Silver Takes A Slice Of "Splice"

The Toronto-lensed horror feature "Splice", directed by Vincenzo Natali, picked up a distribution deal with Joel "Lethal Weapon" Silver and his Warners-based Dark Castle label, after the North American debut of the France-Canadian co-production @ the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, in the 'Park City At Midnight' program.

Filmed in Toronto at Black Creek Pioneer Village, Cinespace Film Studios and York University, "Splice" follows 'Elsa' and 'Clive', two young scientists, who defy legal and ethical boundaries, by splicing together human and animal DNA to create a hybrid organism.

Named 'Dren', the creature develops from a deformed female into a beautiful winged chimera, forging a bond with both creators.

"Splice" will be released theatrically this summer on 3,000 screens with additonal marketing support, budgeted between $25-40 million.

Dark Castle is optimistic that the genetic mutation thriller will be the next box-office busting "Paranormal Activity".

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Splice"...

FreeHD Canada Wins CRTC Approval

FreeHD Canada, a new high def satellite TV service has has won limited approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to offer TV channels in HD for free.

FreeHD says they will be able to provide more than 200 channels of superior picture quality HD into consumer homes via a small inexpensive satellite dish.To get the service, consumers will need to buy a FreeHD Canada receive system (small dish and set-top box), expected to be available from retailers throughout Canada early 2011, as well as available online.

"The Commission clearly supports in principle the offering of a package
of local conventional television signals at no monthly charge to the
viewers and is predisposed to take the necessary steps to permit this
to occur," said the CRTC in their ruling.

Canada will transition from analog to digital TV, August 2011...

Corus Expands With "W Movies"- March 1

On March 1, Canada's Corus Entertainment will expand its portfolio of women's specialty services with the launch of "W Movies", Canada's first movie channel 'dedicated to women'.

"...Programmed exclusively with women in mind, 'W Movies' will be the go-to destination for women looking for entertaining and intelligent films, seven days a week, 24 hours a day..."

"With the phenomenal success of women-oriented films at the box office, coupled with the huge popularity of our film blocks on W Network, we know that women have a real appetite for movies," said Susan Ross, for Corus, Specialty and Pay Television.

Catering to Women 25 - 54, W Movies will showcase films with genres ranging from relationship, romance and comedy to drama and suspense.

March titles include "Big", "Forrest Gump", "You've Got Mail", "When Harry Met Sally", "Working Girl", "Six Days and Seven Nights", "Dangerous Minds", "What Lies Beneath", "Chasing Amy", "Bounce", "Shakespeare in Love", "A View From the Top", "Sliding Doors", "Dying Young", "Sleeping with the Enemy", "Steel Magnolias", "Runaway Bride" and "The Hoax".

Additional premieres in March include "Once", March 2, "Memory Keeper's Daughter", March 2, "Tristan and Isolde", March 4, "Mrs. Washington Goes to Smith", March 9, "The Engagement Ring", March 11 and "The Hoax", March 27...

Craig, Watts And Weisz Move Into Toronto's "Dream House"

Actors Daniel Craig, Naomi Watts and Rachel Weisz are in Toronto shooting the Morgan Creek 'psychological thriller' "Dream House".

Craig plays a publishing executive who quits his job in New York City to relocate his family and two daughters to a house in a quiet New England town. They soon learn their home was once the scene of a terrible crime.


Watts plays Craig’s new neighbor.

"Dream House" is directed by Jim Sheridan, noted for "My Left Foot" and "In the Name of the Father". producers are Morgan Creek's James G. Robinson, David Robinson, Daniel Bobker & Ehren Krueger. Screenplay is by David Loucka.

Principal photography started January 25, shooting at Pinewood Toronto Studios, the largest indoor film studio facility in North America...

LG Says Life's Good For "Nuit Blanche"

LG Electronics has named "Nuit Blanche", an HD short film created by Arev Manoukian of Ottawa, Ontario, as the $100,000 grand prize winner of the LG Life's Good FilmFest.

The announcement was made as part of a Grand Finale event @ Toronto's Mod Club January 28, featuring on-stage appearances by actress Jaime King, Maple Pictures' Laurie May and singer K-OS, hosted by George "I'm not your Father, I'm not a Cop, I'm your Friend" Stroumboulopoulos.

"The LG Life's Good FilmFest has been an amazing experience," said Tim Barnes, Marketing Team Leader, LG Electronics Canada and Founder of the LG Life's Good FilmFest. "Our $100,000 winning HD short film 'Nuit Blanche' delivers an engaging, memorable story."

Director Manoukian said "Nuit Blanche" was budgeted @ $10,000.

In addition to Nuit Blanche, three HD short films were awarded secondary prizes of $10,000 as winners in their respective categories, including "I Love Rock and Roll" (Animation), "Life's Good" (Sports) and "Til My Voice is Gone (Fashion & Music).

"The goal of the LG Life's Good FilmFest was to create a film festival with no barriers to entry - regardless of experience, location or economic status," said Barnes.

The LG Life's Good FilmFest, started August 2009, inviting filmmakers worldwide to submit 'inspiring' HD short films, no longer than five minutes in length, expressing "...a positive, uplifting message that conveyed the notion that 'Life's Good'..."

Sneak Peek "Nuit Blanche"...

LG Says Life's Good In Toronto

LG Electronics reports that the 'LG Life's Good FilmFest', a high-definition (HD) short film festival, with entries from 21 countries, concludes with a 'Grand Finale' January 28, 2010 in Toronto @ the Mod Club Theatre.

Hosted by CBC's George "The Hour" Stroumboulopoulos, the ceremony will award one filmmaker $100,000, as determined by an attending panel including actress Jaime "Sin City" King, platinum-selling singer/songwriter K-OS, Laurie May, Co-President, Maple Pictures, NBA MVP Steve Nash (video link) and Tim Barnes, LG Electronics Canada.

"The goal of the LG Life's Good FilmFest was to create a film festival with no barriers to entry - regardless of experience, location or economic status," said LG's Barnes.

"This borderless FilmFest is the perfect complement to the borderless LG HDTVs recently showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas..."

The event will also feature $10,000 prizes awarded to winners in each of four FilmFest categories (Animation, Sports, Fashion/Music, Narrative) and a live musical performance.

The LG Life's Good FilmFest, started August 2009, inviting filmmakers worldwide to submit 'inspiring' HD short films, no longer than five minutes in length, expressing "...a positive, uplifting message that conveyed the notion that 'Life's Good'..."

Man Dies From Watching "Avatar"

20th Century Fox, the studio behind director James Cameron's "Avatar" may have to provide a disclaimer or get signed releases from audiences, as now, according to a doctor's report, a 42-year-old Taiwanese man with high blood pressure has died of a stroke likely triggered by 'over-excitement', from watching "Avatar" in 3D.

The man started to feel unwell during the screening earlier this month in the northern city of Hsinchu and was unconscious when he arrived at the Nan Men General Hospital. A scan showed his brain was haemorrhaging, according to emergency room doctor Peng Chin-chih.

"It's likely that the over-excitement from watching the movie triggered his symptoms," Chin-chih said.

Kuo died 11 days later and the China Times newspaper said it was the first death linked to watching "Avatar".

Other reports have audience complaints of headaches, dizziness, nausea and blurry eyesight during and after the 3D experience.

Sneak Peek "Avatar" ...

Shut Up. "Kick-Ass": April 16

Director Matthew "Layer Cake" Vaughn's upcoming action feature "Kick-Ass", was lensed September to November 2008, on Charles Street in Hamilton Ontario, and @ Cinespace Film Studios in Toronto, besides London, UK and New York.

The film is based on the 8-issue "Kick-Ass" mini-series created by Mark "Wanted" Millar and John Romita Jr. following a comic book fan who decides to become a costumed crime-fighting vigilante. Along the way, he meets up with other vigilantes including 'Red Mist' and father-daughter team 'Big Daddy' and 'Hit Girl' .

Visually, Vaughn wanted to make a bright and glossy film', "...so what happens in the film is shocking, not the style...", he said.

"I just let the characters do the dark stuff and let the lighting be... I just thought it would be interesting to juxtapose the look and the action... "

Lionsgate will release the film in North America April 16, 2010 with Focus Features Intl. distributing throughout the UK, Australia, Germany, Latin America, Austria, Switzerland and New Zealand.

Vaughn acquired film rights to "Kick-Ass" for his Marv Films, when the "Kick-Ass" comic book was first released February 2008, then financed the film independently after "every studio turned it down". "Kick-Ass" is co-produced by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner for Plan B.

Premise of "Kick-Ass" follows 'Dave Lizewski', a New York City high school student, who takes an interest in comic books as inspiration to become a vigilante hero, assembling a suit and mask, worn under his normal clothing.

His first attempt at fighting crime results in Dave being beaten and stabbed, then wandering dazed through the streets before being hit by a car. But determined to retain his secret identity, he hides his costume before paramedics arrive.

Dave tells his father he was 'mugged', before undergoing four operations followed by intense physical rehabilitation. Weeks later, bruised but undaunted, Dave tosses his crutches, dons his costume and takes off again for 'patrol'.

After saving a man in need of assistance, an onlooker films the scene on a cellphone camera and uploads it to YouTube, turning Dave Lizewski into an instant media sensation called 'Kick-Ass'.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Kick-Ass"...

Summit Plans A TV "Push"

Toronto-based Summit Entertainment and E1 Entertainment plan to develop/produce a TV series, based on Summit’s 2009 feature film "Push".

Directed by Paul McGuigan, "Push" stars Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Djimon Hounsou, and Camilla Belle, following a group of people born with super powers who band together to attempt to take down a government agency using a dangerous drug to create an army of super soldiers.

Screenwriter David "Watchmen" Hayter, will script the TV series pilot.

E1 and Dark Hero Studios, co-owned by Hayter and producing partner Benedict Carver, will jointly produce the series based on the screenplay created by David Bourla for Summit Entertainment. Hayter and Carver will be executive producers, along with E1’s Noreen Halpern and John Morayniss.

"The concept behind the Push feature film offers a broad and rich canvas on which to extend the storyline and characters introduced in the feature film," said Summit Co-Chairmen Rob Friedman. "The project is also the perfect vehicle to initiate Summit’s plans of producing programming for the global television marketplace.'

"I’m looking forward to translating the fantastic concept behind 'Push' to the small screen," said Hayter. "I’m also thrilled for Dark Hero to be in business with two independent powerhouses like Summit and E1."

Summit and E1 will jointly arrange for the US television license to the [i]Push[/i] series, with E1 handling TV sales in Canada as well as home entertainment/broadcasting rights in Canada, UK, and The Benelux. Summit will distribute home entertainment in the US. Both Summit and E1 will split foreign sales by each handling separate territories as part of their stated multi-territory content distribution strategy.

Summit Sees "Red" In Toronto

Principal photography has started in Toronto on Summit Entertainment's spy-thriller "Red", based on the DC Comics graphic novel of the same name by author Warren Ellis.

Joining previously announced actors Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker and Academy Award-winners Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman, are two-time Oscar-nominee John Malkovich, Karl Urban, Brian Cox, Academy Award winners Richard Dreyfuss and Ernest Borgnine, Julian McMahon, James Remar and Rebecca Pidgeon.

"...Red is the story of 'Frank Moses' (Willis), a former black-ops CIA agent, who is now living a quiet life. That is, until the day a hi-tech assassin shows up intent on killing him. With his identity compromised and the life of the woman he cares for, Sarah (Parker), endangered, Frank reassembles his old team (Freeman, Malkovich and Mirren) in a last ditch effort to survive..."

Directed by Robert Schwentke ("The Time Traveler's Wife") from a screenplay by Jon Hoeber and Erich Hoeber ("Whiteout"), the film is produced by di Bonaventura Pictures' Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian ("Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"). Executive producers are Jake Myers ("Hollywoodland"") and Gregory Noveck ("Jonah Hex"). Di Bonaventura Pictures' production exec David Ready is co-producer.

Red reunites Schwentke with DP Florian Ballhaus ("Marley & Me") and Oscar-winning film editor Thom Noble ("Thelma & Louise") .

"Red" will shoot in and around the metro Toronto area for nine weeks before moving to New Orleans, late March for the final two weeks of principal photography.

The film is scheduled for worldwide release on October 22, 2010....

"The Thing" Prequel Casting Call

Thanks to TorontoFilm.Net, take a look at a lead and supporting actor casting call, for Universal's upcoming, "The Thing", prequel, starting March 15 in Toronto @ Pinewood Toronto Studios.

Producers are Eric Newman, Marc Abraham, Brie Niemand and Miles Dale for director Matthijs Van Heijningen, from a screenplay by Eric Heisserer.

STORY LINE

"...In a remote Antarctica outpost, an alien spaceship is discovered far beneath the ice. When a group of ambitious scientists decide to thaw out one of the creatures inside, they're in for the terrifying fight of their lives..."

[KATE LLOYD] In her late 20s to early 30s, pretty, bright-eyed, intelligent, she's a graduate of Columbia and a Ph.D. candidate in paleontology (the study of prehistoric life). On the recommendation of her friend Adam Goodman, Kate is tapped for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by Dr. Sander Halvorson to join his research team in Antarctica, where an extraordinary discovery has been made. Upon arrival, Kate soon finds herself at odds with Halvorson about how best to proceed with the discovery -- an alien spaceship with a mysterious and sinister frozen THING found nearby -- specifically whether to transfer the specimen undisturbed to a more appropriate facility for analysis, or, per Halvorson's wishes, to drill into the specimen's ice encasement for a definitive tissue sample. Kate's misgivings about her involvement grow when Halvorson ignores her advice and collects his tissue sample -- a critical error in judgment that ultimately frees the trapped organism and triggers a series of horrific incidents and attacks. Furthering her sense of isolation, most of the scientists at the site speak Norwegian, a language she doesn't understand. Kate looks to her friend, Adam, for help stopping Sander's obsession from getting them all killed, but eventually must take matters of life and death into her own hands. In the end, her only hope of survival is to join forces with Sam Carter, the chopper pilot who flew her team to the remote Norwegian base...LEAD (2)

[DR. SANDER HALVORSON] In his late 30s to early 50s, austere, scholarly and imperious, he's a microbiologist from NYU who leads a science research team to Antarctica to help his old friend Edvard interpret and analyze an extraordinary discovery made beneath the ice. Sander, a brilliant scientist and a master of self-promotion, knows that his involvement in such an historic discovery will bring him fame and fortune. Blinded by ambition, he refuses to abandon the "project" even as the bodies pile up around him. He is annoyed when Kate, whom he considers more of an apprentice than an equal, disagrees with him and openly questions his decisions in front of the others...LEAD. Actor must be able to speak some Norwegian. (2)

[SAM CARTER] In his early 30s, rugged, handsome, blue-collar, he's a helicopter pilot with a private charter service that transports personnel and supplies from McMurdo Station to remote research sites across Antarctica. Carter is a mercenary. He flies when he wants, where he wants, and he flies for one reason: money. But his resourcefulness, experience and get-it-done mentality make him indispensable. Arriving at Thule Station, he is the first to suspect something strange and dangerous is going on. Trapped there by faulty equipment, he becomes an unlikely ally of Kate's -- he reminds her (in temperament) of her father, now deceased, also a pilot. He and his co-pilot Jameson are nearly killed in a helicopter crash as they attempt to leave under less than ideal conditions. Carter must ultimately join forces with Kate to stop the THING's rampage...LEAD (3)

[EDVARD WOLNER] In his mid 40s, gentle, erudite, loyal to a fault, this Norwegian geoscientist and his crew discovered an alien spaceship and a mysterious frozen THING buried in a deep crevasse in Antarctica. Edvard requested the assistance of his colleague Dr. Sander Halvorson and he's pleased to see his old friend arrive at the site. Both men have stars in their eyes, knowing that their combined findings will bring them fame in the scientific community, but after Edvard loses two of his men to the terrifying THING, he's ready to call it quits rather than risk more lives.sptv050769..SUPPORTING. Actor must speak Norwegian. (16)

[ADAM GOODMAN] In his early 30s, clever, brash, unapologetically ambitious, Adam comes to Antarctica as Halvorson's research assistant. A friend of Kate's since they were undergrads at Columbia, it is Adam who recommended her to Dr. Halvorson. Though his respect for Kate is genuine, ultimately, he is a likeable opportunist who believes his professional association with the esteemed Dr. Halvorson will advance his career. The trip to Antarctica appears, at first, to prove this theory correct. Unlike Kate, an idealist who makes decisions based on intuition and conscience, Adam is more of a pragmatist and a capitalist -- in scientist's clothing. As the circumstances turn more and more dire, Adam is forced to choose between ambition (Halvorson) or friendship (Kate). His survival hangs in the balance...SUPPORTING (2)

[DEREK JAMESON] In his early 30s, African American, well-built, he is Carter's friend and co-pilot. This is Jameson's last season in Antarctica. He's moving to Florida and starting a jetboat business with his brother, a former big league prospect. The trip to Thule Station is just another flight for him, another day in the countdown before he leaves the South Pole. Trapped at the site with Carter when the helicopter malfunctions, Jameson eventually falls prey to the THING...SUPPORTING (3)

[JONAS] This Norwegian man in his early 40s, who speaks with a thick accent is part of Edvard's crew. He's the team documentarian who takes flash photographs of the alien spaceship and plays poker with Colin to blow off steam. When the Thing begins wreaking havoc, Jonas decides to get the hell out of there, but the rest of the group stymies that plan...SUPPORTING (18) Submit Scandinavian actors only.

[JULIETTE] In her early 30s, French, fluent in Norwegian, she was educated at the Oslo Geosciences Academy, and is one of the geologists who discovered the alien site in Antarctica. Sensing Kate's frustration with the language barrier, Juliette befriends her, providing helpful translations and a kind smile among strangers. As the story escalates toward crisis, Juliette convinces Kate that her colleague Lars has succumbed to the THING -- as a trick to conceal her own identity as the alien shape-shifter...SUPPORTING (17)

[COLIN] Around 40 years old, quirky and a bit cynical, he sews some seeds of doubt and suspicion among his new colleagues, Kate and Adam, and he plays poker with Jonas to blow off steam. Colin would rather commit suicide than be consumed by the THING...SUPPORTING (27) Submit British, East Indian, Spanish, Asian, etc, scientist types...

To see more of Dark Horse Comics, 1990's graphic novel run of "The Thing (From Another World)" click here.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Thing...

Canadians Pay Big Money @ The Movies

According to reports from The Motion Picture Theatre Associations of Canada, Canadian film audiences paid out a record amount for theatre admissions in 2009.

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" earned $34.4 million in box office, followed by "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" at $31.5 million and the Vancouver-lensed "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" at $28 million .

James Cameron's "Avatar" brought in $27 million over the Christmas break.

Canadian films, including Emile Gaudreault's "De pere en flic," Mike Clattenburg's "Trailer Park Boys 2" and Michael McGowan's "One Week", earned $26 million total ...

Malkovich Targets "Red"

Actor John Malkovich will star opposite Bruce Willis in "Red," a Summit Entertainment feature production, starting in Toronto January 11, shooting through to March.

The film is based on the 3-issue DC/WildStorm/Homage comic book series written by Warren Ellis, illustrated by Cully Hamner, following a former 'black-ops' CIA agent called out of retirement to pursue a hi-tech assassin.

The film will be directed by Robert "The Time Traveler's Wife" Schwentke from a screenplay by Erich and Jon "Whiteout" Hoeber.

Malkovich will play a retired CIA agent and contemporary of Willis' character.

Also cast in "Red" is Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren, Mary-Louise Parker, Julian McMahon, Richard Dreyfuss, Ernest Borgnine and Brian Cox...