Video: K-11's actors & crew talk about working with Jules Stewart

Thank you @K11OfficialFilm

New BTS photo of D.B Sweeney & Jules Stewart

Thanks to @LibertineFilms 

Breaking Glass Pictures heads to Cannes 2013 with K-11

Breaking Glass Pictures heads to Cannes with four new sales titles led by prison tale K-11, currently available across the US on VoD and DVD.

Jules Stewart’s directorial debut – she is the mother of Kristen Stewart – stars Kate del Castillo, Goran Visnjic and DB Sweeney.

Kinyarwanda is an in-depth look at the Rwandan genocide and played in official selection at Sundance 2011.

The line-up includes urban drama Changing The Game, which chronicles the life of a young African-American on the mean streets of North Philadelphia who lands a place at an Ivy League school and ends up on Wall Street, where he must deal with racism and jealousy.

Simple Moves is a psychological drama from director and actor Pau Masó. The film follows a young man drawn into the sexual underbelly of New York City’s gay club scene.

Source Screen Daily

Sounds as if K-11 is going back to the Cannes market this year. 

Perhaps to enter some new markets for release. 

Wishing you all good luck! 

New still with Goran Visnjic & DB Sweeney

Source @BreakingGlassPx 

Kate del Castillo's interview with 'The Advocate'

Mexican actress Kate del Castillo shines in K-11, the new prison thriller from director Jules Stewart (the mother of Twilight darling Kristen Stewart and her brother Cameron, who both have cameos in the film). Del Castillo plays a transgender woman named Mousey, who rules her dormitory with an iron, manicured fist. After a successful run on the festival circuit, K-11 is now screening in theaters and available On Demand.

Based on the real-life ward in the Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail, the film examines relationships between the gay men and trans women incarcerated for various crimes, then housed in a distinct ward to protect them from violence that might be committed against them in the general population. Del Castillo’s Mousey is captivating and nuanced, by turns sweet and vicious, one moment the villain, the next the victim.

Del Castillo left a prolific television career in her native Mexico to pursue the silver screen in the United States. She’s established herself as a crossover success with leading roles in the Fox Searchlight/Weinstein film Under the Same Moon (La Misma Luna), to date the highest-grossing Spanish language theatrical release in the United States. She solidified her status with another starring role, in Telemundo’s Queen of the South (La Reina del Sur), a short-form, prime-time telenovela that attracted more than 8.1 million viewers in its first week on the air in 2011, making it the most successful telenovela premiere in the Web’s history, according to the Internet Movie Database.

But Del Castillo’s turn as Mousey in K-11 is arguably her most nuanced English-speaking performance to date. The Advocate spoke with del Castillo about being a nontrans actress playing a transgender character, her international appeal, and what she learned about the LGBT community while in this role.

The Advocate: You were tremendous in the film. What drew you to the role in the first place?

Kate del Castillo: Well, I was thrilled because… when I first read the script, I thought, OK, would I fit here? So I just love the fact that the director, Jules, thought outside the box and asked me, being a woman, to play the role. So that was a first. I was like, Oh, my God, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So I was thrilled. And I talked to Jules a lot, trying to find that masculinity, but there is much more of a femininity that I have to be in touch with. So we worked on that, and I think that was the challenge for me as well as the risk. Because there was this very fine line to cross and not be a cartoon, with a role like that. So I had a lot of fun, and I absolutely adored working with Jules, and a role like this.

And how’s the reaction been when the film screened at festivals? 

It’s a hard movie. It’s a harsh movie. It’s not an easy movie. I think it’s doing very well in the festivals, and people are responding very well. There’s people that will like it and people that won’t like it — it’s just for a certain kind of people, maybe. In a way, because I’m a romantic and I will always be, to me, I think it’s also a love story. It is. So that’s the way I see the movie. I think it’s amazing. I think Jules did an amazing job with her opera prima.

You’ve made the jump from Spanish-speaking television to American film, but do you have any concern about playing a trans character, and how that might be received by some of your Latino fans?

I always like to do different things. As an actor, you’re always just wishing and dreaming about playing different characters. And that’s the way I’ve been doing things since I got here. And I left the soap opera — not only soap opera — but those TV things, in Mexico, and I came here. I was working already, but in different roles, and very different from what I was used to. So I think they love it. And they want to see me in different characters, and change my physicality, and not [be] watching the same Kate as always. I think that’s very nice for my fans.

Were you nervous at all to take on this role? 

Absolutely. But not because of that. We always, as actors, we are very insecure human beings. And of course, I was like, Oh, my God, am I going to be able to deliver it the way it should? Because, again, it’s a very fine line, and I don’t want to insult anybody, you know? It’s very delicate. So of course I was very nervous. And it was a big, big challenge. And I hate to talk good about me, but… You need to be very brave to play a role like that, because it’s a lot of risk.

Did you ever get a chance to visit the actual K-11 ward in L.A.?

I couldn’t because there were a lot of issues. They didn’t want us to go there. It was very hard for us to get there, so I couldn’t. But you know what, we shot the whole film inside a jail that was a real jail [that] they wanted to tear down.  And so the whole place was just scary as hell.

I believe that. When I spoke with director Stewart, she actually said that this was a “feel-good movie.” I was kind of surprised by that, because when I saw the film, I felt more like you — that it was a harsh film. It’s well-done, it’s a powerful film, and it affected me, but I wouldn’t say that it’s a feel-good movie, despite the resolution at the end. But what would you say to encourage folks to watch the film, or what would you like to tell folks before they see the film?

It’s very hard to label the movie with one word. It is a feel-good movie at the end. You know, you have revenge. But it’s also a harsh movie. I don’t know exactly, how can I label it? You just said it. It’s a very powerful film, with very colorful characters. Because it is about the characters in this small world inside a jail, and that we really cannot know about. So I think we learn a lot from the movie, about this place, and transgender human beings that we, unfortunately, don’t know a lot about. It’s there, but we really don’t know anything about them. So answering your question, I don’t know. I would say a very powerful movie in many ways.

Do you have any connections to the LGBT community personally, in your life?

No. Well, now I have a lot of friends [who are] transgender. But I’ve done things, and been a grand marshal at the Los Angeles Grand Bicentennial Parade and Festival [celebrating Mexico’s day of independence, in 2009]. I think they like me, and I love them, even before the movie. I am very happy because I learned a lot.

Mousey is such a fierce character, and I think the way you can flip on a switch between being very sweet and kind of coy to just being brutal, I think that was really impressive and believable for your character. 

Thank you so much, and I appreciate you saying that. Because it was a lot of risk and a big, big challenge for me. So I’m glad that you liked it. And yes, I think that she has those things. You feel sorry for her, and on the other hand, she’s a bitch. She is! So yes, she has that duality, which I love.

Did you do any research on transgender identities before you started filming? 

Yes, I did. I did as much as I could, on the Internet, and now you can do so much. And I remembered that amazing movie, Transamerica. So I tried to contact Felicity Huffman’s vocal coach there [Calpernia Addams and Andrea James] and I did, so she helped me a lot.

Watch Del Castillo interact with costars Goran Visnjic (ER), Jason Mewes (the Jay and Silent Bob series), and D.B. Sweeney in the film’s official trailer, below.

Source Advocate

Review: Jules Stewart’s debut delivers the 'most eclectic mix of prison characters since HBO’s OZ' (Cinema Assassin)

A record producer is wrongfully put into LA counties LGBT unit know as K-11,rampant with  corruption with a dorm run by the transsexual mousey

Raymond Saxx (Goren Visnjic) has woken up in jail semi coherent still under the effects of drugs and alcohol and  rather than being in general population he finds himself in K-11.  Ray tries  to figure out what has happened to him while simultaneously trying to survive in the dorm which is ruled by Mousey (Kate del Castillo) a transsexual who is in a relationship with Sgt. Johnson (DB Sweeney)  the corrupt guard who thinks he runs the whole show.

First time Director Jules Stewart(yes she is Kristen’s mother) brings together the most eclectic mix of characters in a prison drama since HBO’s OZ. The lines of gay and straight get blurred, with menace always in the air. Slowly unfolding the details as to why Raymond is in jail in the first place, as well as a multitude of subplots regarding the inmates. Jules has virtually the entire cast playing against type yet pulling it of. While not being familiar with Kate del Castillo’ work her turn as Mousey was successfully convincing, the spit fire Latina is first introduced with a five o clock shadow and a don’t challenge me attitude she runs k-11 and the dorm knows it. Her turn as a chick with a dick is so convincing It wasn’t till after the film that I found out her actual gender. Jason Mewes shows he is more than just smokin weed and saying snoogins in Kevin Smith films,  he has some dramatic acting chops as Mousey’s bitch running the drug operation. It’s nice to know there is more than just comedy in his repertoire. The standout of the film is easily DB Sweeney  as Sgt Johnson Sweeney   completely transformed himself and became the character, if you long for the guy from “the cutting edge” you have come to the wrong place. This guy is just such a, disgusting and morally bankrupt person that you can’t help but be impressed, I never realized he had it in him.

The dorm is depressing, the place is corrupt and we have a successful guy thrown into the deep waters while  we watch him assimilate into the most foreign of territories. Drugs, Rape, Gender Identity, homosexuality, are all a backdrop for Ray’s story. Jules makes a successful debut delivering an intriguing story with a sly twist at the end that ties things up better than duct tape at a tranny convention.

Grade – 83

Source Cinema Assassin

Kate del Castillo talks to South Florida Gay News about K-11

The prison drama K-11 is set in the LGBT unit of the Los Angeles county jail. The cell is “run” by the self-appointed Queen Bee, Mousey (Kate del Castillo), a transgender prisoner. She warns the new inmate, Raymond Saxx, Jr. (Goran Visnjic), not to mess with her and is in cahoots with Sgt. Johnson (D.B. Sweeney), a corrupt, drug-fueled guard who is in love with her. Del Castillo steals the film, sinking her teeth into a juicy role.

On the phone from Los Angeles, the Mexican actress, who was recently in Miami filming a short for Univision, spoke about making K-11 and playing Mousey.

How did you prepare for this outrageous role?

Jules [Stewart, the director] could have cast a male actor—that’s an easy way to go. For me, this is was the opportunity of a lifetime. I learned so much about the transgender world, and what trans means. I felt sorry for how ignorant I was about what they go through.

From her makeup to her fabulous shoes—Mousey was very distinctive. How did you create her “look”?

Love the shoes! This is a transwoman who’s a junkie. We didn’t want to do her makeup like a cartoon—there’s a very fine line. We tried to find something that would make people at her stare at her. She’s attractive, but a little creepy.

Mousey is heavily tattooed. Are you heavily tattooed?

I am!  I have one on my foot–an arrow that means freedom. And a Pi on my left shoulder. I wanted to put an infinity sign, but it didn’t look right. Under my belly button, I have a design I like. And then I have two on my fingers—one says “love” and one says “live,” and I have “inner strength” on my wrist and “here now” below it. When my father saw my first tattoo, he said “Your body is sacred, when I brought you into this world, you were intact. What did you do?” I have seven now, so he’s like, “Ok, whatever!”

Your tough! How was it to play a Queen Bee?  When you assert, “I am that Bitch!” I got goosebumps!

[LAUGHS]. It’s funny you say that, because for me, it’s difficult to find the feminine side. The masculine part I have; the feminine side, I had to work on. That’s weird, but it’s true. When I wore the makeup and shoes, I just owned it. You have to go deep and not let it affect you. She’s a badass character. She has a duality—you feel sorry for her, and you hate her. It becomes “How far can you go?” and “How far will the director let you go to get this emotion out of you?” We understood what the world means to Mousey—she feels secure inside the prison. The streets are dirty. In K-11, it’s “I am someone. I rule. I am that Bitch.” Outside, she’s just another junkie working her ass off.

Your co-star D.B. Sweeney told me that he was Prince Charming to Mousey’s Snow White. How did you see the characters and their relationship?

[LAUGHS]. It’s funny he said that. He’s right in a way. He is really in love—or obsessed—with her. She’s just using him to get the drugs. He knows she has sexual power over him, and she uses it. Why not?

Do you have any experience in or with prison?

[LAUGHS] No! Never!

Do you have a favorite prison movie?

Oh! AH! That’s interesting… The one with Sean Penn. Dead Man Walking. And I love Bad Boys and The Shawshank Redemption, too.

Source via @K11OfficialFilm 

Jules Stewart interview with Mingle Media TV

Experience. Passion for Storytelling.

For the past 25 + years Jules Stewart has worked in TV and Movies as a script supervisor, representing the writers on set, sitting next to directors and DPs (director of photography) taking notes and ensuring the continuity of the project is sound.

For K-11, she moves over a chair to the director’s seat and brings the story to life. Stewart co-wrote K-11 with Jared Kurt who came to her with six pages and this story idea. The collaboration began with research and understanding the “real” place this film would be set in. There were no hidden agendas, no political statements, just telling a story.

That’s where many projects get de-railed.

Too many times the script or story starts out with one voice and vision, but not K-11, it was not designed by committee where others start injecting their voice and before you know it, your story is no longer yours. Stewart told me that she had the movie funded three times but two of them fell through. It wasn’t until meeting with some investors from France that she found the right partners. Their only requirement was that she stay as close to the script as possible.

Add up her experience and her artistic bent and you’ll understand why it was only natural for her to make the jump to be in full control as a director.

During our conversation, Stewart shared that she had some very good teachers. In fact, if you look at her IMDb credits, you’ll see some very impressive projects from dramas to action to comedies and family films proving that she’s had the “on the job training” to be a successful director as she’s worked with some very accomplished filmmakers over the years.

Shot in Continuity Order.

What does that mean? Most film or TV projects are shot out-of-order because you may only need to be at one location for a day with two or three actors so it makes sense to group them together and shoot the scenes out-of-order to keep costs down. But K-11 was shot in twenty-two days in continuity order which is unusual. The benefits were that the cast knew where the story was going and could go with the flow of the scenes being shot. Plus most of the movie is set in a large room where 46 people had to work together to tell the story as directed by Stewart. As you watch the movie, you’ll see how the camera almost plays the role of one of the inmates and you’re seeing their POV (point of view) as the story unravels.

There is a story within a story here. One where Goran Visnjic’s character Ray Saxx, a very successful record producer gets put in jail for a “187″ (murder) but is so strung out on drugs that he doesn’t know where he is. That’s when D.B. Sweeney’s character LT. Gerald Johnson, a shady sheriff’s deputy, jumps in to take him to his special ward inside of the LA County Jail, the one designated for gay and transgendered male prisoners, K-11.

Once in K-11, the audience sees life behind bars, not good or bad, just a slice of life during the time that “Ray Saxx” is inside. There is truth to this side of the film as Stewart and Kurt’s story shows the inmates as they go about their business, from “Mousey,” expertly played by Kate del Castillo, who runs the ward to “Butterfly” played by Portia Doubleday (who also delivers a stellar performance) a delicate character who morphs as the world around “her” (sorry, not into spoilers)…

Raw. Real. Not Heavy.

When I started watching the screener, it was on my second computer and as usual I was “working” on my other one when I had to stop, rewind, and just sit back and be in the audience. At first, you’re startled by the realistic setting, reminding me of “scared straight” episodes where it’s raw and real and you wanted to get out of there. Then you are pulled in and follow the “camera” to watch the events unfold. Personally, this movie had me feeling a range of emotions from relief, (that feeling of never being in that situation and thank god it has never happened to me) to frustration, to fear, to satisfaction. It started dark but left you light at the end. Unburdened, if you will, but still haunted by the situation that won’t change.

As much as I’d like to say this movie is for everyone, it’s not. It wasn’t meant to be for everyone. That’s okay with Stewart. She just wanted to tell a story, no hidden agenda. Is it a good story? Yes, it is. The movie delivers the vision and voice of the story. When you put time into creating a story and then tell it your way, and are pleased with your work, that’s all that matters. Remember the saying “art is subjective” and keep an open mind and just listen to the story.

K-11 is directed and co-written by Jules Stewart with Jared Kurt co-writing and stars Goran Visnjic (Red Widow, Beginners, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Kate del Castillo (La Reina del Sur), Portia Doubleday (Youth in Revolt), D.B. Sweeney (Hard Ball), Jason Mewes (Clerks), Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister (The Dark Knight), Tara Buck (True Blood; Justified) and Cameron Stewart in his feature film debut.

K-11 Opens in 15 Cities and on Video on Demand March 15th 2013

Los Angeles: Laemmle’s NoHo Theater, March 15 -22
New York: Cinema Village, March 15 – 22
San Diego: Digital Gym (Grand Opening), March 29 – April 5
San Francisco: Roxie Theater, March 22 – 29
Columbus: Gateway Film Center, March 15 – 22
Denver: Starz Film Center, March 22 – 29
Tempe: Harkins Valley Art, March 15 – 22
Daytona: Cinematique of Daytona, March 23 (Special engagement)
Detroit: Cass City Cinema 3/15
Fort Lauderdale: Cinema Paradiso 3/15
Stroudsburg, PA: Living Room Theater 3/15

Find more details on watching it OnDemand here.

Source Mingle Media TV

Jules Stewart interview with NY Daily News

Independent films and Italian dishes, that’s what Kristen Stewart’s mom Jules Stewart has cooking.

The first of those is “K-11,” opening March 15 in theaters and OnDemand, the debut directorial effort from the longtime script supervisor. The latter is a reference to a lasagna cook-off the Australian-born film industry vet held against her daughter, star of the “Twilight” films, “Snow White and the Huntsman” and “On the Road.”

”I made a sausage-based lasagna, and Kristen made a cheese and marinara. We had friends come over as blind judges and she won,” says the woman the Twihard crowd refers to as “MamaStew.”

”K-11” is an old-school exploitation film starring ”ER’s” Goran Visnjic as a wrongly imprisoned record exec placed in a jail wing for transgendered and gay cons. Character actors like Jason Mewes, Tommy ’Tiny’ Lister and D.B. Sweeny costar, while some of the transgendered characters are not played by men-as-women, but by actresses pretending to be men transformed to women. Among them is Mexican superstar Kate del Castillo as the violent leader Mousey.

Alas, daughter Kristen is not in the film, though her voice is heard for a brief moment over the phone.

”We know it’s not a film for everyone,” says the heavily tattooed Stewart. “We’re okay with that. But midnight audiences in gay neighborhoods dressing up as the characters? That’s my dream come true. I would love to see Mousey for Halloween.”

"Twilight" fans have taken to Jules Stewart. In addition to having her own well-trafficked MamaStew tag on tumblr, the Twihards with have created at least one "K-11" Internet fan site, something virtually unheard of for a microbudget film from a first-time director about a fringe topic. 

When Jules tweeted "Hey, anybody seen Kristen? Ask her to call her mom," the Internet exploded (5,000 retweets, 3,000 favorites) and speculative interpretation was like a meeting of Talmudic scholars. Commenter @Spitfire_King had a nice spin, noting "no matter what level you work, a parent chasing offspring for contact."

While Jules Stewart doesn’t claim credit for her 22-year-old daughter’s cooking prowess (”maybe I influenced her a little?”) she is quick to quip that the Hollywood star’s apple pie is ”extraordinary and award-winning.”

Far less evocative of ”apple pie” is the new film Jules is serving up. The independent production ”K-11” is a fictional film set in a very real opt-in wing of the Los Angeles County Jail for detainees who are transgendered or gay.

”It’s the only place in a jail system where race is not an issue,” she says. “Being gay or transgendered binds them all together. And, yes, there is a fashion show every Thursday.”

While this is Jules’ first film as a director, she’s been working behind the scenes for decades. Her credits as a script supervisor are diverse, ranging from David Lynch’s 1999 ”The Straight Story” to comedies like 2004’s ”Soul Plane.”

While that job is all about checking for continuity, it’s not an attribute she takes home with her. ”If I come to your house for a cocktail I’m not going to come back two months later and tell you what’s been moved,” Stewart jokes. “In my job I’m a paid observer, in life I don’t scrutinize.”

It was while she was up in Canada working on the Cuba Gooding Jr. film ”Snow Dogs” when her daughter Kristen was on set with Jodie Foster shooting director David Fincher’s  ”Panic Room.” It resulted in Kristen’s biggest movie up to that time, and a special kind of Hollywood rite-of-passage.

”I wasn’t there for her birthday, so Jodie threw her a party on set,” Stewart says. “She hired a Mariachi band and had Mexican catering and everyone brought her presents. Jodie did all this while she was pregnant. When I came down for the end of the shoot, she said ’thank you for having your daughter.’”

”I’ve seen it firsthand. If publications have no news about someone, they make it up, and it hurts people,” Stewart says. “I’ve read in magazines at the grocery store that my daughter is pregnant, that she’s having a three-headed baby, that she married an alien. Obviously some stories are so ridiculous you know they can’t be true. But other false stories could potentially be true. As a mother, it is difficult to read things that I know for a fact are not true.”

As for what’s really true, well, that’s something MamaStew isn’t going to discuss. ”That has nothing to do with my film or me,” she politely, but firmly, states.

Source NYDailyNews

New 'behind the scenes' photo & article by Red Alert Live

Many fans have been anxiously waiting for the release of Jail Drama titled K-11! Well now they no longer have to wait as the movie is scheduled for a March 15th theatrical release!

K-11 is a unit of the L.A. County jail where gay and transgender inmates are separated from the mainline population. The K-11 unit is ruled by a transsexual inmate named Mousey who is played by Mexican Soap Queen Kate del Castillo “La Reina Del Sur.”

The movie is directed by Jules Stewart mother of Twilight’s Kristen Stewart.

On Friday 3/15/13 K-11 opens in Los Angeles with a week-long run at North Hollowood’s LAEMMLE NOHO Theater. The movie also includes a 15-City release in the cities of New York, San Diego, Philadelphia, Denver, Tempe, San Francisco, Phoenix, Columbus, Daytona, Fort Lauderdale, Stroudsburg, PA with more to follow.

Regarding the movie actress Kate del Castillo said “I play a transexual and she is bad ass!” Regarding turning into the character of Mousey Kate said “I’m playing a transgendered [person] and that was very challenging, and that’s what I want. To be in projects that are interesting to me and [where] I will learn from the character.”

RAL’s Jovanny Venegas is one of the inmates of K-11 he told us “K-11 was an amazing experience, I grew up watching Kate del Castillo in many Novelas, so being in a scene was her was incredible and intense especially as she’s kicking some a** (laughs). Jules is an awesome director and I’d love to work with her again. Overall I definitely recommend this movie, it’s real prison life in LA. K-11 is not sugarcoated and some scenes will definitely leave you with your mouth open.”

Actress Tara Buck told RAL ”I play Crystal in the film. I had a great time working on K-11. There are so many eclectic characters in the cast, great crew, fantastic director and tattoos for days. So much fun. Tara continued with “I think the movie is a wonderfully unique film. It’s tantalizingly twisted, dark for sure, and I think audiences will be surprised to find themselves laughing as well. It’s a very entertaining world that Jules has created. Absolutely go see it! ”

Other actors in the film include: Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister who plays a predatory child molester, D.B. Sweeney plays the ruthless Sheriff’s Deputy, Lt. Johnson, Cameron Stewart (Kristen Stewart’s brother) plays Sledgehammer among many others.

Source Red Alert Live

New behind-the-scenes photos & K-11 movie stills

Such great photos! 

Check out the ones of our great director, Jules Stewart, at work. :)

Click on each for larger view.

Source BlackFilm with thanks to @KstewAngel

New still of D.B. Sweeney as 'LT. Gerald Johnson'

Thanks to @LibertineFilms

TFF30, the film of the day: "K11" Jules Stewart (La Stampa, Italy)

Google translated, with some editing to correct grammar.

One of the curiosities of the Turin Film Festival this year includes the presence of Jules Stewart, mother to Kristen, the star of "Twilight." Under the tattooed lady with years of experience in the supervision of screenplays in Hollywood, is to accompany her directorial debut "K11", a transgressive film with an unusual story: starts when a record producer, after a night of debauchery, is found in the wing designed for transgenders, pedophiles within the maximum-security prison in Los Angeles.

The record producer is Goran Visnijc, an actor of Croatian origin emerged from obscurity years ago for being chosen as a replacement for George Clooney in the television series high audience "ER." At his side includes Kate Del Castillo, Portia Doubleday and DB Sweeney.

"Casting - said the director - was the most important moment of realization for me was that ninety-nine point nine percent of the film. I was very careful to find people who were not cowed by topics, because if you're scared by the argument is as if you shrink from giving a good interpretation. They, however, were great: I love my cast."

Source 

Trailer For Kristen Stewart's Mom's Film 'K-11': Let's Not Go To Prison (Hollywood.Com)

Bound to stir up some controversy, the first trailer for Kristen Stewart's mother Jules Stewart's prison drama K-11 will leave you with one lingering thought: gay, straight, jail quite simply seems like a really terrible place to wind up. It certainly looks that way for Goran Visnjic's character who mistakenly winds up in a Los Angeles prison that houses gay and transgender inmates. Known as K-11, this particular prison is run on the inside by a transsexual known as Mousey (played by Kate del Castillo.) The film also stars Jason Mewes, D.B. Sweeney, and K-Stew's brother Cameron B. Stewart, making his big screen debut.

Not for the eyes of the Twilight set (though MovieLine reports that Bella Swan herself does some voice work in the film,) Stewart's bleak, unsettling, shocking vision of transexuals/transgenders and prison life (rape and violence are graphically portrayed in the preview) screened at Cannes earlier this week. Since it's Memorial Day and you're probably home from work thanking your lucky stars you're not in prison, it seems almost pointless to inform you that this trailer for K-11 is incredibly NSFW. But seriously it is and don't watch this trailer near your boss/friends/children/loved ones.

Hollywood.Com

'K-11' Trailer: A Wild Prison Drama Directed by Kristen Stewart's Mom (Movies.com)

So, it turns out that the most fascinating thing about Twilight is observing the fan reactions to related projects that are starting to pop up, namely David Cronenberg's surreal Cosmopolis and now Jules Stewart's K-11 — centering on a special prison unit dedicated to protecting gay and transgender convicts. Based on some very early impressions, both films appear challenging in their own way, and we're finding it hard to believe that Twihards will follow the darker descent. Still, stranger things have happened.

Stewart's indie drama follows Goran Visnjic as a record producer who wakes up from a drug haze to find himself locked up with the K-11 crew, led by a frightening transsexual named Mousey (telenovela starlet Kate del Castillo). While there, he contends with a troubled transgender prisoner named Butterfly (Portia Doubleday), a creepy molestor (Tiny Lister), and a villainous Sheriff's Deputy (D.B. Sweeney). Oh hello, Jason Mewes, we see you there.

We're pretty sure that mama Stewart didn't intend for her little movie to be so crazily over the top, but we're curious to see more regardless. Check out the trailer we've shared below (with thanks to Movieline for posting), and let us know if you see a pair of awesomely manic, penciled-on eyebrows in your future. K-11 just made its market debut at Cannes, so we should have more release details soon.

Movies.com via @KstewAngel with thanks. 

Promo Trailer for Kristen Stewart's Mother's Transgender Prison Movie K-11 Debuts (Movieline)

Kate as Mousey being fierce (screencap from the promo reel)

Twilight fandom extends interest by association to every cast member's extra-Twilight projects, and sometimes that vampire bump pays off for relatives, too. Case in point: K-11, an intense-looking prison drama that's gotten considerable exposure from the fact that it's directed by Kristen Stewart's mother, Jules. (The erstwhile Bella Swan was also once attached to star in the film, which, watching this first look at K-11, would have been very interesting). Also: Goran Visnjic stars! Roll the promo.

Oh, did I mention K-11 is about a Hollywood record producer who wakes up in jail after a bender, only to find he's been placed in the special section for homosexuals and transgender prisoners where Deebo from Friday/The President from The Fifth Element (AKA Tiny Lister) lives? And that Mexican soap star Kate del Castillo rules the coop as a terrifying transsexual named Mousey?

Also in this movie: D.B. Sweeney, Ginger from True Blood, Portia Doubleday, Jason Mewes, and reportedly the voice of Kristen Stewart, whose brother Cameron Stewart also appears making his feature debut.

Director Stewart Tweeted out a link to the promo trailer from her Twitter account, where she also recently Tweeted about buying her daughter a baguette in Cannes. The film screened there earlier this week for buyers.

[via @RealJulesStew]

Movieline

Larry Richman writes about K-11

In a landscape increasingly filled with gritty independent films, here’s one that’s been hotly awaited. K-11 is a drama is set in a special lockup for gay and transgender prisoners in the Los Angeles County prison system. The “K-11″ unit is one place where the proverbial soap drop might take you one step further.

K-11 is the auspicious directorial debut for Jules Stewart, a veteran script supervisor, shooting from her own script. The cast is chock full of recognizable faces, including Goran Visnjic (Beginners, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Kate del Castillo (La Reina del Sur), Portia Doubleday (Youth in Revolt), D.B. Sweeney (Hard Ball), Jason Mewes (Clerks), Tommy ‘Tiny’ Lister (The Dark Knight), Tara Buck (True Blood, Justified), and Jules’ son Cameron Stewart. Daughter Kristen has a cameo, as well.

Source Article by  @larry411 thank you, via @K11OfficialFilm 

EXCLUSIVE: Jules Stewart talks to fan Noemie Sornet in Cannes

Photo: Dan Cutrona/Sabrina Inc

K-11 fan, Noemie Sornet, was very lucky enough to see K-11 at the Cannes Film Festival & interview director,  Jules Stewart, exclusively for the K-11 Movie Fan Site.

2 p.m on the afternoon. I just saw the brilliant K-11 movie and I am about to interview its director, Jules Stewart. We meet each other at the Intandem suite on The Croisette. Wearing Converse and Raybans, she gave me a huge smile and began to answer my questions in a passionate way.

How did it all begin ? K-11 as it's a very specific subject, where did you get the idea ? 

Well, I was actually working on a movie and a young  guy, Jared Kurt, approached me. He wanted to write a story about K-11 but he didn't know how to write the scprit. I'm a script supervisor, so I read 2 scenes and I found they were great.  I then decided to help him write the script. We did a lot of research and we came up with the routine of the dorms. Because K-11 is a real place. So we started with the structure, of how the dorms actually work and then we turned to character and put them in that situation. It was a great fun writing that script. The movie then got founded three different times. And three different times it fall away. Finally, two french guys in Los Angeles loved the script and gave us 3 million dollars. We started preproduction on May 18th, 2011.

It's the first time you directed a movie. Was it a goal in your career ?

No, it wasn't. My goal for my career was to be a writer. But I interviewed a lot of people to direct this movie but nobody got it, nobody understood it, so I said : ''I can do it myself''. Because if you can't understand the movie, maybe I'm just the best person to do it on my own. Which I did.

What was the most difficult part of the process for you ? 

Casting for me was probably the scariest part of the process, because it's 99,9% of the movie.  Kate Del Castillo who played Mousey was the first person I casted. She's from Mexico and she is just a genius. D.B Sweeney came to my office and wanted the role of Johnson. Things started to come together. And I am very happy. I was very careful to find people who are not afraid of this material. Because if you're afraid of the material, you hold back, and you won't give a great performance. And they did a great performance. I love my cast. It was great fun.

Did you let the cast improvise ?

Not so much. We didn't have time. We shot the movie in 22 days. In the morning, I would come in, and occasionally if someone said 'can I try something different', if we had time, I would absolutely allow them to do that.  Couple of the scenes we did were unscripted. I like letting the actors bring to the table.

Talking about the cast, your son Cameron did his first onscreen performance. Does he have new projects going on ? 

No because he is actually a grip. I wrote that character, Sledgehammer, with him in my mind and he agreed to actually do it. He is very shy and sweet and I'm really proud of him, he did a great job.

And your daughter Kristen also plays a micro-cameo in the movie...

Yes, she is the secretary on the telephone. She loves the film and wanted to be a part of it. She was going to be Butterfly at first. Kristen attached herself to that role years ago but the schedule didn't work. There was Snow White and the Huntsman and I have to push her up to do this big movie.

The character of Butterfly is indeed such a huge role. Could you say more about it?

It's sort of like the breaking of innocence. Butterfly is the youngest member of the dorm, she is only 18. She has psychological problem, and she's not been yet diagnosed. When she said ''I'm here because I took care of my daddy'', she's actually killed her father. It is very deep, intense. Portia Doubleday who plays Butterfly has the hardest role in the movie, it's intensely psychological. She shows some demons inside of her and we tried to photograph them.

As a script supervisor, what sort of subject do you like working on? 

I have a couple of pieces I have done by myself and I love driven characters. I like smaller films that tell a story about people.

Any new project?

My new picture may be one that I wrote years ago. It's a story about the United States Government finding a body on Mars. The dilemma is whether to tell the people that they found this body or whether to deny it.

Let's talk about Cannes. How is the festival going for you?

We are having a wonderful time here, it couldn't be better. We already got offers for K-11, the movie has been very well received there.

How long are you staying? 

Until May 26th. I'm here for the whole festival. My daughter Kristen is coming on the 22nd for her movie ON THE ROAD so I'll be here to support her. I'm really proud of her.

Red carpet time then?

I don't know yet, but I will definitely be on the background, applauding her.

Thank you to so much to @NoemieS7art for conducting this interview with Jules and sharing it with us.

Thank you to Jules for taking the time to to do this interview for us fans. We're are very appreciative and honored. 

Music video tease of 'My Liberty' by Billy Morrison

K11OfficialFilm

Kristen Stewart To Make 'Micro-Cameo' In 'K-11' (MTV)

It seems that "K-11" is once again a family affair. The film's director, Jules Stewart, has managed to find a role for her superstar daughter, Kristen Stewart, who had previously exited the film. Her brother, Cameron, will also be in the film.

Jules told E! News that even though shooting on the film is complete, KStew really wanted to lend her support to the film, noting that Stewart's part is all done in voice-over.

"Kristen has always been supportive of 'K-11,' but you'll have to look very hard to find her. It's a micro-cameo," her mom told the website. "We'd already finished shooting the movie, but Kristen still wanted to be a part of it in some way."

The news of the cameo first broke on Jules' page, when she wrote, ""Excited to say that a final stage addition to @K11OfficialFilm is Kristen playing a small role. #K11"

So, who will K-Stew be playing? She'll play Goran Visnjic's secretary. The story follows his character, a record producer who binges on drugs and alcohol. He eventually finds himself in Los Angeles County Jail and in the section of the jail occupied by gay and transsexual inmates, run by one of the inmates named, Mousey.

Stewart had been attached to the film before dropping out last year. Her "Twilight" co-star Nikki Reed had also been attached to the film at one point. This film, which marks the directorial debut for Jules, also stars D.B. Sweeney ("Hard Ball") and Portia Doubleday ("Youth in Revolt"). There's no release date for the film yet, but it may be premiering at the Berlin Film Festival. ** Error by MTV, please note that K-11 didn't premiere at the BFF.

Old interview of Kristen with MTV from 2010 at "The Runaways" LA premiere where she talked about her then involvment with K-11:

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Source MTV