Synthetic Pictures's Justin Corsbie’s Music-Inspired Indie Film Enlists All-Star Cast

Synthetic Pictures Founding Director Justin Corsbie has assembled an all-star cast for his narrative feature debut, “Hard Luck Love Song.” Michael Dorman (Amazon’s “Patriot,” Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”) and Sophia Bush (Disney’s “Incredibles 2,” NBC’s “Chicago P.D.”) play the two leads, Jesse and Carla, respectively. Corsbie is directing from a script he wrote with the Academy’s Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship semi-finalist Craig Ugoretz, based on the Todd Snider song “Just Like Old Times.”

Synthetic Pictures Executive Producer Allison Smith (pictured with Corsbie at top left) is producing, and cinematographer Jas Shelton (“Keanu,” “The House,” “Stanford Prison Experiment”), who has worked with Corsbie on numerous commercial campaigns, is lensing the project.

Rounding out the ensemble supporting cast are Academy Award-nominated Eric Roberts (“The Dark Knight,” “Runaway Train”), multi-platinum artist and hip hop icon RZA (Wu-Tang Clan, The Man with the Iron Fists); Dermot Mulroney (“Shameless,” “Homecoming”), Melora Walters (“Magnolia,” “Boogie Nights”), Brian Sacca (“Wolf of Wall Street,” “Wrecked”) and Max Arciniega (“Breaking Bad,” “Better Call Saul”).   

“Hard Luck Love Song” follows Jesse (Dorman), a charismatic but down on his luck troubadour, who finds himself at an existential crossroads as bad decisions catch up with him. His world spins into further upheaval after a chance encounter with Carla (Bush), an old flame. 

The film is the first in a slate of music-inspired projects Corsbie and Smith have developed in conjunction with their successful L.A., Austin and New York-based commercial production company, Synthetic Pictures, and its newly established entertainment arm, Dime Box Entertainment. Corsbie grew up in the Americana music world in Austin, watching singer/songwriters like Townes Van Zandt, Lucinda Williams, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock and Guy Clarke perform at famed songwriter joints The Alamo Lounge, Emma Joe’s, and The Cactus Cafe. His mother, the Austin poet Alyce Guynn, often performed alongside the lauded songwriters.

“Hard Luck Love Song” is Synthetic Pictures’ narrative feature debut. The company’s previous documentary feature, “DMT: The Spirit Molecule,” released in 2011, quickly became one of the most-streamed documentaries on Netflix. That same year, Synthetic Pictures created the mockumentary short film “Hot Dogs & Hand Grenades,” written and directed by Corsbie. It went on to win Best in Show from the Best Shorts Festival after a successful festival run including closing night at Gen Art Film Festival and SXSW. 

Synthetic Pictures is a highly-respected commercial production company having produced commercials and branded content for iconic brands including Ford, Chrysler, Starbucks, Dell, Nissan, Burger King, Orangetheory Fitness and Vegas Tourism.

“Hard Luck Love Song” just wrapped principal photography in Los Angeles, CA.