Crossing Hollow Films’ upcoming family-friendly Action-Drama film, Take A Chance, written and directed by Saiko Shihan Oyama and Michael Stiles, and produced by Scott Perkins, not only hooked in a multi-talented ensemble cast, but brought together two of the largest Japanese martial arts organizations in the world…Kyokushin Karate and World Oyama Karate.

Starring in his first U.S. film, Mackenyu Maeda, son of the legendary Sonny Chiba, plays the lead role, “Masa,” and Cassie Scerbo (ABC’s “Make It or Break It”) plays “Cynthia,” an American southern belle and Masa’s love interest. The film tells the story of an unmotivated and wayward young high school student from a wealthy Japanese family whose father sends him to America to study as an Uchi Deshi under a renowned karate master to be played by Saiko Shihan Oyama (Founder of World Oyama Karate). Take A Chance, centers on events surrounding Masa’s rise from ambiguity to clarity in the value of friendships, hard work, and an unyielding conviction to persevere.

“Our hope is that this story will inspire people who have known the feeling of being less than they could be,” says Michael Stiles and Saiko Shihan Oyama. “And that we would find hope where there may seem to be none in sight.”

Additional Cast highlights include:

Japanese film legend and action star, Sonny Chiba, to play “Musashi”, a figure who appears to Masa and awakens a strength and determination he never knew he had. Chiba has appeared in over 125 films, including the classic The Street Fighter movie series, as well as blockbuster hits such as Kill Bill and The Fast and the Furios: Tokyo Drift.

Shihan Yuzo Goda gives a cameo appearance as the Fight Judge. Shihan Goda is a Karate Master and an Executive Advisor to the Kyokushinkai Martial Arts Organization, which has branches in more than 120 countries and boasts over 10 million registered members.

Alex Heartman as “Antonio”, an antagonist of Masa. He is best known for playing Jayden Shiba, the Red Ranger, in the latest Power Rangers incarnation, Power Rangers Samurai. His role as a Power Ranger, gave him a 2012 Kids’ Choice Awards Nomination.

Masashi Odate plays Rikio, a sensei who provides discipline and guidance in Masa’s life. Odate is an accomplished martial artist in the Kyokushin style whose acute acting talent has earned him the opportunity to appear in such high-profile films as Letters from Iwo Jima, directed by Clint Eastwood, and The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise. He has also worked with Best Supporting Actor Oscar winner Louis Gossett, Jr. in the film, All In.

Savannah Outen plays Amanda, Cynthia’s best friend, and also performs three songs for the film’s soundtrack, including the piercing ballad, “Rise Up.” Outen has topped music charts on Radio Disney since 2007 and has now over 380,000 subscribers and more than 77 million Youtube views.

The film is currently in production in Birmingham, Alabama. Source

It’s probably for the best Make It Or Break It ended when it did. Kerri Strug might have pulled off a gold-clinching vault on a sprained ankle at the 1996 Olympics, but that kind of odds-flouting miracle certainly didn’t seem in store for the teen gymnasts of MIOBI, who mostly limped to the finish of last night’s season 3 finale.

It was an issue of set-up, really. The entire dramatic thrust of the the series has been centered on the girls’ dreams of competing at the 2012 London Olympics (an event that would likely happen before the return of the show itself). Had the show been renewed for a fourth season, it would have felt dead in the water.

Kind of like this season’s villain, Wendy Capshaw (Amanda Leighton). The gym’s token goody-goody turned out to have two faces instead of two shoes. Naturally, her undoing came courtesy of a Rock girl who knows a thing or two about scheming: Lauren Tanner (Cassie Scerbo). But the problem with Wendy all along was that this show didn’t need a sugar cookie cutter villain. At its best, MIOBI wasn’t about overcoming a French braid twirling big bad. It was about the girls’ competition with their own hearts and bodies. As elite gymnasts, they were fighting their own insecurities and their own physical limitations at every turn.

Emily Kmetko (Chelsea Hobbs, who didn’t appear this season) was exactly what made the series click. She had all the cards stacked against her financially (unlike Lauren), she wasn’t a flawless technician (like Ayla Kell’s Payson Keeler), and she didn’t have the support system that Kaylie Cruz (Josie Loren) took for granted. Still, she had talent and fight. Needless to say, Emily’s absence was felt this season — until last night. The girls grew up at Olympic training camp, and by the time they were sent to the floor for qualification trials, they each seemed to have taken a little of Emily’s spirit with them. Payson had shaken off her need for perfection (and shaken out her stodgy bun). Kaylie found the strength and self-assurance she lacked for the first 2 seasons. And Lauren was looking out for someone other than herself.

Along the way, we had a reunion of sorts, as former Sasha Belov (Neil Jackson) returned, as Kelly Parker nemesis-turned-BFF (Nicole Gale Anderson), and Austin Butler (Zane Holtz), who redeemed himself after his acrimonious break-up with Kaylie. I will certainly miss Coach McIntire’s (Dondre Whitfield) talks about the Oh-lympics, but the memory of Payson’s salsa-dancing Center Stage moment and her Little Girls in Pretty Boxes-referencing 11th-hour pep talk will hold me over at least until Bunheads begins.

What did you think, MIOBI fans? Was the series ending satisfying for you? Source

With words of encouragement from their favorite celebrities, high school students in Burbank helped kick off the first Stand4Change Against Bullying Day Friday morning.

After sharing their own stories about being bullied, celebrities like Glee’s Lauren Potter, Cassie Scerbo, Jason Ritter and R. Brandon Johnson led students at Providence High School to stand up — signifying their pledge to end bullying.

These students, parents and teachers are among 1.3 million around the world who participated in the campaign.

“Reaching over 1 million participants is just the beginning of the first annual Stand4Change Against Bullying Day,” Jeff Sakwa, president of the event’s sponsor Defeat the Label, said in a new release. “Our hope is that this event continues to grow and creates a level of awareness which can help put an end to bullying.”

A star-studded effort, the event and cause was promoted by a PSA on Funny or Die featuring Jesse McCartney, Lucas Grabeel and Alyson Stoner.

And, next fall, Defeat the Label and Ken Kragen, who created the 1986 benefit event “Hands Across America,” will release a song produced by J.R. Rotem, showcasing more pop music stars and showing more support for the cause.

Donations to Stand4Change Against Bullying Day will go to anti-bullying school programs and will fund the launch of an 24-hour anti-bullying hotline and interactive application run by the Mental Health Association of New York City.

For more information on the cause or to pledge against bullying, visit the movement’s website.

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