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RANDOM TROPICAL PARADISE Starts Production Today in St. Petersburg, FL Ensemble Comedy Stars: Bryan Greenberg; Brooks Wheelan; Joe Pantoliano; Spencer Grammer; Beth Littleford; Alphonso McAuley; Kyle Kinane; and Vine Superstar Brittany Furlan, Among Others

St. Petersburg, Florida (December 2, 2015) — Shabash Films has announced the start of production for writer-director Sanjeev Sirpal’s second feature, RANDOM TROPICAL PARADISE, an ensemble comedy set for a 21-day shoot in and around St. Petersburg, Florida beginning December 1, 2015. First in a slate of three films planned for the next two years under the Shabash banner, the comedy’s cast features: Bryan Greenberg (HBO’s UNSCRIPTED and HOW TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA); Brooks Wheelan (SNL); Spencer Grammer (GREEK; RICK AND MORTY); Vine superstar Brittany Furlan; Beth Littleford (THE DAILY SHOW; CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE); Alphonso McAuley (BREAKING IN; LOVE THAT GIRL!); stand-up and Comedy Central mainstay Kyle Kinane; Jessica Lowe (GLITCH, BLENDED); Ayden Mayeri (HARDER THAN IT LOOKS); Caitlin McHugh (THE VAMPIRE DIARIES); and Joe Pantoliano (THE MATRIX, THE FUGITIVE, MEMENTO; Emmy winner for THE SOPRANOS).

In the vein of THE HANGOVER and HAROLD AND KUMAR films, RANDOM TROPICAL PARADISE is a modern take on the screwball comedies of old, starring Bryan Greenberg as Harry, a jilted groom and Brooks Wheelan as Bowie, the best man who helps him through his heartache...by convincing Harry that the pair should actually go on the honeymoon originally planned for the (no longer) happy couple. While Harry and Bowie’s “Homie-Moon” weekend involves hot-tubbing on a super yacht with beautiful women, inadvertently dropping acid at what turns into an EYES WIDE SHUT themed party, it also includes accidentally starting a war between the Mafia and the Triads, an unwanted suitcase full of cocaine, and Harry falling in love with a woman (Spencer Grammer) that a Mafia Don (Joe Pantoliano) has blackmailed him into trying to kill.

“It has been my dream since I was six to one day be able to write and direct my own movies,” Sirpal says. “And to be able to come home to Florida to see that dream come true now is 1 especially fulfilling. Establishing a conduit between Los Angeles and Florida with this film, and setting up a pipeline to bridge those two places closer together and make more films here is a goal of mine.“

Sirpal will also produce RANDOM TROPICAL PARADISE under his Shabash Films banner, with local Tampa-based company Digital Caviar providing physical production assets, including the coordination of all local crew hires. Funding of the modestly budgeted project was largely completed through private equity investment, with additional incentive grant support from the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Commission’s Film Marketing Partnerships initiative. A significant portion of filming takes place at the local 4-star, 20-acre Tradewinds Islands Grand Resort.

“We’re delighted to help bring this production to Florida’s Gulf Coast,” says St. Petersburg/Clearwater Film Commissioner Tony Armer. “The film showcases our local talent, locations and production facilities and we’re looking forward to RANDOM TROPICAL PARADISE to bring the area some continued recognition as a great place to make movies.” Recent features filmed in the area include Tim Burton’s MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN and THE INFILTRATOR, starring Bryan Cranston.

Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the sister properties of the TradeWinds Island Resorts – the Island Grand and the Guy Harvey Outpost - a TradeWinds Beach Resort – provide the ideal Florida beach experience. With more than 700 guest rooms and suites, limitless beachfront recreation, meeting spaces, outstanding children’s programs, and fine and casual dining, the TradeWinds Island Resorts offer vacationers and meeting guests sophisticated service in a relaxed, tropical atmosphere. www.JustLetGo.com

“Our TradeWinds tropical paradise has always been a popular setting for blockbuster vacations, but this will be the first time our guests get to see it on the big screen,” said Keith Overton, president of TradeWinds Island Resorts, which will be the main setting for the film. “We’re happy to be a part of this production and to show the world what this great beach destination has to offer.”

In addition to Sirpal, the production team includes director of photography Thomas L. Callaway (FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD; FEAST) and casting by Blyth Nailling (MTV; THE LATE BLOOMER) and Janelle Scuderi (House, M.D.).

South Florida native Sanjeev Sirpal spent his first two years in Los Angeles working for The William Morris Endeavor Agency and then in development, until he was finally able to write and direct his own first feature. His first film, 2008’s micro budget SCREW CUPID, a romantic comedy Steve Persall of The St. Petersburg Times called "crisply written and full of wit," and ReelTalk dubbed "a winner," screened at the Seattle International Film Festival, Sunscreen Film Festival, and the Delray Beach Film Festival (AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER), before being acquired by the Sundance Channel and IFC.

Founded by Sirpal in 2015, Shabash Films’ upcoming projects include a romantic comedy FIRST TIME AGAIN and an action comedy MY DAD CAN BEAT UP YOUR DAD. The company hopes to complete production on the other two films by the end of 2017.

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