Jamie Hilton.s See Pictures and its low-budget financing, production and distribution arm Ticket to Ride are set to expand after adding two key executives and an internal promotion.
Writer-director Ben C. Lucas (Wasted on the Young) has joined See Pictures as creative director to drive development and acquisitions.
Producer Michael Pontin, who was a co-producer on Josh Lawson.s The Little Death and associate producer on Michael Petroni.s Backtrack, has been promoted to head of Ticket to Ride.
All-media producer Ester Harding has joined the team to work with Hilton across all areas of the business.
Lucas, who had been doing some consulting work for Hilton, is also attached to direct for See Pictures the sci-fi thriller Otherlife, an adaptation of Kelly Eskridge.s novel Solitaire, which follows a woman who seems destined for greatness in a massive corporate entity that controls the world but quickly becomes a pariah and a murderer.
Writer-director Ben C. Lucas (Wasted on the Young) has joined See Pictures as creative director to drive development and acquisitions.
Producer Michael Pontin, who was a co-producer on Josh Lawson.s The Little Death and associate producer on Michael Petroni.s Backtrack, has been promoted to head of Ticket to Ride.
All-media producer Ester Harding has joined the team to work with Hilton across all areas of the business.
Lucas, who had been doing some consulting work for Hilton, is also attached to direct for See Pictures the sci-fi thriller Otherlife, an adaptation of Kelly Eskridge.s novel Solitaire, which follows a woman who seems destined for greatness in a massive corporate entity that controls the world but quickly becomes a pariah and a murderer.
- 3/24/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Screen Australia has selected five teams to take part in this year's Springboard: Short Film Initiative and potentially receive $150,000 production funding.
The five directors - Christopher Weekes, Hannah Moon, Tom McKeith, Darlene Johnson and Liselle Mei - and their teams will now develop a short film script that will showcase their developed feature film screenplay. Three of the shorts will then receive $150,000 funding.
Weekes is perhaps the best known after making his debut feature Bitter & Twisted in 2008, which he followed by topping the influential Black List (which ranks Hollywood film executives. views on the best unproduced movie scripts) in 2009 with The Muppet Man. His Springboard feature project Pest Control is a family comedy about a city that gets overrun by monsters.
Hannah Moon's project Starfish, is a comedy, which she is co-writing with Robin Geradts-Gill and Stephen Sholl. Tom McKeith.s project Boxer is a thriller and is currently...
The five directors - Christopher Weekes, Hannah Moon, Tom McKeith, Darlene Johnson and Liselle Mei - and their teams will now develop a short film script that will showcase their developed feature film screenplay. Three of the shorts will then receive $150,000 funding.
Weekes is perhaps the best known after making his debut feature Bitter & Twisted in 2008, which he followed by topping the influential Black List (which ranks Hollywood film executives. views on the best unproduced movie scripts) in 2009 with The Muppet Man. His Springboard feature project Pest Control is a family comedy about a city that gets overrun by monsters.
Hannah Moon's project Starfish, is a comedy, which she is co-writing with Robin Geradts-Gill and Stephen Sholl. Tom McKeith.s project Boxer is a thriller and is currently...
- 3/12/2013
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Legendary’s Waterproof, got stuck in pre-production limbo for several thousand years is now in the hands of new writers – Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan, writers of Saw 4, 5, 6 and 7 have been hired to do a rewrite.
Back in Aug. 2009, Legendary Pictures had tapped Christopher Weekes to rewrite Waterproof, the family actioner in that time, which Enchanted helmer Kevin Lima should direct.
Now comes word that the horror writing duo Melton and Dunstan will turn Waterproof into a supernatural thriller.
Legendary reportedly picked up Waterproof as a pitch from Gregg Chabot and Kevin Peterka, who took the first stab at penning the script which revolved around a man who unwittingly unleashed a cadre of mythological creatures upon his town.
But now the story centers on a teen boy who accidentally unleashes monsters on his small town after finding an order form in an old comic book.
The films, no doubt, are...
Back in Aug. 2009, Legendary Pictures had tapped Christopher Weekes to rewrite Waterproof, the family actioner in that time, which Enchanted helmer Kevin Lima should direct.
Now comes word that the horror writing duo Melton and Dunstan will turn Waterproof into a supernatural thriller.
Legendary reportedly picked up Waterproof as a pitch from Gregg Chabot and Kevin Peterka, who took the first stab at penning the script which revolved around a man who unwittingly unleashed a cadre of mythological creatures upon his town.
But now the story centers on a teen boy who accidentally unleashes monsters on his small town after finding an order form in an old comic book.
The films, no doubt, are...
- 9/26/2012
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
With Johnny Depp focusing his career more and more on Disney movies and family-oriented fare nowadays, it seems that anyone hoping for a movie aimed at grown-ups from him will have to settle for a biopic about a well-known author of popular children's books. It's true, Johnny Depp has signed on to star in a movie based on the life story of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known under his pen name Dr. Seuss, the man who brought us such classics as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. The project is being set up at Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me), with Depp himself listed among the producers. Universal Pictures will distribute the as-of-yet untitled film. I have to admit, I don't know much about the life of Dr. Seuss, but having grown up on this weird and wonderful stories I would at least...
- 10/12/2011
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Director Milos Forman ("Amadeus") is in development on a film adaptation of author Mitchell Zuckoff's "Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story Of A Financial Legend", based on a screenplay by Christopher Weekes.
Using archival newspapers, almanacs, letters, and photographs, author Zuckoff recreates Italian immigrant Charles Ponzi's 1920's mercurial rise and fall in Boston, as he conjured up one get-rich-quick scheme after another.
Charming, gregarious and popular, Ponzi devised and carried out his plans, ensuring that naive investors doubled their financial investments, with Ponzi using the money of new investors to pay off old investors, until his "robbing Peter to pay Paul" system eventually collapsed.
Click the images to enlarge...
Using archival newspapers, almanacs, letters, and photographs, author Zuckoff recreates Italian immigrant Charles Ponzi's 1920's mercurial rise and fall in Boston, as he conjured up one get-rich-quick scheme after another.
Charming, gregarious and popular, Ponzi devised and carried out his plans, ensuring that naive investors doubled their financial investments, with Ponzi using the money of new investors to pay off old investors, until his "robbing Peter to pay Paul" system eventually collapsed.
Click the images to enlarge...
- 4/28/2011
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Oscar-winning director Milos Forman was in talks to direct the film adaptation of Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend, a book from Mitchell Zuckoff professor of journalism at Boston University.
Screenwriter Christopher Weekes has been tapped to pen the script. Weekes attracted attention when his screenplay for Jim Henson feature Muppet Man topped the 2009 Black List.
Forman’s One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Amadeus are among the most highly respected in the history of film, both earned him the Academy Award for Best Director. He was nominated for that award for The People vs. Larry Flynt and he also took home a Golden Globe, Cannes, Berlinale, BAFTA, among other awards.
Who was the predecessor to today’s biggest financial scam artists like Madoff and Kenneth Lay?
Born to a wealthy family in northern Italy late in the 19th century, Charles (born Carlo) Ponzi...
Screenwriter Christopher Weekes has been tapped to pen the script. Weekes attracted attention when his screenplay for Jim Henson feature Muppet Man topped the 2009 Black List.
Forman’s One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Amadeus are among the most highly respected in the history of film, both earned him the Academy Award for Best Director. He was nominated for that award for The People vs. Larry Flynt and he also took home a Golden Globe, Cannes, Berlinale, BAFTA, among other awards.
Who was the predecessor to today’s biggest financial scam artists like Madoff and Kenneth Lay?
Born to a wealthy family in northern Italy late in the 19th century, Charles (born Carlo) Ponzi...
- 4/28/2011
- by Nikola Mraovic
- Filmofilia
Milos Forman To Direct Ponzi’s Scheme
Variety brings us news today that director Milos Forman, director of great films like Amadeus and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, is set to tackle an adaptation of Mitchell Zuckoff‘s book Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend. The film will centre around con artist Charles Ponzi, the man behind the Ponzi Scheme. Ponzi came to America in 1903 and developed a couple sketchy 'get rich quick' schemes. Eventually this grew into the Ponzi Scheme, which is used quite frequently in today's business world to defraud people. The script is penned by Christopher Weekes and it all sounds pretty interesting to me.
Thanks for reading We Got This Covered...
Variety brings us news today that director Milos Forman, director of great films like Amadeus and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, is set to tackle an adaptation of Mitchell Zuckoff‘s book Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend. The film will centre around con artist Charles Ponzi, the man behind the Ponzi Scheme. Ponzi came to America in 1903 and developed a couple sketchy 'get rich quick' schemes. Eventually this grew into the Ponzi Scheme, which is used quite frequently in today's business world to defraud people. The script is penned by Christopher Weekes and it all sounds pretty interesting to me.
Thanks for reading We Got This Covered...
- 4/27/2011
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
In a story that could serve as both an interesting period piece and reflection upon today’s modern economic climate, Variety reports that Milos Forman, best known for helming films such as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Amadeus, will direct Ponzi’s Scheme, set to be written by Christopher Weekes. The film is being produced by Jean Doumanian Prods. and Starry Night Entertainment.
An adaptation of Mitchell Zuckoff‘s 2006 book Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend, the movie follows the life of Italian immigrant Charles Ponzi, who created the financial scam (Ponzi Scheme) that recently reemerged in the news, thanks to the actions of Bernie Madoff. The basic way the scam works is this: you use money gained from old investors to pay off new ones, and in the process keep some of the money the old ones have given you, while making the new ones happy.
An adaptation of Mitchell Zuckoff‘s 2006 book Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend, the movie follows the life of Italian immigrant Charles Ponzi, who created the financial scam (Ponzi Scheme) that recently reemerged in the news, thanks to the actions of Bernie Madoff. The basic way the scam works is this: you use money gained from old investors to pay off new ones, and in the process keep some of the money the old ones have given you, while making the new ones happy.
- 4/27/2011
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
The Madoff and Lay financial scandals have llittered the front pages of newspapers across the country, so it makes sense that Hollywood is making a film about one of the most famous scheme. According to Variety, Christopher Weekes has been hired to write Ponzi Scheme based on Mitchell Zuckoff's 2006 bio Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend. The news get's even better because Milos Forman, (Amadeus and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) is set to direct the film. Weekes' Jim Henson script was part of the 2009 Black List.
Here is a description of the book from Amazon:
Before Charles Ponzi (1882â€"1949) sailed from Italy to the shores of America in 1903, his father assured him that the streets were really paved with gold - and that Ponzi would be able to get a piece. As journalist Zuckoff observes in this engaging and fast-paced biography, Ponzi learned as soon...
Here is a description of the book from Amazon:
Before Charles Ponzi (1882â€"1949) sailed from Italy to the shores of America in 1903, his father assured him that the streets were really paved with gold - and that Ponzi would be able to get a piece. As journalist Zuckoff observes in this engaging and fast-paced biography, Ponzi learned as soon...
- 4/27/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
Milos Forman ("Amadeus," "One Flew Over’s The Cuckoo’s Next") is in talks to helm a biopic about con artist Charles Ponzi reports Variety.
Based on Mitchell Zuckoff‘s book “Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend”, this tells the story of the young Italian immigrant who came to America in 1903 and developed the get-rich-quick scheme of using new investors to pay off old investors which has become synonymous with large scale fraud.
His mistakes eventually caught up with him and his millionaire life unravelled. Christopher Weekes ("Muppet Man") adapted the script.
Based on Mitchell Zuckoff‘s book “Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend”, this tells the story of the young Italian immigrant who came to America in 1903 and developed the get-rich-quick scheme of using new investors to pay off old investors which has become synonymous with large scale fraud.
His mistakes eventually caught up with him and his millionaire life unravelled. Christopher Weekes ("Muppet Man") adapted the script.
- 4/27/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
While everybody has heard names like Bernie Madoff and phrases like Ponzi Scheme thrown around in the media cycle over the past several years of financial doom and gloom, I would venture to bet that not a lot of people actually know what a Ponzi Scheme is or where the term comes from. Luckily for us, Mitchell Zuckoff wrote a biography of Charles Ponzi, the man that the scheme was named for. The product description for “Ponzi’s Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend” reads as follows: “It was a time when anything seemed possible-instant wealth, glittering fame, fabulous luxury-and for a run of magical weeks in the spring and summer of 1920, Charles Ponzi made it all come true. Promising to double investors’ money in three months, the dapper, charming Ponzi raised the ‘rob Peter to pay Paul’ scam to an art form. At the peak of his success, Ponzi...
- 4/27/2011
- by Nathan Adams
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
In this age of disgusting financial misdeeds, it's good to remember the roots of the art of big-time financial cons. So tip your hat to turn of the century shitbag Charles Ponzi, who refined a fraudulent scheme of creating the illusion of short-term gains by leveraging new investment to pay off other investors. He didn't invent the con, but perpetrated it on a scale that was previously unheard of. The Ponzi scheme is basically a trademark financial con, and is the root of the scamming that led to the 2008 financial meltdown. Bernie Madoff ran basically the largest Ponzi Scheme ever, bilking people out of $21 billion. And now Milos Forman, whose career has been seemingly close to dormant for a decade (though he's never been the most prolific director, with three major films in the '80s and two in the '90s) is going to direct a film about Charles Ponzi.
- 4/27/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
In the world of scams, there's one name that always stands out, so it's no surprise that Ponzi's Scheme will be given the feature film treatment. Variety reports veteran filmmaker Milos Forman, that man behind such iconic films as Amadeus and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest will direct this story about the real-life of Italian immigrant Charles Ponzi, creator of the eponymous financial scam and the precursor to today's biggest financial scam artists like Madoff and Kenneth Lay. And if that wasn't enticing enough, the script comes from writer Christopher Weekes whose script Muppet Man appeared on the 2009 Black List. The film will actually be based on Mitchell Zuckoff's biography Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend which is summed up right here: Before Charles Ponzi (1882â€"1949) sailed from Italy to the shores of America in 1903, his father assured him that the streets ...
- 4/27/2011
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Frank Leonard is the most popular man in Hollywood today. This fine December day marks the release of the 6th annual Black List, a ranked collection of the top un-produced screenplays in the town, compiled by Leonard. Last year the top script was The Muppet Man from Christopher Weekes about “the life and times of the late Jim Henson.” Coming in second was Aaron Sorkin‘s The Social Network script, which is a current frontrunner to sweep the Oscars. The year before was The Beaver, now starring Mel Gibson and set for a release in 2011.
The top one this year, College Republicans, has Shia Labeouf and Paul Dano attached. As for the rest of the list, I’ll be seeing Margin Call (pictured above) at Sundance 2011 and Safe House goes into production next year. We also reported on Oldboy director Park Chan-wook‘s English language debut with Carey Mulligan attached,...
The top one this year, College Republicans, has Shia Labeouf and Paul Dano attached. As for the rest of the list, I’ll be seeing Margin Call (pictured above) at Sundance 2011 and Safe House goes into production next year. We also reported on Oldboy director Park Chan-wook‘s English language debut with Carey Mulligan attached,...
- 12/13/2010
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
With Jason Segel's new Muppet movie [1] currently in development over at Disney this year, and the 30th Anniversary of the original The Muppet Movie taking place last year, it seems like a perfect time for someone to put together a biopic about the legendary creator of The Muppets, Mr. Jim Henson. Of course, such an idea would probably not have crossed the minds of the folks at Disney if not for a relatively unknown screenwriter named Christopher Weekes, who decided to step up to the plate and take a crack at writing one himself. His spec script The Muppet Man ended up topping the 2009 Black List [2] for hottest unproduced screenplays in Hollywood, at which point it managed to catch the attention of the people who actually own the rights to make it a reality. According to Vulture [3], both Disney (owner of The Muppets) and The Henson Company (owner of...
- 3/10/2010
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Commercial and music-video director Michael Gracey is apparently the man that both the Jim Henson Company and Disney are interested in to direct the Jim Henson biopic "The Muppet Man" says Vulture.
Australian scribe Christopher Weekes penned the Black List topping script which mixes a conventional live-action biopic with fantasy sequences and plays out crucial moments in Henson's life with Muppets.
The film now seems to be slowly progressing as the two companies finally come to an agreement. Disney owns the rights to the Muppets while Henson's company holds the life rights to Henson and his surviving ex-wife, Jane.
As previously reported, the studio is also developing a new Muppets movie which James Bobin ("Flight of the Conchords") is attached to direct.
Australian scribe Christopher Weekes penned the Black List topping script which mixes a conventional live-action biopic with fantasy sequences and plays out crucial moments in Henson's life with Muppets.
The film now seems to be slowly progressing as the two companies finally come to an agreement. Disney owns the rights to the Muppets while Henson's company holds the life rights to Henson and his surviving ex-wife, Jane.
As previously reported, the studio is also developing a new Muppets movie which James Bobin ("Flight of the Conchords") is attached to direct.
- 3/9/2010
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Disney and the Jim Henson Company are moving forward with plans to make a biopic about late Muppets creator Jim Henson. According to Vulture, the two parties are looking to hire commercials helmer Michael Gracey to direct The Muppet Man, which combines conventional biopic elements with fantasy sequences involving Henson's Muppet characters. The film will be based on a script by Australian writer Christopher Weekes, whose Muppet (more)...
- 3/8/2010
- by By Simon Reynolds
- Digital Spy
Even though Christopher Weekes' script The Muppet Man 'won' last year's Black List poll of the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood, there was every chance it would never make it to the screen. Essentially a biopic of Jim Henson peppered with fantastical scenes starring The Muppets, it would require the involvement somehow of both the Henson company, who hold the right to his life story and Walt Disney, who hold the rights to his famous felt creations. Luckily, the two companies appear to have come to an agreement and seem to be pressing ahead with the picture together. They have reportedly even agreed on the director they'd most like for the job. His name is Michael Gracey and this would be his debut feature after a slate of music videos and commercials, most famously the Evian spot with somewhat off-looking roller-babies that went atomic as a viral video. Gracey's...
- 3/8/2010
- by Brendon Connelly
- Slash Film
The Black List is an annual Hollywood "insider" collection of the best unproduced scripts in town, and last year's favorite was Christopher Weekes' whimsical Jim Henson biography The Muppet Man. The guy who brought so many famous felt creations to life will now get his story told. Disney and the Henson Company have reportedly come to terms and agreed to make the film, and are pursuing commercial and music vid director Michael Gracey (who did that ubiquitous rollerskating baby spot)...
- 3/6/2010
- by Dave Davis
- JoBlo.com
Jon Axworthy peeks at the secret Hollywood email that tips the scripts most likely to end up on the Oscars red carpet
There's nothing that Hollywood loves more than a good list. Usually, these lists are all about the opening-weekend grosses, but there is one out there based on the words on the page before the box office even opens. It has become an indicator of Oscar success and one of the most anticipated events in the movie industry.
It began in 2005, when Franklin Leonard was a development executive for Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, Appian Way. As a hungry exec, Leonard was always on the lookout for good new scripts, but he'd had enough of the derivative efforts coming across his desk. He decided to send out an email to the money movers, studio shakers and green lighters asking them to rank the best 10 scripts that they'd seen all year; he got 90 emails back.
There's nothing that Hollywood loves more than a good list. Usually, these lists are all about the opening-weekend grosses, but there is one out there based on the words on the page before the box office even opens. It has become an indicator of Oscar success and one of the most anticipated events in the movie industry.
It began in 2005, when Franklin Leonard was a development executive for Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, Appian Way. As a hungry exec, Leonard was always on the lookout for good new scripts, but he'd had enough of the derivative efforts coming across his desk. He decided to send out an email to the money movers, studio shakers and green lighters asking them to rank the best 10 scripts that they'd seen all year; he got 90 emails back.
- 3/6/2010
- The Guardian - Film News
A list, entitled ‘The Black List', put together by Hollywood executive Franklin Leonard based on a survey of over 300 Hollywood insiders, has named The Muppet Man by Australian Christopher Weekes at the top of its must-read list. The news about The Muppet Man, which is being produced by The Jim Henson Company (Good? Bad? You decide!) , comes on the heels of Weekes being hired to rewrite another Hollywood film, Waterproof, for director Kevin Lima (Enchanted), about a man releasing mythological creatures into the world. Didn't we read about that in Dumb Ideas Department?? But seriously.
- 12/22/2009
- FilmInk.com.au
Each year, Hollywood executives name the best screenplays of the year that have yet to be made. In previous years, their list has catapulted dozens of scripts into production and screenwriters out of oblivion. Some of this year’s crop have moved into production; others are stuck in development hell. See what you think.
It’s called the Black List — film executives' favorite scripts written in, or somehow uniquely associated with, this year but not be released in theaters during this calendar year.
In previous years, the list has catapulted dozens of scripts into production and screenwriters out of oblivion. Diablo Cody's Juno, Nancy Oliver's Lars And The Real Girl, Scott Neustader's and Michael Weber's 500 Days Of Summer, are just some of the scripts that were made after appearing on the list.
Ninety-seven screenplays appear on the just-released version, according to Deadline Hollywood. Here are the Top...
It’s called the Black List — film executives' favorite scripts written in, or somehow uniquely associated with, this year but not be released in theaters during this calendar year.
In previous years, the list has catapulted dozens of scripts into production and screenwriters out of oblivion. Diablo Cody's Juno, Nancy Oliver's Lars And The Real Girl, Scott Neustader's and Michael Weber's 500 Days Of Summer, are just some of the scripts that were made after appearing on the list.
Ninety-seven screenplays appear on the just-released version, according to Deadline Hollywood. Here are the Top...
- 12/17/2009
- doorQ.com
2009 list and top five has already delivered better results than the 2007 list. Mark Romanek and Antoine Fuqua are respectively attached to The Voices (#3) and Prisoners (#4), while David Fincher is currently helming The Social Network (#2) and Miguel Arteta is on production with Cedar Rapids (#5) are currently in production. There are tons of comments to make on the list but something worth a mention is that Sarah Polley is one of three actors (Zach Braff and Rashida Jones) who have their screenplays on the list. - You know you're having a really great Friday is your name is Christopher Weekes. Weekes who wrote and directed 2008's Bitter &Twisted (a Tribeca Film Festival selection) is on top of this year's Black List -- his The Muppet Man, a biopic on Jim Henson, leads a field that includes several project currently in production. Franklin Leonard's extremely popular concoction is as he reminds us...
- 12/13/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
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