While the characters in Queenpins are fictional, the crime they came up with is the real deal. In Queenpins, its Ken Miller who pleads with the FBI to get involved, but in the end, he ends up working with Vince Vaughns postal inspector character, with the reasoning being that the crime was technically committed via snail mail. The Phoenix Police Department conducted undercover operations in which they purchased the counterfeit coupons. She has spent her life chatting about popular media to anyone who would listen, even appearing on conference panels to discuss her favorite (and least favorite) shows and movies. She does not seem to take it too seriously, telling us that "this is a story about little old coupons.".
Their unbelievable success eventually catches the attention of law enforcement. We dont want people to think they can do this, he said. Queenpinsdebuted in theaters on September 10, 2021. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. She is also known for her appearances in Killing Eve and Cruella. The real Queenpins' mugshots are displayed below. (67) 6.3 1 h 50 min 2021 X-Ray R. A suburban homemaker and her best friend turn a hobby into a multi-million-dollar counterfeit coupon caper. Kristen Bell as Connie Kaminski Kristen Bell stars as Connie Kaminski, a suburban housewife who just wants to find a solution for the debt burying her and her husband. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. In the movie, Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste play Connie and Jojo, a pair of best friends from Phoenix who love extreme couponing.
It all sounded so unbelievable and over the top, and we knew the story had the makings for a great comedy., So while the women may not be thrilled to see their pasts dredged up and played for laughs on the big screen, Lake is hopeful that moviegoers wont come away with the wrong idea about creating or using counterfeit coupons. They don't call it robbery; they prefer "removing" or "separating.". Greg Garcia, a cashier at her local A&G Family Marts store, explains to her that companies habitually respond to complaint letters by sending coupons for free items. Police in Phoenix, Arizona, announced the arrest of three women after they confiscated more than $25 million worth of fake coupons in a raid. Yes, a bear actually did consumer millions of dollars worth of cocaine. She also was ordered to pay restitution of up to $5 million. They were ringleader Robin Ramirez (46 at the time of her arrest), Marilyn Johnson (62), and Amiko "Amy" Fountain (42). They interview people from grocery stores that the ladies frequent, almost all of whom recognize Connie due to her constantly irritating coupon usage, even successfully linking her to the "Savvy Super Saver" website as she uses its slogan while shopping. They included coupons for anything from Hershey bars to dog food to diapers.
Queenpins Cast And Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From Perhaps the most telling sign that things weren't on the up-and-up was the fact that the site advised, "Please do not share this information with people that you don't actually know. They also turned to the Coupon Information Corporation. They also seized more than $2 million in other assets, including 22 guns, cash, 21 vehicles, and a speed boat. When we're with Connie and JoJo, the tone of "Queenpins" is upbeat and sit-com-y, with Dolly Parton on the soundtrack telling us everything is going to be all right. Here . They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows" (Yahoo Finance). And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. -TIME. Though most of their fraudulent earnings have been confiscated, the pair have hundreds of thousands of dollars from their illegal activities stashed away, and JoJo starts a relationship with Earl and relocates to Montenegro, a non-extradition country, where the pair can immediately restart the scam upon Connie's release. But the coupons were high-quality counterfeits. He has been commended by the FBI for supporting them in numerous efforts to fight "complex coupon fraud schemes." The filmmakers are not trying to hurt anybody, or glorify the crime, theyre just trying to make a funny story. But, he cautioned, we cant say that it doesnt matter that a person is only selling coupons when we look at the amount of economic damage that does., Counterfeiters like the three Phoenix women, and the many customers who bought coupons from them, are fully aware that what theyre doing is wrong, Lake believes. Fountain and Johnson were both sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to a single count of counterfeiting. The ring used a series of twelve different bank accounts to house their money. A judge sentenced Ramirez to twenty-four months in prison and seven years probation. The coupons were sold on a site called Savvy Shopper Site, to which interested parties had to be referred or invited directly to use. In July 2012, police in Phoenix, Arizona arrested three women in a coupon scam that cost manufacturers roughly $40 million. Dejected and frustrated suburban housewife Connie Kaminski (ne Stevens), a three-time gold-medal-winning former Olympic racewalker, has followed the conventional life path set for her by society ever since she was young. Some of the coupon enthusiasts featured on the TLC show Extreme Couponing routinely purchased coupons from clipping services.In response to the Arizona coupon counterfeiting ring that inspired the Queenpins movie, the CIC's Bud Miller stated, "Coupon buyers expose themselves to the possibility of becoming involved with counterfeits, stolen property, or other criminal activities. The story of the three womens 2012 arrests for coupon fraud is back in the news, as the major motion picture they inspired is set to open in theaters this Friday. Queenpins is Rexha's first major acting role. This happened after various companies that had been impacted by the bogus coupons hired private investigators to uncover the origins of the coupons. Coupons wasnt even the biggest, most interesting case I did. And where does that curmudgeonly frame come from? David Lake, who led the Phoenix Police Departments investigation, told KPHOat the time. They also come into possession of guns, cars and boats in an effort to clean the money theyve made from selling coupons. I'd recommend this film for unwinding on a Friday night after a long week.
Whatever Happened to the Real-Life "Queenpins"? (music by) Cinematography by Andrew Wehde . Just to make him more sympathetic, in addition to the $2 an hour, he has a pregnant wife who also works at the factory. Because they arent exactly hardened criminals, they think that the money theyve made through their shell company has to be laundered, so they bought all these high priced items with the intent to just immediately resell them. It isvery pleasurable in the moment but likely to leave you feeling empty and a little queasy. Husband-and-wife filmmakers Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly did fly to Arizona in 2018 to interview the real detective who worked the case. Queenpins: Dirigido por Aron Gaudet, Gita Pullapilly. The postal inspector tells Connie it's 1 year for every $100,000 earned fraudulently and that she's looking at 40 years. The other two women pleaded guilty to a single charge of counterfeiting. JoJo combines two people in real life:Amiko Fountain and Marilyn Johnson. The idea started just as a way for their two families to make ends meet as they struggled to pay the bills. While the movie is focused on two women, there were three at the heart of the real coupon ring. On a message board, one fan raved about paying $7 for a mega pack of Pampers, with no max value meaning a shopper could get more than $50 worth of product free. I'd call it a buddy film on a couple of levels: The main characters, Connie and Jo, and then the sub-characters, Simon and Ken. Of course, the trailer also shows them later living in luxury and boarding private jets. Will DiGravio is a Brooklyn-based critic, researcher, and video essayist, who has been a contributor at Film School Rejects since 2018. A bright spot is Bebe Rexha as a dark web expert who helps Connie and Jojo launder their money. Ramirez pleaded guilty to counterfeiting, fraud, and illegal control of an enterprise. Marilyn Johnson, 54, Robin Ramirez, 40, and Amiko Fountain, 42, were taken into custody, and in a press conference, police said a search warrant served resulted in the seizing of $40 million worth of coupons and $2 million worth of assets from the womens homes, including $240,000 in vehicles, 22 guns, and a 40-foot speedboat. Previously, she worked as a singer and songwriter, penning hitslike Eminem and Rihanna's "The Monster" and collaborating with bands such as Florida Georgia Line. It's not a seamless fit. Being clever with coupons makes her feel like she is making a financial contribution. Visitors to the Savvy Shopper Site website could buy high-value coupons offering free items like detergent, diapers, pet food and more, for pennies on the dollar. Netherlands ($200,244), United Arab Emirates ($123,281), Hungary ($88,609), Croatia ($41,810), Lithuania ($18,354), Iceland ($11,774), South Africa ($5,900) and Portugal ($5,501). Here's the cast and character guide for Queenpins, along with comparisons to some of the characters' counterparts in real life. But thats just Connie and Jojo. You cant make this stuff up and the filmmakers didnt have to. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Review: Scamming Audiences with Sophomoric Humor and Dubious Politics. Bud played an instrumental role in taking down the three women who inspired the Queenpins movie.Unlike Bud Miller, Hauser's character doesn't work for the Coupon Information Corporation (a not-for-profit association of consumer product manufacturers dedicated to fighting coupon misredemption and fraud). At $300 a month, even if she stays current in her payments, it will take more than 120 years to pay off her share of the restitution order. The real-life Queenpins thought that the similar name would make their scheme appear more legitimate.
Watch Queenpins | Prime Video - amazon.com In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. [13], Last edited on 16 February 2023, at 04:25, "STXfilms' Kristen Bell Coupon Clipping Scam Comedy 'Queenpins' Sells US For $20M+ To Paramount+ & Showtime", "Leslie Jones-Kristen Bell Coupon Caper 'Queenpins' Lands With Rocket Science Cannes", "Vince Vaughn & Paul Walter Hauser Join Comedy 'Queenpins' With Leslie Jones & Kristen Bell", "Kristen Bell & Kirby Howell-Baptiste Coupon Scam Comedy 'Queenpins' Snapped Up By STX Toronto", "Bebe Rexha Joins Kristen Bell in Comedy 'Queenpins', "Dayo Okeniyi, Joel McHale, Nick Cassavetes, Michael Masini, Eduardo Franco, Paul Rust And 3 More Join 'Queenpins'; Jack McBrayer And Annie Mumolo To Cameo", "And so it begins #Queenpins", "STX Dates 'Queenpins', 'National Champions', 'Violence Of Action' & Untitled Guy Ritchie Movie For 2021 & Beyond", "Paul Walter Hauser Quietly Steals Delightful Crime Comedy 'Queenpins', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Queenpins&oldid=1139643182, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 04:25. Summary: Amelia Watson, a senior but loose cannon, problem child detective of City PD, has to prevent a war. Her sacrifices have never been appreciated and she has been overlooked by her husband Rick, an IRS senior audit specialist, her loved ones and the rest of society. Queenpinshits theaters on September 10th and will be available to stream via Paramount+ on September 30th. "We're Robin Hood," the queenpins reassure themselves. The duo then interview a group of postal workers, who remember JoJo, especially because Earl is always watching her videos. Yes. When we use coupons, we feel like we're getting away with something, like we're smart and special. But court records indicate that she has not quite been able to put this case behind her. Yes. The fake coupon game isnt a joke.
MSN Article Which brings us to Queenpins, a based-on-a-true-story comedy about the suburbanite besties behind the largest coupon counterfeit scam in U.S. history. They were just two normal women, who felt taken advantage of by major corporations, and genuinely wanted to help other women and families who were struggling. But Lake determinedly led his team in pursuing the case. Okeniyi appeared in The Hunger Games and Run Sweetheart Run, and his next role is in Greek Freak. I was very excited when I saw on the front page of the script that was based on a true story. Yes. Indeed, the movie is inspired by a true story, but just how closely does the film follow the events and people its based on? Thats the type of money they had.. While the characters in the 2021 movieQueenpins call out systemic inequality and the downfalls of capitalism, it's unlikely that their real-life counterparts shared these same sentiments. In addition to the $40 million in counterfeit coupons that they confiscated, police seized $2 million in assets from the three women, including four homes, 22 guns, a 40-foot speed boat, and 21 vehicles. Click here to get in touch, or for information about advertising on the site. Bell plays former Olympian and bored. According to KTAR News, a Phoenix radio station, the group focused on manufacturers coupons, which typically offer a free item or significant discount. Kristen Bell as Connie Kaminski and Kirby Howell-Baptiste as JoJo Johnson in QUEENPINS. A quarter of the U.S. will fall inside an extreme heat belt. Because they arent exactly hardened criminals, they think that the money theyve made through their shell company has to be laundered, so they bought all these high priced items with the intent to just immediately resell them. [3] In July 2020, it was announced Paul Walter Hauser and Vince Vaughn had joined the cast of the film. HBOs Rain Dogs Finds Humor, Despair in the Working-Class Mum at its Center, Berlinale Highlights, Part Three: Hummingbirds, Concrete Valley, Afire, The Oneness of All Things: On Sofia Alaouis Animalia, New York International Childrens Film Festival Opens Window to the World. You Are Reading :Queenpins Cast And Character Guide Where You Know The Actors From. Ame hissed, "Getting partnered with someone like me. Queenpins. Kristen Bell And Kirby Howell-Baptiste Run A Multi-Million Dollar Coupon Scam In The 'Queenpins' Trailer. Bud Miller, who was the Executive Director of the Coupon Information Corporation (CIC), told money-saving columnist Jill Cataldo, "Initial contact was made by a SWAT team removing the front door of a residence by force. She and JoJo then learn that the coupons originate from an Advanced Solutions factory in Chihuahua, Mexico, deciding to travel there and collect the coupons to redistribute to other mothers and wives. In the movie, the women are fictionalized as Connie (Bell) and Jojo (Howell-Baptiste), who end up living much the same way. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. She really likes to watch out the window as we land and it helps calm her down. According to Sgt. Directed and written by Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, the movie stars Kristen Bell, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Vince Vaughn, Paul Walter Hauser, and Bebe Rexha. The Queenpins true story reveals that there were three women involved in the real-life scheme, not two like in the movie. If you can get an unlimited number of those, think how this grows. Released in the United States on September 10, 2021 by STXfilms, the film received mixed reviews from critics and was a box office bomb, grossing only $1.2 million against a $20 million production budget. The Arizona coupon ring's leader, Robin Ramirez, and her accomplices, Marilyn Johnson and Amiko Fountain, were arrested in July of 2012. "We're talking about anywhere from $400 to $600 million in loss," said Officer James Holmes of the Phoenix Police Department. Along with paying Procter & Gamble millions of dollars, Ramirez had to serve jail time.
Queenpins Cast & Character Guide: Where You Know The Actors From He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. 'We were ordering hundreds of dollars in coupons every month,' one anonymous user toldKentuckys WPSD. Thats the type of money they had, Sgt. Bud Miller, Executive Director of the Coupon Information Center, told money-saving columnist Jill Cataldo at the time, "These customers should expect contact in the future." She was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by seven years probation. We just wanted to create our own characters.. He also focused more on the character aspect of his part, rather than talking to anyone actually involved in loss prevention. Bell will next be lending her voice to the animated show Do, Re & Mi, as well as appearing in the miniseries The Woman in the House. We're all looking for a loophole to find our joy and happiness in life." Here's the cast and character guide and the real-life counterparts.
The True Story Behind the Movie Queenpins - Film School Rejects Much the same can be said for Paul Walter Houser, who plays Ken Miller, the loss prevention officer that uncovers and eventually busts Connie and Jojos scam. This is based on the true story of three women: Robin Ramirez, Marilyn Johnson, and Amiko "Amy" Fountain. Couponing goes criminal in the new trailer for Queenpins. Her ancestry is Polish (mother) and German, English, Irish, and Scottish (father). 17:42 EST 23 Jul 2021. A Loss Prevention Officer and U.S. The two women in the movie, Connie Kaminski (Kristen Bell) and JoJo Johnson (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), are not directly based on any of the real-life women.Kristen Bell's character's background of being a former Olympic race walker who turns to couponing after having no luck getting pregnant (and spending tens of thousands on in vitro treatments) is fictional, as is Kirby Howell-Baptiste's character's unsuccessful efforts to make it as a vlogger. Others nabbed coupons for free pet food, diapers, and household goods from as many as 40 major manufacturers, including PepsiCo and Hershey. Real Stories is an ongoing column about the true stories behind movies and TV shows. Queenpins is playing in theaters with plans to stream on Paramount+ in the near future. And I just want to play the humanity of the guy while adding some comedic elements to him..
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