Tuesday, June 14 is the premier of TNT’s Animal Kingdom, a bold new drama starring Emmy® and Tony® winner Ellen Barkin (Sea of Love, This Boy’s Life, Ocean’s Thirteen), Scott Speedman (The Strangers, The Vow), Shawn Hatosy (Southland, Reckless), Ben Robson (Vikings, Dracula: The Dark Prince), Jake Weary (Pretty Little Liars, It Follows), Finn Cole (Peaky Blinders, An Inspector Calls), Daniella Alonso (Revolution) and Molly Gordon (Love the Coopers, Ithaca).
The series centers on 17-year-old Joshua “J” Cody (Cole), who moves in with his freewheeling relatives in their Southern California beach town after his mother dies of a heroin overdose. Heading up the family is J’s estranged grandmother, Janine “Smurf” Cody (Barkin), whom he’s been shielded from for years. She is orbited by Baz (Speedman), her relatively level-headed right-hand man whom she adopted when he was a teenager; Smurf’s eldest son, the quietly menacing, mentally disturbed Pope (Hatosy), who has just gotten out of prison; her tough, hyperactive, recreational drug-using middle son, Craig (Robson); and the troubled and suspicious Deran (Weary), the “baby” of the family. Also prominent are Nicky Belmont (Gordon), J’s steady girlfriend, and Catherine Ortiz (Alonso), Baz’s de facto wife and the mother of their 4-year-old daughter, Lena.
On Wednesday, June 8th the show’s creators threw a screening bash that was equal to the party level the characters on the show are notorious for hosting.
The screening kicked off with a red carpet photo opportunity and was immediately followed up with a celebration at the The Rose Room in Venice Beach. Finger food, beer and wine were offered as Animal Kingdom played on the televisions throughout the restaurant as well as in a large screening room with plenty of seats for everyone to enjoy. The crowd was filled with actors, producers, friends and show contributors and sponsors.
After the screening, the party moved to a beautiful outdoor venue behind the restaurant. As you entered the party, you walked threw a room set up like a jewelry store that had been robbed. Glass cases were shattered and all but a few jewelry items were missing. Leather gloves were thrown askew throughout the room, a few biker helmets were left behind, and a true sense that a heist had just taken place was evident.
On the exterior, where the party took place, the DJ was backed up by a drummer, making for a rich musical experience. The bars packed with people who seemed more like long time friends as opposed to co-workers. Photo booths, photographers, mini movie makers and other fun and playful entertainment was sprinkled throughout the party. The center piece of the event was a life sized skate park with boarders and bikers wowing the crowd with their incredible stunts.
The production level and talent on this show is unequaled, and it is sure to be an instant hit. Cast and crew have put 110% into this one, and the comradery among the co-workers is a so apparent it makes the family aspect on the show completely believable. This is a show that will be on everyone’s watch list this summer.
Obviously,Animal Kingdom is to be set in Oceanside, one of the more iconic,storied beach towns approximately 50miles north of San Diego’s airport. That said, of course ir certainly dramatized,embellished quite a bit however it does show if not on purpose the town’s dual personality similar to the family. As things are not all bad as you can always count on family yet family is that which saves you but keeps you down at the same time. Oceanside needs to give back to the residents who have stayed there,and,or moved in over the past decade. Now it is up to the city,state and possibly, federal governments to return Oceanside as North county’s pearl jewel of the as it had been much of the time during the 20th century. Hopefully the show’s mere attention on “Oceanside”—as it will be in one of the country’s weekly marketing themes;this should be able to spark it’s long overdue revamping,as San Diego county’s residents can look at it with great pride,and its multi faceted usagaes will bring it to its past level, and analogously—-what Santa Monica is to L.A. and what Coney Island is to Brooklyn. Of course Santa Monica,is well ahead,and really does not let their cherished place fall apart. Yet fortnately it is noce to know that we can be ahead of NYC, in sprucing up their Coney Island—-they all three were frequented by the middle-middle/upper class—- not more than than 20-25 years ago. Let’s push to see that we want that trademark to be used, as well as the whole area.