Kiss of the Con Queen

Last updated
Kiss of the Con Queen
Directed by Tom Waller
Written byEoin O'Brien
Based on Hollywood Con Queen scam [1]
Produced by
  • Takahiro Yamashita
  • Michael Pritchett
  • Tom Waller
Starring
CinematographyWade Muller
Edited byHarin Paesongthai
Mitphon Ekphasuphorn
Music by
  • Ollie Howell
  • Olivier Lliboutry
Production
companies
  • Hawkins filmWORKS
  • De Warrenne Pictures
Release date
  • April 27, 2024 (2024-04-27)(Sunscreen Film Festival)
Countries
  • United States
  • Thailand
  • Ireland
LanguageEnglish

Kiss of the Con Queen is an Thai/American/Irish crime thriller film directed by Tom Waller from a screenplay by first-time writer Eoin O'Brien. [2] [3] It stars Eoin O'Brien, Patrick Bergin, Ravi Patel.

Contents

The film is inspired by a true-crime story about a master con artist who executed a prolific global scam on the entertainment industry. [4]

The film had its US premier at the Sunscreen Film Festival on April 27, 2024. [5] and will have its European Premier at the Galway Film Fleadh on July 10, 2024. [6] The theatrical release date has yet to be announced.

Premise

The film Kiss of the Con Queen centers on an actor based in Bangkok, Thailand, who is deceived into believing that a powerful female Hollywood studio executive is considering him for a leading role in an upcoming TV show. Lured to Jakarta, Indonesia, for an audition with the supposed team, he soon discovers that it is an elaborate scam, forcing him to pay thousands of dollars for flights and permits with the promise of reimbursement from the studio. [7]

However, after teaming up with other victims and uncovering the true identity of the criminal mastermind behind the long-running scam, the actor ultimately cons the Con Queen into giving him exactly what he was falsely promised: the breakthrough role. [1]

Cast

Production

Filming was started in Thailand in 2022. [8] Deadline reported that the filming of the film took place in Jakarta, Bangkok, Dublin, and Nashville under a SAG-AFTRA Basic Agreement. [3]

Casting

Ravi Patel was assigned as the primary role in the film. [9] Patrick Bergin and Francis Magee also joined the cast in early 2023. [10]

Release

As of March 2023, the film has secured distribution across Asia as production expands. Due to the high level of interest in the project in Asia, where many of the alleged scams took place, several distribution deals have been finalized. Prima Cinema (Cinema XXI) has acquired "Con Queen" for Indonesia, having previously released Waller’s “The Cave.” Westec Media will handle distribution in Cambodia. Film Bangkok has obtained the rights for Thailand, and Yaman Films has secured the rights for Japan. [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 Frater, Patrick (22 May 2022). "Hollywood Scam Artist Hargobind Tahilramani Is Focus of 'Kiss of the Con Queen' Movie (Exclusive)". Variety . Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  2. Vlessing, Etan (2 November 2022). "Ravi Patel Boards 'Kiss of the Con Queen' True Crime Thriller". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  3. 1 2 Ntim, Zac (12 March 2024). "'Kiss Of The Con Queen:' First Look At Ravi Patel In True Crime Thriller Inspired By Alleged Notorious Hollywood Scammer — Filmart". Deadline . Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  4. Frater, Patrick (2 November 2022). "AFM: Ravi Patel to Star in Fact-Based Thriller 'Kiss of the Con Queen'". Variety . Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  5. "Sunscreen Film Festival 2024 - AMC Sundial 12 Theatre" . Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  6. "Galway Film Fleadh 2024". 19 June 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  7. Kotzathanasis, Panos (28 April 2024). "Film Review: Kiss of the Con Queen (2024) by Tom Waller". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  8. Vlessing, Etan (2 November 2022). "Ravi Patel Boards 'Kiss of the Con Queen' True Crime Thriller". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  9. Rosser, Michael (November 3, 2022). "Ravi Patel to star in Thai crime thriller 'Kiss Of The Con Queen'". Screen Daily . Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  10. Frater, Patrick (20 May 2023). "Patrick Bergin, Francis Magee Join Cast of Tom Waller's 'Kiss of the Con Queen'". Variety . Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  11. Gluckman, Ron (April 26, 2024). "Thai film exposes alleged Hollywood 'Con Queen'". Nikkei Asia . Retrieved 22 May 2024.