Chucklehut Entertainment Strikes it big with their first independent feature film, CHINA DOLLS:

China Dolls is based on current events and is the gripping tale of two Asian girls born into the underground world of human trafficking.  It is told with a unique sense of humor showing an underside of Sin City not often seen in mainstream movies. This is the first feature film by award winning comedian Don Barnhart Jr. The movie is written, directed and stars Barnhart and is produced under Don and his wife Linda Vu's production company Chucklehut Entertainment.

Don Barnhart Jr (winner of 2007 American Idol Underground’s Comedy Contest) first got the idea while traveling abroad entertaining the troops for the USO and Comics On Duty World Tours. “I saw the depths that people go to in some of the third world countries selling off their children for a few hundred dollars” said Barnhart in a recent phone interview while entertaining the troops once again on The Comics On Duty Tour. “So many women and young girls are sold into the sex trade and have no chance of ever getting out. China Dolls is the story on one girl’s never ending dream to get out and live the American Dream”.

Barnhart's wife, Linda Vu co-stars in the film and shares producer credits.  She also did set design make-up and the graphic design.  She and Barnhart bring their natural chemistry from their personal life to the big screen. They are also producers on a new sydicated television series, The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show and with the recent success of China Dolls, they are already in preparations on two more feature films. Vietnamese born Vu made her name as a certified personal trainer, artist and photographer with her new book, “Fit, Feminine and Fabulous”.

The film is already gaining great early reviews: “Four out of five stars”, “one of the best independent films in a long time”, “fast paced and entertaining”, “China Dolls shines a light on a side of Sin City that few seldom see”. The movie was shot on location in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Kauai.  Barnhart has also just signed with William Grossman and Emerging Technologies to act as Producer's Rep for China Dolls representing the film at the Interternational Film Markets and recently unvieled the film during the infamous Cannes festival in France. 

China Dolls had been shopped around Hollywood but Barnhart turned down several lucrative offers along the way opting to keep creative control over the project. It was then that he and his wife decided to produce the film themselves putting in their own money with the belief that the film would find an audience. And it already has.

With the power of the internet, Barnhart and Vu pre-released the DVD and download of China Dolls and have already gotten their money back. “We bypassed the studios altogether and decided to test the power of the internet and were shocked by the huge response” added Vu, “We first put the preview up on our myspace page and that drove people to our official web site where they could order the pre-release DVD or download the movie and in the first month we got just over 100,000 hits on ChinaDollsMovie.com we were blown away at the response with the DVD selling for $19.95 and the mp4 download selling at $4.99”.

The film also stars Don Turner (a cross between Gary Oldem, Christopher Walken and James Woods), Qi Kinshella (Chinese born model), Jon Halbur (Popular Stage and Singing Actor), Howard Chan (King of Queens), Aiko Tanaka (Fast and Furious, Howard Stern), Nikki Chao (Adult Actress/Internet Model) and features original music by Pierre Jovan.  Barnhart first met Jovan while shooting a music video for his music production company.

“The entire cast have substantial film, television and stage credits but were not recognizable by face”, Barnhart added. “We wanted the story to drive the picture and not the attachment of a celebrity. It’s a risk to do it that way but we always felt if the story was good, we could make our money back. Everyone cautioned us that we needed a name or star but I always told them that Nicholson, DeNiro and Streep all started as no names and somebody had to take a chance. That’s what true movie making and art is all about. Not playing it safe.”

CHINA DOLLS

Written, Directed & Edited by Don Barnhart Jr.

Produced by Linda Vu & Don Barnhart Jr.

Associate Producer - Gene Kelly

Associate Producer - William Grossman

Director of Photography - Rick Shipley

Original Score - Pierre Jovan

Additional Music - Chris W. James

Set Design, Make-up & Graphic Art by Linda Vu