Who says Hollywood can’t tell an inspiring story or two?

Certainly not Jack Nasser (http://nasserentertainment.com), who is constantly in search of that family-oriented project with just that right amount of entertainment value.

“Midnight Stallion” (formerly “Midnight Rider”) is the story of a father and his daughter, who bond while training a wild stallion to win a race so that the family farm might be saved.

In this TV-movie, Jodelle Ferland (“Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” “Stargate: Atlantis”) plays Megan Shepard, while Kris Kristofferson plays her father, Jack.

The Search Is On

When I spoke with Nasser, he had just seen the rough cut of “Midnight Stallion” and was more than pleased.  “I was amazed at it,” he told me.  “It looks like a Disney movie.”

But that “Disney” feel didn’t come easy.

In fact, his first cast choice for the project fell through.  Even as he was sharing his story with me, I couldn’t help but see that hiring Kristofferson in the lead was meant to be.

“God ordered the perfect star for me,” he told me.  “Things like that are what makes us keep going and keep doing what we do.”

A Different Kind of Star

“Midnight Stallion” showed Nasser that the art of caring was not lost in Hollywood – or, in this case, Vancouver.  What happened on set amazed even him.

“Usually, the star will spend most of the time between takes in their trailer,” he began. “But not Kris.  All of the crew became personally involved with him and with his wife.”

In fact, when the project wrapped, the star and his wife gave each crew member a CD of photos they had taken during the course of shooting.  Nasser told me, “I’ve never seen any star do that, ever.”

An Actress of the Highest Degree

And working with Jodelle Ferland was no exception.

Nasser first spotted Ferland years ago when she portrayed Amber Hangerman in Lifetime’s “Amber’s Story.”  It was this project that began the AMBER Alert  system used today for missing and exploited children.

Nasser never forgot her.

A Horse Is a Horse

But all was not grand on set.  There were challenges – a couple of them involving how to get a horse to act in the right manner, at that right time.

“There was one particular thing we were trying to get the horse to do, and we didn’t have any idea how to do it,” Nasser told me.  “One day, the cameras were rolling, and Kris just reached out his hand to say hello to the horse.  And the horse did this dangerous stunt beautifully right then and there.”

Coming to TV and DVD

“This is a fun movie,” Nasser said.  “And we’re getting better and better at refining the entertainment part of our projects while maintaining a high moral standard – without being too preachy.”

At presstime, it was uncertain where “Midnight Stallion” might land – possibly ABC Family, possibly Hallmark.  No matter where it lands on the airwaves, however, it will be released to DVD on May 4, 2013.

Cheryl has been a freelance TV/film writer for more than 10 years. Simultaneously, she has worked in PR for Bon Jovi Productions in NYC, PolyGram Records (also in NYC), and Rogers & Cowan Public Relations. Cheryl has published articles at suite101.com, “Sci-Fi Entertainment” magazine, and “Soap Opera Weekly.” She was also a credited researcher for English author Denis Meikle’s JOHNNY DEPP: A KIND OF ILLUSION. Cheryl enjoys writing for the entertainment industry and meeting new people. She is also an animal lover. 

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