Halestorm Entertainment - About Halestorm

HaleStorm Entertainment is a film production and distribution company based in Provo, Utah. HaleStorm specializes in the development, production and distribution of feature films, children's television programming and family-friendly entertainment.

Founded in January 2001 by Kurt Hale and Dave Hunter, HaleStorm make its mark with its first feature film, The Singles Ward. Shot on a shoestring budget of $400,000, Hale and Hunter depicted the life of a divorced Mormon living in the middle of one of the most Mormon-populated areas of the country - Provo, Utah.

Having virtually no means for distribution, Hale and Hunter set out to distribute the product themselves. They immediately created a sister company, HaleStone Distribution and released the film to a theatrical market on February 1, 2002. The film was released one state at a time, utilizing the major chains and megaplex's. The Singles Ward eventually went on to play in over 100 first-run theaters. The film became wildly successful within its niche market and grossed just over $1.25 million at the box office.

Continuing with their self-distribution model, Hale and Hunter distributed the film on video--forgoing invaluable relationships within the home video market.

With one film under their belt, Hale and Hunter entered production on their second feature, The R.M., following the same production model and budget, and utilizing their experience from their first release. The R.M. opened in theaters with the highest opening weekend gross of any Mormon-themed film and the sixth highest per-screen average in the country.

HaleStorm followed The R.M. with It's Latter-day Night!, The Home Teachers, The Best Two Years, Sons of Provo, Baptists At Our Barbecue, It's Latter-day Night Biscuit, Suits on the Loose, Mobsters and Mormons, Feature Films, and Church Ball!

The music division at HaleStorm, also known as HaleYeah! Records, has a continuously growing library of albums and artists. Utilizing its home distribution models of its feature films, HaleStorm has been able to successfully release soundtracks, albums and audio CDs to its prime markets. Encompassing a unique rocked-out style of traditional Christian music, HaleStorm has built a large and loyal audience for the soundtracks of each film and each additional album. HaleStorm is also the main distributor of music for the Utah-based band, SweetHaven, as well as They Might Be Elders!

In May 2005, HaleStorm broke ground on a full service production and post-production facility in Provo, Utah. The studio will be the only commercially available studio soundstages in the state since the Osmond Studios.

Name: Dave Hunter
Title: President, CEO
Department:
Email: contact@hstorm.com
Address:
5132 North 300 West
Provo, UT 84604
Phone: 801-655-5180
Fax: 801-655-5181

A successful businessman, Mr. Hunter worked for 10 years in real estate and development. In 2001, Mr. Hunter and long-time friend Kurt Hale, who studied film together at BYU, stepped away from their successful businesses and formed HaleStorm Entertainment to produce and distribute comedic feature films primarily for the LDS audience. Mr. Hunter helms the financial and business end of HaleStorm Entertainment serving as producer for all of HaleStorm's productions. Mr. Hunter and Mr. Hale's first release was the cult-classic hit, The Singles Ward. Encouraged by the success of Singles Ward, he went on to produce HaleStorm's follow-up films, The R.M., The Home Teachers, Suits on the Loose, Mobsters & Mormons, and Church Ball.

To date, he has released seven feature films theatrically. Mr. Hunter is also currently in development on two television shows.

Name: Kurt Hale
Title: President, Creative Director
Department:
Email: contact@hstorm.com
Address:
5132 North 300 West
Provo, UT 84604
Phone: 801-655-5180
Fax: 801-655-5181

Mr. Hale has proven he has a knack for comedy. He comes from the family of playwright legends Ruth and Nathan Hale of the famed Hale Center Theatre. Mr. Hale has taken his family’s love for acting and shifted it to another medium, the silver screen. After graduating from film school at Brigham Young University, Mr. Hale played his hand as a vice president of a Salt Lake City- based transportation company.

In 2001, he and Dave Hunter established HaleStorm Entertainment. He made his feature directorial debut with the independent feature The Singles Ward. The breakthrough film garnered three awards at the 2002 Thunderbird Film Festival, including Best Picture and Best Director. The R.M., Mr. Hale’s second feature, also became a cultural hit and opened to an astounding $8,600 per screen average. The R.M. led Mr. Hale to critical praise and he has been labeled the John Hughes of Mormon Cinema by many critics. Mr. Hale executive produced the HaleStorm comedy concert feature It’s Latter-Day Night! In 2004, he released his third feature The Home Teachers and soon thereafter in 2005, produced the feature Suits on the Loose, with former Disney exec, Rodney Henson. Later that year, the highly acclaimed Mobsters and Mormons came out, and he and partner Dave Hunter released the much anticipated Church Ball.

Mr. Hale is now in post-production on the the latest project, Highway 61, which is coming soon!

Name: George Dayton
Title: Producer
Department: Business and Development Affairs
Email: contact@hstorm.com
Address:
5132 North 300 West
Provo, UT 84604
Phone: 801-655-5180
Fax: 801-655-5181

Mr. Dayton has an extensive background in the film industry and has worked on several films in various capacities. In addition to his duties as Producer on Suits on the Loose, he is currently serving as the Head of Business and Development Affairs at HaleStorm Entertainment. Since coming to HaleStorm in the Spring of 2002, he has helped guide the theatrical releases of the films, The Singles Ward, The RM, The Home Teachers, The Best Two Years, Baptists At Our Barbecue, and Church Ball. These films have not only enjoyed successful openings, but also lengthy & widespread platform releases, with 3 of the films grossing well over $1,000,000. In addition, these films have gone to DVD and have enjoyed widespread success.

Before joining HaleStorm, Mr. Dayton recently worked as a Producer on a remake of the classic family film, Where the Red Fern Grows, with Dave Matthews (of the Dave Matthews Band), Dabney Coleman, and Ned Beatty. The film recently premiered at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, and went on to win a Crystal Heart Award at the Heartland Film Festival.

Mr. Dayton is currently overseeing the development of several television shows.

Name: Bryce Fillmore
Title: President, Theatrical Distribution
Department:
Email: contact@hstorm.com
Address:
5132 North 300 West
Provo, UT 84604
Phone: 801-655-5180
Fax: 801-655-5181

Mr. Fillmore came to HaleStorm in late 2004 with over 25 years of film industry experience. A seasoned producer, Mr. Fillmore has produced over 20 feature films for both theatrical and home video markets. He was one of the owners of the family-film production and distribution company, Majestic Entertainment. Mr. Fillmore has extensive knowledge and understanding of every aspect of the film industry from production and post-production to domestic and foreign distribution.