Film sheds light on the escalating crisis of human trafficking in North Texas.

DALLAS - April 9, 2024 - PRLog -- DONDAGA Films is excited to announce the premiere of its debut feature film MISTER GATES, written and directed by Desmond Donahue. The film premieres June 8^th at Grandscape Galaxy Theatres located at 5740 Grandscape Blvd, Unit 100, The Colony, TX 75056. Doors open at 5:30 PM.

MISTER GATES follows the events in the life of Christopher Gates upon his return from the military to take over his family's prestigious real estate business. Unbeknownst to him, his life is about to take a drastic turn that leads to unexpected loss, homelessness and a life-threatening mission that lands him in the seedy underworld of human trafficking. Written and directed by filmmaker Desmond Donahue, MISTER GATES was inspired by a past role Donahue played in the film 8 DAYS where he portrayed the leader of a human trafficking ring. "After my role in 8 DAYS, while the role itself was great and really challenged me as an actor, the experience left me really disturbed in my spirit," says Donahue. "My character was never apprehended; so, it became very important to me to create a narrative that told the story of someone who fights against these horrible crimes and becomes a hero to his community by standing up against it. I also wanted to shed light on this growing problem especially since Dallas/Ft. Worth ranks second in the nation when it comes to the number of victims of human trafficking. I also wanted to shine a light on the homeless epidemic facing our communities."

MACK WHITE III shines in the lead role as Christopher Gates. White tackled his breakout role in the 2015 football drama Carter High where he played high school stand-out star and former NFL player Jessie Armstead.  The feature, based on true events, is also where White met and impressed Donahue. "When I originally wrote MISTER GATES, it was intended to be a starring vehicle for me to elevate my acting career to the next level," explains Donahue. "As a Black male actor in Dallas, the kind of roles I really wanted, the ones that pushed me outside my comfort zones, just weren't available in this market. So, I decided to create the role I wanted to bring to life on screen. However, with the passage of time and after working with Mack on Carter High, I knew that if I decided not to portray Christopher Gates, Mack was really the only other choice for the role. I knew I would get what I needed from him, and he showed up and delivered!" The film also stars HAWTHORNE JAMES (The Five Heartbeats, Cheers, Speed, The Color Purple) as Charles Gates, Christopher Gates's father, who has run the family real-estate business for years. He hands the business over to Chris when he steps down after a visit from a Russian family looking to buy him out.

Securing James for the project was a highlight for Donahue, a long-time fan of the versatile actor's work. "When Hawthorne called me and said he would be honored to be in my debut film, that was a moment I will never forget," recalls Donahue. "As a young boy growing up in Oak Cliff [Dallas], I remember the Five Heartbeats having a tremendous impact on my life. The music, the dancing, it got me through a really difficult time following a car accident where I almost lost my life. As I was learning to walk again, that film was a light during some very dark days. That's why I'm so committed to this industry and the power it has to inspire and change lives because that's what it did for me.' Actor and voiceover icon VIC MIGNOGNA (Dragon Ball Z, Sonic the Hedgehog and Star Trek Continues as Capt. James T. Kirk) plays Senator Campbell.  He and Chris are part of the same social circles as the Senator who is up for reelection wields a great deal of influence in the community and with the City's Chief of Police. Rounding out the cast are MILA McCOY (Private Target, False Profits) as Emily Baker and AVA PERKINS (Generation Hope, My Dear) as Tiffany Harrison-Gates.

MISTER GATES is produced by DONDAGA Films and Whoville Productions. The soundtrack features music from JYoung MDK from Jamie Foxx's record label and CinSation.

Register now to receive information about the premiere screening of MISTER GATES at www.mistergatesmovie.com. Tickets are $35 for General Admission and $65 for VIP seating. Select cast and crew will be in attendance.

MISTER GATES Trailer:
Mister Gates 2024 Official Trailer (youtube.com)

Desmond Donahue, Hawthorne James, Vic Micnogna and Mack White III are available for in-studio and telephone interviews.