Episode # 14 - High Truths goes to Hollywood! Nicholas Jarecki, director/producer/screenwriter of CRISIS takes us behind the scenes.

CRISIS – watch trailer

NICHOLAS JARECKI (Director/Producer/Screenwriter) is a best-selling author, screenwriter and award-winning director who has produced five films. Crisis is his second picture as writer/director. His last movie, Arbitrage, was made for $13 million and went on to gross over $52 million in international theatrical and simultaneous video on demand rentals, making it the highest grossing ‘‘Day and Date’’ independent film in cinema history. Arbitrage received many

accolades and earned a “Best Actor” nomination for its star Richard Gere at the Golden Globes®. The National Board of Review named it one of its Top 10 Independent Films of 2012.

At 16 Jarecki was hired as a technical consultant on the 1995 film Hackers, where his job was to consult with the actors and director about computer hacking. Jarecki took an interest in filmmaking on the set of Hackers, recalling, “I kept noticing that there was this guy that the actors seemed to really look up to and respect, so I asked, ‘Who’s that?’ and they told me he was the director. Then I knew it was clear what I wanted to do.” 

At 19 Jarecki graduated from New York University and went on to try directing music videos to get noticed in the film community. After no one expressed interest in his video services he decided to interview his favorite directors to see how they got their start. A literary agent introduced by a family friend liked the idea and got Jarecki a $50,000 advance from Doubleday to write the 2001 book Breaking In: How 20 Film Directors Got Their Start. 

CRISIS – ON DIGITAL AND ON DEMAND MARCH 5th 

“Intense and timely… with exceptional performances, fine storytelling, and master craftsmanship.” – Marc Malkin, Variety

“Riveting, gripping, and provocative! A terrific thriller with superb performances across the board.” – Scott Mantz, KTLA-TV”

SYNOPSIS

“A multilayered dramatic thriller that tackles every vicious part of the opioid emergency. Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, and Evangeline Lilly deliver urgent, powerful turns in this finely crafted film that is impressively up-to-the-minute.” – Joe Neumaier, WOR New York

A drug trafficker arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation. An architect recovering from an oxycodone addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s disappearance. A university professor battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a pharmaceutical company bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market. Set against the backdrop of the opioid epidemic, their stories collide in this dramatic thriller from writer/director Nicholas Jarecki (Arbitrage).

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

CRISIS, the second feature film from Nicholas Jarecki (the award-winning writer/director of the critically acclaimed Arbitrage) takes an uncompromising look at the opioid epidemic through three parallel stories inspired by real life events. A taut and alluring thriller, the tension filled CRISIS puts a human face on the epidemic which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide and continues to rage out of control. Caught in the middle are: Dr. Tyrone Brower (Gary Oldman), a university professor who battles unexpected revelations about his research employer, a major pharmaceutical company bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market; Jake Kelly (Armie Hammer), an undercover DEA agent who attempts to infiltrate an international Fentanyl smuggling operation; and Claire Reimann (Evangeline Lilly), an architect recovering from an oxycodone addiction who tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics. Together, their worlds combine to illuminate the landscape of an international health crisis touching every corner of society in a story of professional integrity, moral ambiguity, and love and revenge.

CRISIS is written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki and stars Academy Award-winner Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour) and Golden-Globe nominees Armie Hammer (Call Me by Your Name) and Evangeline Lilly (Avengers: Endgame). The ensemble cast includes: Academy Award nominee Greg Kinnear (As Good as It Gets), Michelle Rodriguez (Widows), Luke Evans (Midway), Lily-Rose Depp (The King), Martin Donovan (Tenet), Scott Mescudi (James White), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones), Mia Kirshner (Exotica), Veronica Ferres (Berlin, I Love You), Michael Aronov (The Drop), Guy Nadon (L’ange Gardien), and Duke Nicholson (Us).

Completing Jarecki’s creative team are director of photography Nicolas Bolduc (Enemy) and production designer Jean-Andre Carriere (Enter the Void), with original music by Raphael Reed. The film is produced by Jarecki and acclaimed independent film producer Cassian Elwes (Dallas Buyers Club, Mudbound, The Butler). Executive producers are Gary Oldman, Douglas Urbanski, Michael Suppes, Tony Hsieh, Mohammed Al Turki, Noah Segal, Lisa Wilson, William Rosenfeld, Sam Slater, David Bernon, and Samuel J. Reich. Co-executive producers are Kean Cronin, Robert Kapp, and James W. Skotchdopole. Co-producers are Jonathan Vanger and Karl Richards.