Birmingham starring in lacrosse film

LOS ANGELES, CA  (July 20, 2011) –Gil Birmingham, known for his role as Billy Black in the Twilight Saga films, will join Superman Returns Brandon Routh in the film Crooked Arrows, a story about a Native American high School Lacrosse team forced to compete against a better equipped and trained local prep school team. Birmingham will play the tribal chairman and father of the entrepreneurial son played by Routh.


The film centers on Joe Logan (Routh), a 30-year-old mixed-blood Native American, who wants to modernize the reservation but must first prove himself to his father (Birmingham), a traditionalist tribal chairman, by rediscovering his spirit.  Joe postpones his casino-building dreams to coach the fledging Native American lacrosse team against the prep school in which he used to star.  As a result, Joe inspires the Native American youth and teaches them the true meaning of tribal pride. The sport of Lacrosse dates back to the northeastern Native American tribes in the 1100s.


“The intense relationship between the father and son and the conflict between modern ways and tradition is what appealed to me most in Crooked Arrows,” said Birmingham, who is part Comanche. “Wrapped in a movie about a sports competition is the human element of a man and his son trying to find their way in a sometimes confusing world.”


Producers on Crooked Arrows are J. Todd Harris and Mitchell Peck.  Steve Rash, known for The Buddy Holly Story and Can’t Buy Me Love, will direct. Reebok is the film’s athletic corporate sponsor. Crooked Arrows is scheduled to start filming in Boston, MA in August.


Birmingham recently wrapped up filming Breaking Dawn, the fourth movie in the blockbuster hit Twilight Saga, and Shouting Secrets, a film with Twilight co-star Chaske Spenser.  In theaters, Birmingham starred in the animated film Rango with Johnny Depp and The Love Ranch with Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci that opened in theaters earlier this year.


About Gil Birmingham:

Born in San Antonio, Texas, award-winning actor GIL BIRMINGHAM made his first TV appearance on an episode of “Riptide,” and has gone on to star in more than 40 film and television productions.  Recently, Birmingham has generated public acclaim for his portrayal of Billy Black in the first four films of The Twilight Saga, the popular series based on the best-selling books by Stephanie Meyer.


Other than the Twilight franchise, Birmingham’s latest releases include director Taylor Hackford’s The Love Ranch starring Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci, and in the animated film Rango as the voice of  “Wounded Bird.” His most recent completed project is a starring role in the upcoming film Shouting Secrets, alongside Twilight Saga co-star Chaske Spencer and Tonantzin Carmelo. His next film, the sports thriller Crooked Arrows, will star Brandon Routh and will begin shooting in August 2011.  Other big screen credits include Skins and End of the Spear.


In 1995, his powerful portrayal of Dogstar in Steven Spielberg’s TNT six-part miniseries, “Into the West,” captured the attention of audiences worldwide.  It was through his eyes that viewers witnessed the atrocities and devastation that occurred at Wounded Knee in 1890.   He also appeared in the television movies “Love’s Long Journey,” “Gentle Ben,” and “Dreamkeeper.”


His many other television credits include recent guest-starring roles on “Castle” and “The Mentalist,” in addition to appearances on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Body & Soul,”  “Charmed,” “Veronica Mars,” “10 Items or Less,” and “Nip/Tuck.”


In addition to on-camera roles, Birmingham’s voiceover work includes: Rango (with Johnny Depp), Night at the Museum, and Turok: Son of Stone, as well as the television series “The Wild Thornberrys.”

For more information about Gil Birmingham, visit www.gilbirmingham.com.