Press Release from TOKYOPOP
Cannes, France (May 18, 2010) - Sydney-based international sales and production entity Odin's Eye announced today a partnership with Tokyo- and Los Angeles-based media company TOKYOPOP to produce a feature film adaptation of TOKYOPOP's successful manga graphic novel series The Dreaming.
Written by Sydney native Queenie Chan, suspense thriller The Dreaming has been published worldwide in 17 languages. The feature will be adapted for the screen by Brisbane-based writing team Shayne Armstrong and Shane Krause. Producers Stu Levy (Priest, Van Von Hunter) and Michael Favelle (Crush, Three Blind Mice) have brought on Los Angeles- and Sydney-based Kate Woods (Looking for Alibrandi, Bones, Without a Trace) to direct.
The haunting, gripping tale's themes of isolation and atonement resonate with its teenage audience and also provide insight into the fascinating Aboriginal culture in Australia. When teenage students begin disappearing at an all-girls boarding school in the Australian wilderness, twin students Jeanie and Amber set out to unravel a 100-year-old mystery.
Levy said, "The Australian bush is a rich setting for spooky stories, and The Dreaming takes the environment to a deeper level, one in which exists the very fabric of human existence, first postulated by Australia's indigenous people thousands of years ago." Favelle added, "Our intention is to craft a supernatural thriller carried by the psychological mood of the piece, much like The Shining did a generation ago."
Emphasis will be placed on the stylization and production design of the stereoscopic 3D cinematography while keeping focus on the characters. Woods explained, "The Dreaming's a contemporary take on a classic tale and an opportunity to push the boundaries of this genre." Levy added, "We're excited to partner with Kate - her ability to capture a character's voice is top-notch, which will elevate The Dreaming far beyond the level of a typical suspense genre film."
Screen New South Wales is providing the first phase of development finance, and production funding will come from a mix of Australia's producer's offset, private equity, and pre-sales. Production is planned for 2011, working towards a late 2012 release.
About TOKYOPOP:
Founded by multi-cultural media visionary Stu Levy, TOKYOPOP is hailed as a leading youth-oriented entertainment brand and an innovator of manga creation, with a revolutionary artistic vision that transcends countless platforms. From the introduction of the first-ever extensive manga publishing program in North America, to the development of its manga-originated intellectual properties into film, television and digital entertainment, TOKYOPOP has changed the way teens experience pop culture. The company's global reach has expanded to Europe and Asia, with offices in the UK and Germany, in addition to its Los Angeles and Tokyo operations. With millions of fans logging onto the new social networking site www.TOKYOPOP.com [1], reading its books, which are licensed in 50 countries in more than 30 languages, and watching its DVDs and television programs, TOKYOPOP's award-winning catalogue of licensed and original properties has made the company a visionary in an ever-growing teen entertainment marketplace. Visit www.TOKYOPOP.com [1] for additional information.
About ODIN'S EYE:
Established in 2006 by Michael Favelle, Odin's Eye Entertainment (OEE) is a Production and International Sales Agency that specializes in working with both emerging and established filmmakers. OEE is not focused on any sole genre, however it is attracted to films that are high concept, unique, stand out in the marketplace. OEE currently represents over 35 films, from Australia, Asia and North America. The films it represents are an eclectic mix of feature films and documentaries. OEE is currently handling and selling Surf film GOING VERTICAL and horror sensation DAMNED BY DAWN.
Links:
[1] http://www.TOKYOPOP.com