STARTS
90 Minutes in Heaven
2/3/2015
Logline: A Baptist pastor is pronounced dead after a car accident, but comes back to life an hour and a half later recalling a vision of heaven.
Production Companies: Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films, Family Christian Entertainment
Director: Michael Polish
Producer(s): Rick Jackson, Randall Emmett, George Furla, Dawn Parouse Olmstead, Mark Mathis
Cast: Hayden Christensen, Kate Bosworth
Writer(s): Michael Polish
Details: Based on the book “90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life” written by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey and published by Revell in 2007.
SSN Insight: Rick Jackson, the founder of Family Christian Stores, the nation’s largest Christian retail chain, formed Family Christian Entertainment last month. The company will produce two films per year beginning with this project and teaming with Emmett Furla Oasis. Jackson was previously a passive financier in six films with Randall Emmett and George Furla.
Folk Hero & Funny Guy
2/9/2015
Logline: A struggling stand-up comic goes on the road as the opening act for his successful singer-songwriter friend.
Production Companies: Vacationeer Productions, Chhibber Mann Productions
Director: Jeff Grace
Executive Producer(s): Vinny Chhibber, Mike C Manning
Producer(s): Jeff Grace, Ryland Aldrich
Cast: Wyatt Russell, Alex Karpovsky, Liza Oppenheimer, Melanie Lynskey, Michael Ian Black
Writer(s): Jeff Grace
SSN Insight: This project marks Grace’s directorial debut and was originally a Kickstarter project that achieved $50,000 of its $48,000 goal. Grace began his career at Second City in Chicago. As a founding member of comedy troupe The Vacationeers, he’s written and directed online content including Google Maps, which hit six million views. Grace also produced and starred in The Scenesters winning the 2010 Slamdance “Rosebud Award” and It’s A Disaster, also starring David Cross, America Ferrera and Julia Stiles. Disaster was the #1 independent film on iTunes in June 2013.
Love & Friendship
2/5/2015
Logline: Set in the 1790s, a widow waits out rumors about her dalliances while she seeks a husband for herself, and a husband for her reluctant daughter.
Production Companies: Netherlands Film Fund, Irish Film Board, Westerly Films, Blinder Films, Chic Films, Revolver Films (Netherlands)
Director: Whit Stillman
Executive Producer(s): No Executive Producer Available.
Producer(s): Katie Holly, Whit Stillman, Lauranne Bourrachot
Cast: Chloe Sevigny, Kate Beckinsale, Xavier Samuel, Stephen Fry
Writer(s): Whit Stillman
Details: Based on the novel/novella “Lady Susan” written by Jane Austen, written sometime between 1794 and 1805, and first published in 1871. Sienna Miller was previously attached to play the role of Lady Susan.
SSN Insight: Protagonist will launch international sales at the Berlin Film Festival.
Message From The King
2/9/2015
Logline: A mysterious outsider travels to Los Angeles to bring those responsible for his younger sister’s disappearance to justice.
Production Companies: Entertainment One, White Hare, Ink Factory, Rumble Films
Director: Fabrice Du Welz
Executive Producer(s): Ash Shah, Chadwick A Boseman
Producer(s): Stephen Mark Cornwell, Rhodri Thomas, Simon Cornwell, David Lancaster
Cast: Chadwick A Boseman
Writer(s): Oliver Butcher, Stephen Mark Cornwell
SSN Insight: Previously in development at FilmNation, which was also handling international sales. James McTeigue was previously attached to direct with Aaron Ryder producing and Peter Cornwell and Oliver Butcher executive producing.
Oppenheimer Strategies
2/8/2015
Logline: Three years after small-time operator Norman Oppenheimer befriends a young politician during a low point in his life, the young man becomes an influential world leader and Norman’s life drastically.
Director: Joseph Cedar
Executive Producer(s): Matthew Malek, Amanda Marshall, Michal Graidy, Caroline Kaplan, Jim Kaufman
Producer(s): Oren Moverman, Lawrence Inglee, Eyal Rimmon, Gideon Tadmor, Gaston Pavlovich
Cast: Richard Gere, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Michael Sheen, Steve Buscemi, Josh Charles
Writer(s): Joseph Cedar
SSN Insight: Originally set to start January 12, shooting begins in NY. Gere recently starred in Time Out Of Mind directed by Moverman as well as the sequel, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. He is repped by WME. ICM Partners will be handling domestic rights, while The Solution Entertainment Group is representing international rights.
The Childhood of a Leader
2/3/2015
Logline: The story follows the triumphs, travails, and complicated relationships of a young leader in the years following World War I.
Production Companies: Unanimous Pictures, Scope Pictures, Bow & Arrow Entertainment
Director: Brady Corbet
Executive Producer(s): Brian Young
Producer(s): Antoine de Clermont-Tonnere, Martine Clermont-Tonnarre, Chris Coen, Amour Fou, Matthew Perniciaro
Cast: Robert Pattinson, Tim Roth, Bérénice Béjo, Stacy Martin
Writer(s): Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold
SSN Insight: Juliette Binoche was originally cast in the role played by Berenice Bejo.
WRAPS
Daddy’s Home
2/6/2015
Logline: A man becomes distraught when the “perfect” family he’s formed with his wife and her two children from a previous marriage is torn apart by the return of the wife’s ex-husband.
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Production Companies: Gary Sanchez Productions, Red Granite Pictures
Director: Sean Anders
Executive Producer(s): Jessica Elbaum, Riza Aziz, Joey McFarland, Sean Anders, Diana Pokorny
Producer(s): Will Ferrell, John Morris, Adam McKay, Kevin J. Messick, Chris Henchy
Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Hannibal Buress, Paul Scheer
Writer(s): Sean Anders, Adam McKay, Chris Henchy, Etan Cohen, John Morris
SSN Insight: Ed Helms was previously mentioned to co-star. Steve Carell was previously mentioned to co-star. Zach Galifianakis was previously mentioned to co-star.
