March102023

CUATE: Major Boxing Firms Board New Inspirational Sports Drama To Be Filmed In Oxnard

Lee B. Golden IIINewscuate, filmcombatsyndicate.com, trae briers0

wp-1678482751835 - Film Combat Syndicate — CUATE Producers from Left to right: Trae Briers (FFAM Group, LLC), Tom Loeffler(360 Promotions President),Mauricio Sulaimán ( WBC Boxing President), Rubin Bryant (FFAM Group, LLC)

Currently in pre-production is the new boxing drama, Cuate by director Trae Briers (In Your Eyes, Trade). Casting details remain pending for the pic which is expected to be filmed in the city of Oxnard, California, where Briers is from.

Briers is directing from his own script and is producing out of his FFAM Group, LLC banner along with co-owner Rubin Bryant. As of January, production is also partnering with leading sanctioning body, the World Boxing Council (WBC), and key boxing promotional firm, 360 Promotions. An official press release was issued this week on Thursday.

The film’s jump-off point stems from the most recent update back in December on the likely removal of boxing from the Olympics after next year. Briers’ screenplay builds on this inflection point through the story of an aging Mexican boxing coach who takes an African American boxing prodigy under his wing, in hopes of making the boxing team for the 2024 Olympics. Though the two men come from vastly different backgrounds and life experiences, it is through the training process that an unlikely friendship develops between both mentor and mentee, sharing common struggles, fears, and dreams. As their worlds are brought into alignment, a partnership is formed that will instill in them a greater understanding of each other’s respective heritage and culture.

wp-1678482651330 - Film Combat Syndicate — FFAM Group LLC

“Cuate is the real-life story which thousands of boxers live everyday all over the world, there cannot be a better portrayal of our great sport and how society, culture and family values makes their path to glory a very interesting journey, unparallel to any other activity in life,” said WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman.

“This is a very authentic story that Trae and Rubin have brought to light about the City of Oxnard and La Colonia, one of the neighborhood gyms to produce world class fighters and give young kids a safe place to train and grow as young adults. Cuate highlights La Colonia gym and positive relationship between trainer and fighter that can be developed there,” added 360 Promotions President Tom Loeffler.

“This film will capture the positive connection between African American and Mexican American culture and will bring light to our underserved communities and the champions of Oxnard’s La Colonia boxing gym,” said Oxnard Mayor John Zaragoza.

Briers and FFAM Group, LLC are repped by Holmes/Weinberg, PC.