The Chieftain

Entertainment, Film Reviews — By Buddy Sampson on January 11, 2020 at 12:01 am

By Buddy Sampson

Modern psychological thrillers have captivated the sensibilities of the viewing public, ever since the genre was introduced in film. Films, such as “The Fugitive,” “The Bourne Identity,” “The Professional,” “The Witness,” have had audiences sitting on the edge of their seats for decades. Edward Heede’s film, “The Chieftain,” a kinetic psychological thriller, is a film etched in the tradition of those films, films that boggle the mind’s imagination. In “The Chieftain,” an ensemble piece, the protagonist, a wounded Special Air Service (SAS) officer, is given leave to his old hometown now run by mobsters under an elite network.

“His job as an SAS leader had been to be  dropped behind enemy lines and break the enemy down,” said Edward Heede, producer and writer of The Chieftain, when asked about the protagonist’s working life, which includes counterterrorism, covert reconnaissance and hostage rescue. The SAS’s credo is “when the pressure is on, The SAS officer must come up with an option to move through that situation.” However, little does the SAS officer know, he’ll face his life’s biggest challenge-how to protect the lives and the people of his home ground as he brings down perhaps his most formidable opponent.

Heede, who has an impressive resume, having worked as a visual effects artist on such films as “The Tourist,” featuring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, and “Geostorm,” featuring Gerald Butler is excited about this film, making his first foray into producing and writing. In “The Tourist,” Heede worked as a compositing artist. Compositing artists are among the most important cogs in the production process. They are responsible for helping create the final finished film by developing compositing strategies, which results in an overall balanced look of a film. “In truth, I’m a better storyteller than much of what I’ve done for a living,” laughed Heede, “but that’s to be expected when you take steps to go from one field to another.”

His considerable experience in Hollywood has translated itself into an understanding of tension and suspense in film. He came up with the concept of the film with the assistance of Paul Gregory, whose father was a high-ranking officer in MI6, the elite British Intelligence agency.  Gregory, a Shakespearian actor and producer, who was trained by Lawrence Olivier and worked with Kenneth Branagh, has been spotted in several TV series including “The Rominoffs,” “NCIS,” and “True Blood,” among others.  And actor Brendon Spiro, an actor recently featured in The Scoop LA will have a prominent role as one of the primary protagonists in the thriller.

Born in Mexico, Edward Heede, who speaks Spanish fluently, has been impacted by its culture. “Anything you go through in life influences you,” he said.  Speaking of influences, he was also influenced by his classes in art, which he garnered from Pan American College in Texas and an art school in Orlando, formerly known as Florida Technical University. He came to Hollywood as a musician, a bass player playing world music.   “I came here originally to be in bands,” he reflected, but his career took a different path. “My first gig was on Lord of the Rings. It was a formative film making experience.”

Currently in development, the film, set in Ireland is rich in the Celtic tradition. “He has a falling out with his father and his clan. Thus, he rejected his past, with the tools and symbols of clan Chieftains, which are the Shillelagh, and bagpipes, that he learned only after he abandons his hometown,” said Heede. The Shillelagh, a weapon associated with Ireland and Irish folklore, is a wooden walking blackthorn stick with a large knob at top.  Brendon Spiro attended a New Year’s Eve bash and by sheer coincidence, the host happened to have one. “It was a good omen,” said Brandon Spiro, “that I am playing a role in this important film about Irish and Celtic traditions.”

“The project is kind of a metaphor for much of what’s happening in global culture,” said Heede of “The Chieftain,” a thriller that will have you on the edge of your seats. Principle photography may take place as early as 2021. For more information, visit www.firecinema.com.