Denyse Tontz & Duane Henry Board USA’s ‘Paradise Pictures’ Pilot

Denyse Tontz (Curse Of The Fuentes Women) and Duane Henry (The Cut Series II) have passed the audition for USA’s Old Hollywood pilot Paradise Pictures, written and executive produced by Suits scribe Rick Muirragui and executive produced by Suits creator/executive producer Aaron Korsh. The period drama revolves around ambitious people striving to get to the top in 1940s Hollywood, when the dream factory was at its peak. Little do they know the challenges they’re about to face: the end of the studio monopolies, the blacklist and the disruptive new technology of television.

Tontz, repped by Paradigm and Underground, will play Luciana Delgado, a young aspiring actress who arrives in Hollywood from the small town of Marfa, Texas. The bright-eyed Latina has grand ambitions but quickly learns that the people behind the camera aren’t as noble as the characters in her favorite movies. Henry is Aldo Boyd, an actor and jazz player who performs in the nightclub at the Dunbar Hotel, a hotspot for African-American culture in mid-’40s Los Angeles. Despite his talent, Aldo has been relegated to bit parts in movies because of the color of his skin. He’s frustrated at his inability to be the lead in a studio picture and is determined to make it happen.

Tontz most recently wrapped Curse Of the Fuentes Women on NBC. Her other TV credits include Big Time Rush and All My Children. In addition to The Cut Series II, Henry’s TV credits include Doctors, West 10 LDN, Dream Team and Doctor Who. Feature work includes The Dark Knight Rises and The Oxford Murders. He’s repped by Gersh and manager Brian Ferrantino.