credits is the TBS pilot, “Boy’s Life,” where he stars as a 13-year-old boy struggling to cope with life in middle school. His single mom is played by Nancy Travis. Daryl stars in the recently released Disney film, KEEPING UP WITH THE STEINS, also starring Jeremy Piven, Daryl Hannah, Doris Roberts and Garry Marshall. Daryl, a winner of several national awards for musical compositions, is currently studying voice, guitar, and dance. He just did his first live musical production, “13” for the Mark Taper Forum. When he has a moment away from the cameras and the stage, he likes to hang out with his brother Evan and their Jack Russell terrier, Baccus, at their home in Southern California.

JHOANNA FLORES

Spirited JHOANNA FLORES plays “Regina,” Sara’s soccer teammate and rival in Summertime Films’ HER BEST MOVE. Jhoanna began her professional acting career on FOX TV’s long-running sketch comedy hour “Mad TV.” Her first role ever was quickly followed by an appearance on the sit-com “The John Larroquette Show.” After her second professional role, Jhoanna opted to put her focus and concentration back on academics. For the next three years she focused on her studies and continued to develop her acting skills in drama classes. Upon returning to acting professionally, she was immediately cast in the “Olsen Twin” film, YOU'RE INVITED TO MARY-KATE & ASHLEY'S FASHION PARTY. She continued to make appearances on such popular television shows as NBC’s “ER” and the Olsen’s “Two of a Kind.” In 2002 Jhoanna starred as “Alyssa” in the Disney Channel’s “Gotta Kick It Up!” Jhoanna’s work as a versatile actress also includes her exceptional performance as young “Sophia” in the dramatic feature MY FATHER'S LOVE. Jhoanna was recently recruited by National Association of Latino Independent Producers to star in the film MOSQUITA AND MARI, which she shot during the 2006 Latino Producer’s Academy in Tucson, Arizona. Jhoanna, a soccer player in her spare time, can identify with her character’s love of the game. In addition to acting, Jhoanna plans to continue her college education near her home in Los Angeles, California.

LISA DARR

Chicago native LISA DARR plays “Julia,” Sara’s nurturing mother, in Summertime Films’ HER BEST MOVE. Lisa wanted to be an actress for a long time before pursuing her MFA degree in Acting at UCLA. Shortly thereafter, she received her first “big break” when she was cast in the role of Laurie Manning on ABC’s popular sit-com “Ellen.” She then went on to a prolific career in TV, where she was most recently a series regular on ABC’s “Life as We Know It.” A veteran of series television in both comedy and drama, Lisa has had regular roles on such shows as “Popular” (WB), “Cursed” (NBC), “Profit” (FOX), “The Office” (CBS), “Crime & Punishment” (NBC) and “Flesh ‘n’ Blood” (NBC), and has had recurring roles on hits including NBC’s “Frasier,” Lifetime’s “Strong Medicine” and ABC’s “NYPD Blue.” Lisa has also guest-starred in numerous series, including “Desperate Housewives” and “C.S.I.,” and has appeared in several made-for-television films. Feature film credits include the Oscar-winning GODS AND MONSTERS, PLAN B, DEFENSELESS and POMEGRANATE. Lisa has extensive and eclectic theater credits which include two years in the title role of “Tamara” and a year in the exceptional role of “Emelia” in the same Los Angeles production of Tamara. She also appeared in Vienna in the production of Vier Uhr Morgens, performing in German. Fluent also in French, she performed at Paris’ Theatre Des Amandiers in the lauded production of La Ronde. Lisa also played in the perennial favorite The Fantastiks at Scotland’s Edinburgh Festival. For her pivotal role in HER BEST MOVE, Lisa returns to Northern California, where she graduated from Stanford University, majoring in biology.

BRANDI CHASTAIN

Best known for her game winning penalty kick and celebration in the US Women’s National Team’s landmark 1999 World Cup victory, BRANDI CHASTAIN has been a marquis name in the world soccer scene since her days at Santa Clara University. Her on-field accomplishments include the aforementioned World Cup Championship, two Olympic Gold Medals and a starring role with the San Jose CyberRays professional team. She is also the author of It’s Not About The Bra: Play Hard, Play Fair, and Put the Fun Back Into Competitive Sports, a book about youth sports and values with a message very compatible with that of HER BEST MOVE.

NORM HUNTER (WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER)

Norm is the principal and founder of Summertime Films. Upon graduating from Princeton with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and, having used summer vacations to design and build racecars, he immediately stepped into a 5 year racing career, becoming recognized as one of the world’s leading professional drivers. An ensuing successful manufacturing career and the sale of his company, Hunter Container, allowed Norm to enter a film-making program and pursue his long-time dream of making movies. Having completed a two year film-school curriculum with an emphasis in Screenwriting, Directing and Production, Norm then worked intensively on production and editing projects, including the independent film WILDFLOWERS, featuring Darryl Hannah and Clea Duval. Since 1999, Norm has dedicated himself to writing and developing screenplays. He is the writer of IN A HEARTBEAT (copyright 2002) and HER BEST MOVE (co-written with Tony Vidal and produced in 2005) and has numerous stories and adaptations in various stages of development. In developing HER BEST MOVE, Norm drew upon his many years coaching youth sports, including soccer, which he is certified to coach at the Select 1 level. He has been a leader of Adopt A Family (a non-profit agency) and takes advantage of every opportunity to teach and mentor young people. He and his wife Leslie live in Marin County and try to keep up with their active and athletic teenagers Molly, Kyle and Abigail.

TONY VIDAL (CO-WRITER)

Tony studied screenwriting at USC under Oscar-winning screenwriter Sheridan Gibney and former Columbia Story Editor, Ken Evans. He earned a Masters degree in Cinema Production with a Screenwriting emphasis. After a stint as a story analyst at United Artists, Tony became Head Story Analyst at Orion Pictures, reporting directly to Mike Medavoy and Marcia Nasatir. There he made greenlight recommendations for movies such as BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, ROMANCING THE STONE, TEN and THE GREAT SANTINI. After a similar job at The Ladd Company, where he worked with Alan Ladd Jr. and Gareth Wigan, Tony took a break from the film business to travel and garner life experience. After a few years successfully managing a family-owned real estate company, Tony moved on to the University of California (Davis), where he assumed leadership of the Screenwriting Program for three years. He was also a Senior Writer/Director for Playback Media, a Silicon Valley startup, where he did innovative corporate video. Tony now acts as a script consultant, writer, director and is producing an independent feature aimed at teens, THE PRANKSTER.

PAUL RYAN (DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY)

Paul’s marvelous eye for cinematography has contributed to over 20 films, including BOX OF MOON LIGHT starring John Turturro, Catherine Keener and Sam Rockwell. His incredible images have helped win special recognition for many films, including A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT and THE HORSE WHISPERER. He is a thoughtful cinematographer who “has years of experience and consequently enough faith in himself to take risks,” to quote one filmmaker in American Cinematographer. Paul was actively involved with HER BEST MOVE from the beginning, establishing how to bring the game of soccer to life on screen as never before. He has earned kudos from The Hollywood Reporter for his "blazingly alive" cinematography in BIG, BAD LOVE starring Debra Winger, Arliss Howard and Rosanna Arquette. Variety also praised his "graceful widescreen lensing, bold use of color and unconventional framing that gives the indie production an accomplished look." Paul was director of photography on Jamie Redford's recent directorial debut, SPIN.

MITCH STANLEY (EDITOR)

Mitch brings over twenty years of editing experience to HER BEST MOVE. He has worked on many major motion pictures including CITY BY THE SEA, JUST CAUSE, IN & OUT and has edited several independent feature films including NEVER AGAIN, MIND THE GAP, LESSER PROPHETS, HOW YOU LOOK TO ME and JUST ONE TIME. The breadth of his experience made him an ideal choice for HER BEST MOVE, an indie film with a mainstream feel. Mitch has worked with many established filmmakers including Michael Caton-Jones, Robert Benton, Eric Schaeffer, Fred Schepisi, Frank Oz and Sam Mendes. Additionally, his television credits include the prime time television series “MD’s,” “First Years” and “Kevin Hill” as well as numerous television network pilots. He is currently editing “Lincoln Heights” for ABC Family Channel.

DIDIER LEAN RACHOU (COMPOSER)

Raised in Europe and NYC, Didier recently relocated to LA and immediately landed several choice composing projects, namely the final season of “Sex & the City” and a commission to compose and conduct two hours of his original film music with the Prague Philharmonic. Didier is currently scoring the feature HOW TO ROB A BANK starring David Carradine, Nick Stahl, Erika Christensen and Gavin Rossdale. He recently completed the scores to “Aquaman” for Warner Bros. and the features NICE GUYS, SONS OF ITALY and ENFANTS TERRIBLES. 2005-06 has seen Didier compose for TV as well. He scored 3 series – “Love Monkey” (CBS), “A World Away” (ABC) and “Sensing Murder” (Discovery). He also composed themes for the E! TV’s “Gastineau Girls,” TV Land’s “You Wish!” and custom scoring for “Malcolm in the Middle” (FOX). After receiving his BA in Composition and Jazz Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, Didier continued his compositional studies at The Juilliard School. Didier holds dual-citizenship with France & the US. He is repped by Debra Baum of The Orla Group.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

I’ve seen enough dramas and comedies played out over my years as a Select soccer coach to know there was good story to tell here. And as my own kids maneuver their way through high school, I am constantly amused and amazed at their experiences. Her Best Move combines both worlds to explore how a gifted young soccer player navigates the tricky waters of high school while figuring out her life as an athlete – it’s an entertaining ride, for sure. Our accomplished cast created great chemistry on the set and made for a wonderful shoot. Actress Leah Pipes, as a real-life select soccer player, just nailed the character of Sara and impressed us all with her performances, both on and off the field. Scott Patterson absolutely owned the role of soccer coach Gil Davis – I thought he might make me do the running drills too! Daryl Sabara kept cracking up the set with his ad-libs – I actually fell out of my director’s chair laughing. Lalaine used her engaging personality to entertain us between set-ups while Drew Tyler Bell, Jhoanna Flores and Lisa Darr continually enchanted the crew as they delivered winning performances. In making Her Best Move, we challenged cinematographer Paul Ryan to capture the true athleticism of soccer. He responded by using three cameras to bring out the grace, speed and power of “the beautiful game,” as soccer is known around the world. Beyond the soccer field, Paul’s artistic eye brought to life the social hazards of high school and the overwhelming power of your first love. The challenge of editing Her Best Move fell to Mitch Stanley. Hearing his laughter from the darkened editing room constantly drew us into his cave to watch the latest cut – it’s a miracle we ever got our own work done. But the final result is a fun, fast-paced film that lets you feel the genuine emotions of a young athlete who loves her sport but never has enough time for the other important pieces of her life. In the end, the story’s all about figuring out how to lead your life, not follow it.

FUN FACTS

• Over 3,000 people volunteered as “Extras” for the soccer scenes and to create the high school environment.
• Actress Leah Pipes trained with University of California (Berkeley) Women’s Soccer Coach Kevin Boyd for weeks prior to the shoot to hone her already substantial soccer skills for the role of SARA.
• Rather than seek shade on the 100 degree day we filmed the ‘pro practice’ scene, Brandi Chastain played pickup soccer games with neighborhood kids during her film breaks.
• Daryl Sabara (DOOGIE) is a consummate pro and had the crew in stitches of laughter with his “improv” lines, some of which made the final cut.
• Drew Tyler Bell’s portrayal of JOSH’s ineptitude as a dancer is ironic in that, in addition to acting, dance is one of Drew’s professional passions.
• Eoin Harrington, a rising singer/songwriter, wrote the exclusive track “What If” based on Sara’s story as she is faced with the decision of a lifetime.

SUMMERTIME FILMS

Summertime Films was formed to produce youth-oriented movies with captivating stories and engaging characters. Our mission is to tell each story with enough spirit, humor, and intelligence to capture the imaginations of viewers from age 7 to 70. Summertime Films is headquartered in Corte Madera, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. More information can be found on our website at http://www.summertimefilms.com.

SOUNDTRACK

• Collide - Howie Day
• What I Like About You - The Romantics
• Girl Can Rock - Hilary Duff
• Manic Monday - The Bangles
• Talk To Me - Keri Noble
• Just Like That - Amber
• All The Money Or The Simple Live - The Dandy Warhols
• This Is Me - Michelle Vice Maslin
• What If - Eoin Harrington
• Vasilon - Mangana

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COACHES & PARENTS

Youth sports comprise an ever greater part of daily life for American families, so a humorous coming-of-age story centered on a girl soccer player delivers a relevant theme. Beyond its fast pace and wholesome entertainment, though, Her Best Move explores the increasing “professionalization” of young athletes in modern sports programs and shines a spotlight on the unhealthy side-effects of hyper-competitive environments. Real and current issues, including overuse injuries in young athletes and sport-parents with appalling sideline behavior are woven seamlessly into this engaging story. Her Best Move celebrates the exuberance and joy of championship level soccer, but tells the story from a girl's point of view, highlighting the hectic life of a high school sophomore trying to juggle life, love and sports.