LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- TARYN MANNING (Orange Is the New Black) SIGNS ON TO STAR IN THE NEW SUSPENSE THRILLER, KAREN.

KAREN TELLS THE STORY OF AN ENTITLED, RACIST, CAUCASIAN WOMAN IN THE SOUTH, WHO REIGNS TERROR ON HER NEW AFRICAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORS.

Karen, sure to be another cultural phenomenon, is a suspense thriller, which tells the tale of Karen White (Taryn Manning), an entitled, bigoted woman. Karen believes firmly that the races should stick to their "own kind", especially as it relates to her beloved neighborhood. So, when her new African American neighbors, Assata and Malik, move in next door, she makes it her personal mission to remove them from the neighborhood, by any means necessary. But Assata and Malik are cardholding BLACK LIVES MATTER members, who refuse to "go down" without a fight.

Coke Daniels, writer and director of the timely and frightening "Karen", gives audiences an interesting perspective on race relations and social injustice in America.

The film will be produced by Craig Chapman, Taryn Manning and Coke Daniels. Vanzil Burke and Victor Burke, founders of the Burke Management Firm, will serve as executive producers. In addition, Adrian Miller and Krishna LeFan will serve as co-executive producers. Flixville USA and Burke Management will serve as the production companies. The film is slated to start production in the fall.

Reps for Ms. Manning say she is "thrilled to be a part of this timely film!"

"Karen" (USA) | 106 minutes | script synopsis
Entitled and bigoted Karen White (Taryn Manning) reigns terror on her new African American neighbors, Assata and Malik. Assata is a notable blogger, who covers social injustices and inequalities in America. Malik is a community leader and activist, who runs a community center in Atlanta's East Point. So, when confronted with Karen's microaggressions, they are at first taken aback. But, once she crosses the line, they are called to action. Using her cell phone, Assata captures Karen harassing some black kids in the neighborhood. The video goes viral and lands on the news. Unbeknownst to Karen, one of the kids is the son of a prominent Civil Rights attorney. This only fuels the fire. Karen is now publicly ridiculed and removed from her beloved post as president of the Homeowners' Association (HOA). Karen blames Assata for all of this and is now hell-bent on revenge. She brings in her brother, who is a cop, and she takes her harassment of Assata and Malik to deadly levels.

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ABOUT COKE DANIELS, writer/director
In the early 1990s, Coke Daniels began his foray into entertainment through music when his rap group, Madkap, was signed to Steve Riffkind's LOUD/RCA records. His group released its debut album, "Look Ma Dukes No Hands," in 1993 and immediately became an underground favorite. The group's videos, "The Whole Kit and Kaboodle" and "The Proof is in the Pudding", both played in heavy rotation on MTV and BET. The rap group toured and performed with hip-hop heavyweights, including Wu-Tang Clan, Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Big Pun, The Pharcyde, Brand Nubians and many more.

Daniels segued into filmmaking with his first screenplay, My Baby's Daddy, loosely based on the relationship with his son's mother. He showed his screenplay to actor/comic Eddie Griffin, a business connection and friend. Griffin immediately agreed to star in and produce the film. The comedy was subsequently picked up and produced by Miramax Films and released in 2004. The film had a successful theatrical run and performed extremely well on DVD and other ancillary markets. Daniels served as writer and co-producer on the project.

After the success of My Baby's Daddy, Daniels was inspired to pursue a full-time career as a filmmaker. He followed up with Who Made The Potatoe Salad, starring the ensemble cast of Jaleel White, Eddie Griffin, Ella Joyce, Clifton Powell, Deray Davis, Tiny Lister and many more. Written and produced by Daniels, the indie was picked up by Fox and released in 2006. It became a cult classic with urban audiences. His film, His, Hers & the Truth, premiered at the 2019 ABFF in Miami and was acquired by BET and UMC. He also recently wrapped post-production on his film,
Fruits of the Heart, which stars Wendy Raquel Robinson, Lil Mama, Dorien Wilson, Clifton Powell and many more.    

"Karen" is Daniels' 9th film. His other credits as a writer, director and producer include the cult classics, Gangsta Rap: The Glockumentary and Highway. Based in Atlanta, he is currently developing an ever-growing slate of projects for television, film and digital platforms through his production company, Flixville USA.

ABOUT CRAIG CHAPMAN, producer
Craig Chapman is an award-winning, Los Angeles-based film and television producer. Chapman is also a seasoned media industry executive. Over the last 15 years, Chapman has co-founded the Solution Entertainment Group, a film production, sales and finance company responsible for sell and or financing over 30 feature length theatrical films since 2012. Furthermore, Chapman co-founded Siren Studios, a production services and facilities management company. Some of Chapman's personal producer credits include Machine Gun Preacher, Chef, The War with Grandpa, Honest Thief, Wheelman and Line of Duty, to name a few.    

ABOUT VANZIL BURKE AND VICTOR BURKE-THE BURKE MANAGEMENT FIRM, executive producers Founded by Vanzil Burke in 2007, The Burke Management Firm, LLC is a talent management company, based in Beverly Hills, California, whose mission is to nurture and cultivate talent in the entertainment and sports industry.

Vanzil Burke and his brother Victor Burke serve as the firm's executive officers, handling the day-to-day responsibilities of talent management. As executive producers, the Burke brothers work in tandem with their clients to facilitate and secure partnerships in packaging talent deals for television, film and digital platforms.

The Burke Management Firm represents a roster of talent in television and film, including Dorien Wilson and Todd Bridges. The firm also represents sports figure and boxing champion, Roy Jones Jr., and veteran WWE superstar wrestler, Fred Rosser. The firm's clients have appeared in various projects on a plethora of networks, including HBO, VH1, ABC Family and OWN. In addition, the firm's talent has appeared in films distributed by Screen Gems, Columbia Pictures, New Line Cinema and Netflix. The Burke Management Firm represents Coke Daniels and served as executive producers on his two latest films, His, Hers, and the Truth and Fruits of the Heart.

ABOUT ADRIAN MILLER, co-executive producer

Adrian L. Miller is known most notably as the manager of Grammy winner Anderson Paak, Mereba and songwriter
Poo Bear. Miller has diversified his portfolio as a label owner, recently to reboot Delicious Vinyl Island. Currently, Miller works in music supervision & music consulting for film and television: RZA's, Cut Throat City, "Wu-Tang: An American Saga", and F. Gary Gray's Menin Black: International. He has been awarded a Cannes Lion Award for his work on the Apple Music's "Home Pod" commercial with Spike Jones.    

ABOUT KRISHNA LEFAN, co-executive producer

Krishna LeFan is a lawyer and producer in Los Angeles. Previous clients include James Marsden, Warren G, Mena Suvari, Kurtis Blow, Simon Rex, Matthew Cirulnick, Eric Eisner and many other producers, screenwriters and directors.

Taryn Manning was represented on the deal by co-executive producers Krishna LeFan & Adrian L. Miller of Xyion,
Inc.

Taryn Manning is represented by Sheila Legette for Sheila Legette Entertainment.

Coke Daniels is represented by The Burke Management Firm.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Vanzil Burke, Executive Producer
310.809.7298
vburke@burkemanagementfirm.com

SOURCE Burke Management Firm