Award-Winning Film ‘The King’ Re-Launches as a Tribute to 30th Anniversary of Elvis Presley’s Death

Maddhouse Entertainment re-launches “The King,” an award-winning short film, written and directed by Russell B. McKenzie, as a tribute to Elvis Presley’s death. The film, with its hip swiveling Elvis-like main character, leads as an example of how the world famous singer has affected American culture.

“It’s been three decades and in many ways it’s like he’s never left the building. Elvis is still making headlines, his music continues to sell, and footage of his performances regularly air,” said McKenzie. “With the anniversary of his death happening this year, I thought it was proper to bring back my film to pay tribute to his life and show people what he has done to us.”

In 2002 “The King,” which stars Reginald VelJohnson (popular TV show "Family Matters"), won Best Comedy Short at the Dances With Films Festival, the Audience Choice Award at the Malibu Film Festival, the Showtime Best Comedy Award at the Jamerican Film and Music Festival in Jamaica, and also won Best Comedy Short at the inaugural ActorsBone ShortsFest. In addition, the protagonist from the film was featured on E! Entertainment.

“The King” is a coming of age story about an African-American newborn from Memphis, Tennessee and his elderly Caucasian adoptive mother he calls Grandma. At the time, locals are all shook up by the abrupt passing of its most famous resident especially bereaved Grandma who curiously endows her baby with a name she hoped would prove a legacy of fame and fortune: Elrus. One day you’ll see the sign and retake your throne, she tells Elrus almost daily. Viewers ogle all the way to the end to see if a new king is finally, truly, born.

As a young child, McKenzie, who also stars as Elrus in the film, remembers being a bored kid watching stodgy old romance movies on TV. But things changed the day he caught an Elvis flick on the tube.

“Elvis totally changed my perception about how love could be portrayed on screen. His stuff wasn’t corny, but suave. He was fun. I told myself - man, that’s what I want to do when I grow up!”

Now an adult who has developed a successful career in entertainment, McKenzie has found deeper meaning in his idol’s remarkable life.

“Everyone has a special purpose in life, a contribution that he or she was born to make. Elvis’s purpose was to shakes things up and to bridge the gap between various aspects of our culture: musical, racial, and even sexual. Women were transfixed by his animal attraction, while guys were drawn to his utter cool.”

Elvis did take the quietly posturing 1950s Rat Pack hip style and literally swiveled it into the modern era. Even more so than most icons, he really represented something to everyone. Yet contrary to the darker, harder-core rockers like Mick Jagger and Jim Morrison, who emerged from the turbulent 1960s, Elvis always maintained an optimistic 1950s outlook and remained unusually accessible.

In terms of pure talent, he introduced a new style of music to the mainstream that opened the door for many African-American artists who were being overlooked. He released gospel albums, as well as, country and Rock’n’Roll albums.

Elvis didn’t think music had a color, because it doesn’t says McKenzie.

McKenzie is just one of the millions of people whose life had been changed by Elvis Presley. He wants Elvis to be remembered exactly as he has been. Like any great entertainer, McKenzie believes Elvis truly did things his way, sometimes to his own detriment.

“That’s what personal freedom is all about. And we’d be lost without the pursuit of that freedom which, when all is said and done, is everyone’s most basic purpose.”

You can download the exclusive release at www.maddhouseentertainment.com.

Fans can also purchase music at www.myspace.com/elruspearsley.

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