Exodus Film Group has tapped Chris Weitz to executive produce "55 Holly Star," a Capra-esque tale of a young down-on-his-luck salesman whose life changes dramatically after a Near Death Experience.
Written and directed by Michael A. Nickles ("This Is Not A Film"), "55 Holly Star," is a whimsical, comedic adventure of one man's desperate attempts to uncover a forgotten childhood memory that contains clues to buried treasure. Led by Exodus president John D. Eraklis, "55 Holly Star" is one of three films being financed by a fund launched by Exodus earlier this year.
"With tremendous film successes including 'Antz,' the 'American Pie' movies, and 'About A Boy,' Chris has demonstrated a true gift for making audiences laugh," said Eraklis. "I'm thrilled to be working with Chris on this film," added Nickles. "His comedic and dramatic insights are invaluable to the process of developing and producing a project like '55 Holly Star.'"
"Michael is an old friend and Exodus has an exciting business model for making populist films with grass-roots financing," said Weitz. "So, it was a perfect fit to make a film that mixes mainstream entertainment with an indie sensibility."
Weitz was most recently hired to direct "His Dark Materials," the Tom Stoppard-scripted adaptation of the award-winning fantasy book series by Philip Pullman. He has previously co-directed films with brother Paul, graduating from the rousing "American Pie" to the well received comedies "About a Boy" and "Down to Earth."
ABOUT EXODUS FILM GROUP
Exodus Film Group Inc. was founded in June 2001 in an effort to create a one-stop entertainment company capable of producing content equal in quality to the studios and networks on a realistic budget. Exodus acquires and develops intellectual properties, taking them from inception to distribution. Exodus is currently in development on several television series and specials.
Exodus' current slate of films include: "Paul Bunyan", "Igor," "55 Holly Star," and "My Life With Three Women." The last three films are being financed by a fund launched by Exodus earlier this year.
In pre-production, "Paul Bunyan" is a live-action film based on the folklore tale of the character by the same name set in modern times. The team includes Executive Producer Tarquin Gotch ("Home Alone," "Dutch," "Curly Sue") and famed Composer Basil Poledouris ("Blue Lagoon," "Les Miserables," "The Jungle Book," "Free Willy 1 & 2"). Actor Eddie Griffin ("DysFunktional Family," "Scary Movie 3," "Pinocchio," "Undercover Brother") will voice the CGI-animated character of "Babe the Blue Ox."
An irreverent comedy with a new twist on the classic mad scientist/monster genre, "Igor," is an all CGI-animated project about a mad scientist's hunchbacked lab assistant who has big dreams of becoming a mad scientist in his own right and winning the coveted first place award at the annual Evil Science Fair.
"55 Holly Star" is a Capra-esque tale of a young down-on-his-luck salesman whose life changes dramatically after a Near Death Experience. Written and directed by Michael A. Nickles ("This Is Not A Film"), the film is a whimsical, comedic adventure of one man's desperate attempts to uncover a forgotten childhood memory that contains clues to buried treasure.
"My Life With Three Women," an adventure/comedy based on a true story, follows a Santa Barbara, California man whose midlife crisis leads him to set sail on the open seas in search of a life change. An advertisement for one crewman inadvertently results in his ending up with three crew-women onboard. The team includes Executive Producer Peter Faiman ("FernGully: The Last Rainforest," "Dutch," "Crocodile Dundee") and Producer Tarquin Gotch.
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