Formed less than a month ago, Lions Gate Family Entertainment has announced it will co-produce FOODFIGHT!, the 3D animated film from Larry Kasanoff's Threshold Animation Studios, slated for a fall 2006 release.
Currently in production, FOODFIGHT! takes place in a supermarket that comes to life when the customers and employees have gone home. Some of the stars cast to provide voices are sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff, who are starring together in the upcoming MATERIAL GIRLS.
FOODFIGHT! is directed by Kasanoff (TRUE LIES, MORTAL KOMBAT) from a screenplay by Brent Friedman, Rebecca Swanson and Sean Derek, based on a story by Kasanoff and Joshua Wexler. Kasanoff and George Johnsen are producing; exec producers are Tom Ortenberg and Wexler with Gregory Cascante and Daniel Suh as co-exec producers. Lions Gate Family Ent. evp Ken Katsumoto is overseeing the film for Lions Gate.
"We're delighted that Lions Gate Family Ent. is already feeding our pipeline with exciting new product, and we're thrilled to be in partnership with a singular talent and entrepreneur like Larry Kasanoff who is pushing the envelope of large-scale, quality feature film animation," said Lions Gate Films Releasing president Ortenberg, who has the North American distribution rights to FOODFIGHT!
"The new 3D animation technology used in FOODFIGHT!, powered by Threshold's association with IBM, will create a world unlike anything seen before and give audiences an extraordinary ride in the process," said Katsumoto. "We are very excited that this groundbreaking film is the first big project launched under the new Lions Gate Family Ent. banner."
"Lions Gate's passion and innovation are what filmmaking is all about," said Kasanoff. "Plus, they love a squashy anvil drop and a good pie in the face. I'm very excited to be working with them on FOODFIGHT! But most of all I am absolutely thrilled to have Hilary and Haylie Duff as part of the cast."
The film features a cast of thousands of characters and myriad CG special effects. The creators acquired the rights to use nearly every consumer packaged goods company's characters in the film about a grocery store coming to life, including Mr. Clean, Charlie The Tuna, Twinkie the Kid and more as supporting background "actors," for an exceptional range of cross-promotional opportunities.
Two major brand name promotional partners will be announced soon, along with additional major talent.
Threshold Animation Studios (www.threshold-digital.com) is a digital animation company that has forged a revolutionary technology alliance with IBM Corp., giving the company unparalleled access to technology to give it a leg up on speed and cost efficiencies. Threshold is the first animation studio to be powered by 40,000 remote computers from the IBM On Demand Center.
In addition to FOODFIGHT!, Threshold has produced digital animation or visual effects for Paramount, Disney, Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, Sony, Fox, MGM, NBC, Miramax, Dimension, TNT, Hershey's, General Motors and more.
Lions Gate Ent. (www.lgf.com) is a leading diversified independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prolific library of 8000+ titles is one of the largest in the entertainment industry.
Lions Gate Ent. is a leading independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, home entertainment, family entertainment, television programming and video-on-demand content. Its prolific library of approximately 8,000 titles is one of the largest in the entertainment industry.
