Toronto, April 21, 2010- Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund's English-Language Program (Fund) is pleased to announce its latest round of funding for 26 new and ongoing projects through its Script Development Program.
Chosen from 97 applications, the most recent selection includes three unique projects from some of the nation's greatest emerging filmmakers;
The White Circus, The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green and Kill Shakespeare. With elements of fairy tale, myth and black comedy,
The White Circus is a postmodern tale of a heroic struggle against a legacy or corruption and greed. From the creators of Academy Award©-nominated
Madame Tutli-Pulti, state-of-the-art stop motion technology will be used to appeal to an adult audience.
The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green is the new project from the filmmakers behind Wrecked, the recently released thriller starring Academy Award©-winner Adrien Brody. It is a funny, heart-breaking story of a family coming apart at the seams, interwoven with the coming-of-age journey of the youngest son, Jacob.
Kill Shakespeare is a gory graphic novel series that's created a cult following of comic book fans and Shakespeare aficionados. The team has been supported in treatment to first draft, and plan to create a trilogy of animated features.
“Today, our support of these talented, young filmmakers will help them grow into the industry leaders of tomorrow,” says the Fund's English-Language Program President, John Galway. “All of these projects represent fresh ideas, new approaches and innovative technology, which make us very excited to be involved.”
Other projects supported include previous Fund recipients,
The Flying Troutmans,
The Outlander, Kristina of Sweden and Richie Mehta's new film,
I'll Follow You Down (working title).
Flying Troutmans & The Outlander both received option renewal funds, as well as support to write a new draft of the scripts.
Kristina of Sweden and
I'll Follow You Down have now reached Polish and Packaging, with plans to commence production in the next few months.
Projects approved this quarter include:
SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Story Optioning
The Flying Troutmans
Four Seasons Productions Inc.
Screenwriters: Miriam Toews & Semi Chellas
The Journal of Mortifying Moments
Marcon Pictures Inc., T.L. Boulton Productions Ltd. & Calder Road Films Inc.
Screenwriters: Jill Girling & Lori Mather-Welch
The Outlander
Strada Films Inc. & Triptych Media Inc.
Screenwriter: Esta Spalding
Sailor Girl
Markham Street Films Inc.
Screenwriter: Johanna Schneller
Treatment to First Draft
Flop House
John Hazlett
Screenwriters: Darren Curtis & John Hazlett
Happy Clean, The Last Chinese Laundry
Picture Plant Ltd.
Screenwriter: William D. MacGillivray
Kill Shakespeare
Anthony Del Col & Conor McCreery
Screenwriters: Anthony Del Col & Conor McCreery
A Royal Day
Conquering Lion Pictures Inc.
Screenwriter: Gerald Wexler
Shanghai Follies
AMF Productions Inc.
Screenwriter: Ann Marie Fleming
First to Second Draft
Cottage Country
Whizbang Films Inc.
Screenwriter: Jeremy Boxen
One in a Million
Corey Marr Productions Inc.
Screenwriter: Matthew Bissonnette
The Outlander
Strada Films Inc. & Triptych Media Inc.
Screenwriter: Esta Spalding
Perdition City
Chain of Title Holdings Inc.
Screenwriters: Vanessa Parise & Robin Dunne
Sailor Girl
Markham Street Films Inc.
Screenwriter: Johanna Schneller
The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green
Independent Edge Films Inc.
Screenwriters: Michael Greenspan & Christopher Dodd
Whitney Don't Learn
Darius Films Inc.
Screenwriter: Stephen Kunc
Second to Final Draft
Both Hands
7533039 Canada Inc.
Screenwriter: Michael Zaidan
The Flying Troutmans
Four Seasons Productions Inc.
Screenwriter: Miriam Toews & Semi Chellas
Hold Fast
Rock Island Productions Inc.
Screenwriter: Rosemary House
The Relationship Experiment
Devonshire Productions Inc.
Screenwriter: Elyse Friedman
Polish & Packaging
The Grizzlies
Northwood Productions Inc.
Screenwriters: Graham Yost & Matt MacLennan
In Transit
Foundation Features Inc.
Screenwriters: Don Woodman
Kristina of Sweden
Triptych Media Inc.
Screenwriter: Michel Marc Bouchard
Neuromancer
Fire Development Inc.
Screenwriter: Vincenzo Natali
Untitled Time Travel Project
Resolute Management Group Inc.
Screenwriter: Richie Mehta
The White Circus
Silo Corporation & Foundation Features Inc.
Screenwriters: Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski
The Script Development Program was created to assist in the development of quality Canadian feature film scripts. The program receives a yearly contribution of $1.3 million from Astral's The Movie Network. The script development applications are reviewed each quarter by the English-Language Committee of Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund, which includes Suzette Couture, Damon D'Oliveira, Melanie Friesen, John Galway, Bryn Matthews, Jane Tattersall and Kevin Wright.
Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund is a member of the Astral family. Astral is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates over 100 of the country's most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and digital media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit
astral.com.
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