MEDIA RELEASE: Australian Production Company Options Hollywood Film

 

 Hollywood Screenwriters Dale K Pitman and Glenn M Benest have optioned their latest supernatural thriller, “The Highwayman”, and it is coming to Australian shores. Inspired by a recent talk given by “Fightclub” Producer, Ross Grayson Bell, a strong supporter of  the Australian Film Industry, Ramona Rai from Bigger and Better Productions confidently accepted the challenge to bring a large scale Hollywood Production to Aussie shores, and has scheduled filming for early 2013.

With seven screenplays already produced, and boasting talent like Director Wes Craven and actress Sharon Stone in past film credits, award winning writer Glenn M Benest is quietly confident that “The Highwayman” has all the ingredients for box office success. 

Incorporating the supernatural with intense action and the highly popular comic book genre, the film follows a reclusive writer who is forced to confront his own anti-hero creation when it sets out on a vigilante rampage.  Although most of the leads roles have been set aside for well known USA actors, there will be some great opportunities for Australian Cast and Crew as well, and popular local actor Ozzie Devrish has already been approached by the USA writers to join the impressive line-up.

This is the third feature collaboration by Dale and Glenn, who will be also joining Ramona as Producers. “We have full confidence in the Australian Film Industry” comments Dale, “and we are really excited to see what it can offer”.

The Highwayman currently has a director in negotiation, and will be casting early 2013.  

LUCKY VALENTINE

Coming up early 2013, Lucky Valentine already boasts a star studded cast and has a couple of well known international names like Cuba Gooding Junior in negotiation, so it is a real thrill to have been offered on one of the lead roles, Macka, in this heart warming family film.

The story is based around an egotistical baseball player, "Lucky" Luke Valentine, who is sorely in need of redemption, particularly in the eyes of his sponsors, when his ego and womaniser ways consistantly hit the press. At the other end of the world, a small outback town rallies behind a little girl with leukemia and her father, Macka, who urgently need money. The world's collide when, as part of his manager's quirky PR exercise, Lucky finds himself in Australia joining the mis-matched group of town personalities as they compete in a state wide 20/20 cricket competition with over $100,000 prize money.

The story is full of laughter, tears and endearing personalities typical of outback Australia. It is produced by Bigger and Better Productions, and will star Roger Ward (Curly), Jay Anthony Franke (Lucky's Manager) , Hugh Keys-Burns(Wobbly Bob), Val Lehman (Ma), Cuba-Gooding Junior (Lucky Valentine) (in negotiation). For more details email production@biggerandbetterproductions.com or visit Lucky Valentine on Facebook for regular updates!

 

The Jay Larkins Project

One of the most humbling film projects I have worked on recently was not one as an actor, but one as a Director and Editor with Bigger and Better Productions ... The Jay Larkins Project. Jay Larkins is one of Australia's unsung heroes, who donates enormous amounts of time and his own money towards his non profit, non government funded program the Paraympic Football Program. The program helps young children with physical disabilities discover the excitement of sport and enables them to compete on a level playing field. Nurtured in an environment where respect is the number one rule, Jay was desperate to get some media, corporate and government attention so he could get some sponsorship and keep this incredible program running, so Bigger and Better Productions stepped in and offered to help.

The end result is an amazing and heartwarming short film / song clip , now on youtube, and a documentary which is currently in post production.  Please have a look and pass on the word.

NEW PRODUCTION - UNDERGRADS

One of Bigger and Better Productions latest acquisitions, Undergrads TV series, has just completed casting. As Director, I was really impressed with the quality of cast, and am confident that this is going to be well received by televisions stations and viewers alike.

The teaser is filming August 27-28 in Brisbane, and the pilot is filming February 25-28 in Sydney. It is a co-production between the writer, Troy Spacie, and producer Ramona Rai. Cast include Brendan Galinie (Ben), Josh Whitten (Adam), Marco Naddei (Kurt), Ozzie Devrish (Ben's dad), Brendan Cavanagh (Daniel), Dave Zwolenski (Colin), and Emily Nichols (Jess).