Rebekah in Highschooler's Guide to College Parties

Hold it Now! Films raises the Bar on the Teen Comedy Genre with "THE HIGHSCHOOLER'S GUIDE TO THROWING COLLEGE PARITES!"

Hold It Now! Films (Side FX, Crushed) has just wrapped principal photography on their latest feature: The High Schooler’s Guide to College Parties.

The demand for this genre of teen comedy (think: Superbad) and the current desire of the industry (and the general movie-going public) to see films headlined by unknowns and up-and-comers makes this the perfect time for such a flick to hit the scene.

“We used all Dallas-based cast and crew,” says Patrick Johnson, writer/director/producer. (Also producing were Chad Breshears, Michael Schneider, and Natalie Dickinson). “We were blown away by the level of talent and commitment from everyone who participated in the production.”

Shot locally, The High Schooler’s Guide to College Parties is brought to life by the comedic performances of the stellar Dallas-based ensemble cast. Writers Patrick Johnson and Natalie Dickinson create a refreshing comedic voice—one that enlists both the male and female points of view.

Also acting as Director of Photography, Johnson brings his signature aesthetics to the screen, making each shot as fun to watch visually as it is to take in the on-screen chemistry of the cast and the honest humor of the dialogue.

Heading the cast with hilarious earnest charm is Sundance-bound Nate Rubin (My Mom Smokes Weed) as Shaquille. Shaq has grown up below the radar, raised in a lower-middle-class family by an ultra-laid-back (currently unemployed) father who marches to the beat of his own drummer. He believes that his ticket to move up in social class is through his cousin, Brett (the quintessential, genetically blessed jerk). Shaq believes that if he can impress Brett by throwing a college party, Brett will help him move up in the world. Shaq is faced with the dilemma of how to get where he wants in life—does he sell out his friends to impress Brett, or does he uphold his integrity? Brett (played by a deliciously smarmy Zach Rose) always has his two lackeys in tow (both also named Brett): Justin Arnold (The Final) and David McKay.

The cast is also led by Kris Kiley, Brina Palencia (renowned voice actress), Kim Foster (Earthling), Taylor Kowald, Adam Dietrich, Jim Blumetti (Fissure), Bryan Massey (Minuteman, Boggy Creek), Andrew Anselmo, Jeff Swearingen, Rebekah Kennedy (Killing Holly), Felipe Barrientos, Desiree Avalos (The Locker), and Natalie Dickinson (Crushed, The Locker).