Jim Issa has locked his next feature after fourteen long years! Moviedelic can reveal that the filmmaker’s next film is the comedy-drama ‘Bolio: Spirit of the Mustang.’ The project will begin filming in Worcester, Massachusetts, this month. Issa also wrote the screenplay along with Annie Humphrey, Robert Poynter, and Loren Tarquinio.
The plot revolves around Dale Bolio, a high school shop teacher struggling with personal challenges. The tragicomic tale depicts his life overshadowed by recent setbacks. While he is already coping with the death of his mother, Dale’s wife decides to leave him. Moreover, he also senses a lack of respect at his workplace. His mundane existence turns around when he encounters Chuck Swayze, a charismatic life coach hired by the school to motivate the students. Dale and Chuck quickly form a strong friendship, but the former soon learns some unsettling truths about the latter, revealing that his new friend may not be as genuine as he appears.
Issa has been an independent filmmaker in the industry for more than two decades, working in various fields ranging from directing and writing to acting and producing. Starting with the 1999 film ‘Atlanta Blue,’ in which he is featured as Jim Gray, and later, ‘Made-Up,’ Issa has acted in both feature-length and short films. He made his directorial debut with the hit comedy ‘Good Intentions,’ starring Luke Perry and Elaine Hendrix. It was followed by the TV movies ‘Road to Gold’ and ‘The House Sitter.’ The filmmaker has also directed commercials, including television spots for college basketball.
‘Bolio: Spirit of the Mustang’ marks the feature film writing debut of Issa’s fellow screenwriters. Humphrey is best known for her appearances in the television shows ‘Dopesick,’ ‘Homeland,’ and ‘24: Legacy.’ She is also featured as Deputy Aryes in the Elizabeth Banks-starrer horror thriller ‘Brightburn.’ Tarquinio is also an actor-writer whose credits include ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and ‘Free Radio.’ On the other hand, Poynter wrote two episodes of ‘Stuff You Should Know,’ in addition to making brief appearances in ‘The Unicorn,’ ‘Dirty John,’ ‘Criminal Minds,’ and ‘Bosch.’
Worcester has long been a leading shooting destination in the state of Massachusetts and all of the Northeast. The summer break may also provide the production with easy access to high school locations for outdoor and indoor sequences. Among the most recent high-profile projects shot in the region are the ‘Dexter’ sequel series ‘Dexter: New Blood,’ Paul Giamatti-starrer acclaimed comedy-drama ‘The Holdovers,’ and Marvel Cinematic Universe’s ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.’
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