Lou Diamond Phillips Stars in Comedy Short Film, LUCY IN THE SKYS WITH DIAMOND

Star of the stage and screen, Lou Diamond Phillips showcases his versatile acting chops in the highly-anticipated comedy short film "Lucy in the Sky with Diamond," today released by Writer and Director Joey Boukadakis, President of Jackal Media, which produced the short film. Phillips, a Tony and Golden Globe Award-nominated actor, is famous for his acclaimed performances in films such as La Bamba, Young Guns, Stand and Deliver, and Courage Under Fire, among others.

"The script was sent to me while I was on set in New Mexico shooting the TV show Longmire, and when I sat down to read it I knew it was something special because from the first page I couldn't stop laughing," said Phillips. "The characters and dialogue leapt off the page; it was great writing and I knew I had to do it. Plus, I was very flattered by the gesture, particularly as it was sent to me out of the blue."

"Lucy in the Sky with Diamond" was shot over two days in a diner in the San Fernando Valley. The film also stars John Patrick Jordan (American Pie, Mad Men) and Brian Thomas Smith (The Big Bang Theory, Happy Endings). Phillips plays a hyperbolized version of himself known as the elusive and mysterious "LDP" a renegade, spirit guide, life coach character who attempts to help Jordan's character get over a particularly disconcerting ex-girlfriend.

"Since Joey wrote the script specifically for Lou, the entire project depended on his involvement," said John Patrick Jordan, who, in addition to co-starring, also co-produced the short film along with Boukadakis. "We sent it to him blind, not really sure how, and if, he'd respond to the material. When we found out how excited he was to jump in the sandbox with us, it just validated how awesome of a guy he is."

Boukadakis, a music video and commercial director whose short films "Rushers" and "Dinner with Raphael" have played at film festivals all over the world, says he's been a Lou Diamond Phillips fan his entire life. "I remember watching La Bamba over and over as a kid with my siblings, quoting it, singing along, and acting out scenes. In some ways, Lou was to us what Travolta was to Tarantino. We grew up watching him."

Boukadakis said he had been playing around with a "Chuck Norris of love" type character when the idea of Phillips popped in his head. "Lou brings such a unique mythology along with him as an actor; he's played so many iconic roles across such a wide range of ethnicities. Adding a tongue-and-check twist to his persona gave us an opportunity to create some amazing comedic moments," said Boukadakis.

Phillips' father was an American of Scots-Irish and one-quarter Native American (Cherokee) descent, and his mother is of Filipino Chinese descent.

Boukadakis added, "The man just personifies 'cool' plus, I think somewhere along the way he discovered the fountain of youth and won't tell anyone about it. The guy seriously doesn't age."

Jordan thinks people are going to be blown away when they see Phillips' performance, particularly his loyal following. "Lou is absolutely hilarious in this. During filming, he had me in stitches. You don't expect an actor of his caliber to be this funny and take it to the places he was willing to go and we went to some pretty outlandish places. I wouldn't be surprised if this does for him what the Harold and Kumar franchise did for Neil Patrick Harris. Move over NPH, there's a new sheriff in town and his name is LDP."

"Lou Diamond Phillips is a legend," Jordan and Boukadakis agree. "And the legend lives!"

To watch Lucy in the Sky with Diamond, go to http://youtu.be/rHDg0WvuyYo

About Joey Boukadakis

Writer and Director Joey Boukadakis graduated from the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California, as well as the Masters of Professional Writing Program, also at USC. He's written screenplays for Disney and MGM studios and his music videos have played on MTV, VH1, BET, and CMT. His films have screened at Sundance, Vail, San Diego, Boston, St. Louis, Miami, Atlanta, HollyShorts, CineVegas, Palm Springs International, and MethodFest film festivals. He lives in Los Angeles, CA. Boukadakis is the President of Jackal Media, a music video, film, and commercial Production Company.