Based on the remarkable true story, “Secretariat” chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery—with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich)—manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time.
RANDALL WALLACE (Director) is unique among Hollywood filmmakers; his movies have been both critical award winners and tremendous commercial successes. Combined, his four films have grossed nearly $1 billion at the theatrical box office, garnering numerous accolades including the Academy Awards®’ prestigious Best Picture Oscar®.
Wallace wrote the Academy Award® winner “Braveheart” and the blockbuster “Pearl Harbor.” He also wrote, directed, and produced the critically acclaimed “We Were Soldiers” and “The Man in the Iron Mask.” For his work on “Braveheart,” he received the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay as well as Academy Award and Golden Globe® nominations. Wallace is also the New York Times bestselling author of seven novels and the lyricist of the acclaimed hymn Mansions of the Lord, performed as the closing music for President Ronald Reagan’s national funeral.
In 1999, Wallace founded Wheelhouse Entertainment with the purpose of creating original films, music, videogames and books for a worldwide audience based on the classic values of love, courage and honor.
AJ MICHALKA (Kate Tweedy/Singer, End Credit Song “It’s Who You Are”) has a successful career as an actress, musician, and songwriter. In 2008, the Hollywood Reporter gave her an impressive honor naming her one of the “Top 25 performers under 18 that will be shaking up Hollywood.”
Michalka was recently seen in “The Lovely Bones” alongside Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz and Saoirse Ronan. The film, directed by Academy Award®-winning director Peter Jackson, is an adaptation of the bestselling novel about a young girl who has been murdered and is watching over her family and friends from heaven. Michalka is also working on another album with her sister Aly Michalka. The duo is now known as 78violet.
Michalka starred in the CBS series “The Guardian” for two seasons, as well as the Fox series “Oliver Beene.” She has also starred in the Disney Channel film “Cow Belles,” as well as the Disney pilot “Haversham Hall.” In addition, Michalka starred in the MTV original movie “Super Sweet Sixteen: The Movie.” She’s had roles in the independent feature films “Slow Moe,” “Penelope” and “Woodpeckers.”
Michalka has already released two hit albums with Hollywood Records. As part of the rock/pop duo Aly &AJ, Michalka and her sister Aly became platinum-selling recording artists. In 2006, Aly & AJ were nominated for their first American Music Award. They have also written or co-written all of the songs on their two hit records, and their holiday release “Acoustic Hearts of Winter” was one of the best selling Christmas albums of 2006. Their hit single “Potential Breakup Song” was noted in Time magazine as one of the Top 10 Songs of the Year for 2007 and has been RIAA certified with sales of more than a million downloads.
In 2006 and 2007, Aly & AJ had two consecutive sold-out tours, headlining amphitheaters and arenas across the United States, as well as international success in Japan and the UK. The duo has also contributed to the soundtracks for the films “The Game Plan,” “Herbie Fully Loaded,” “Ice Princess,” and “Bandslam.”
Penguin Books published a four-book series for tweens called “Aly & AJ's Rock 'n Roll Mysteries.” Aly & AJ have also partnered with Performance Designed Products (PDP) to launch a line of video-game accessories targeted at female gamers. The accessories debuted last year with a signature line of guitar controllers compatible with Wii, Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Michalka supports the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation and Race to Erase MS. In addition, she is the Youth Ambassador for Return to Freedom, a non-profit wild horse sanctuary. Previously, she was a co-chair of the AmberWatch Foundation, an organization that promotes child safety and awareness.
