Rainmaker Entertainment and Blockade Entertainment partners with Cinema Management Group to take their new 3D CG animated feature Ratchet & Clank to the European Film Market in Berlin.
Vancouver-based Rainmaker Entertainment and Los Angeles-based Blockade Entertainment have joined forces with renowned Beverly Hills-based international sales company Cinema Management Group (CMG) to take their new 3D CG animated feature Ratchet & Clank, to the International Market.
CMG is thrilled to be unveiling new footage on Ratchet & Clank at next month’s European Film Market in Berlin. With this being the first time footage from the film will be shown, the event will be held in a secret location, heavily guarded by multiple Warbots. (Though Clank will be quick to point out that a secret entrance can be located in Suite 224 at the Marriott Hotel Berlin.)
Based on the best-selling PlayStation video game franchise published by Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA), the film is already well into production in Vancouver for an early 2015 release. The Ratchet and Clank franchise has been a huge global success, selling over 26 million video games worldwide since it first came onto the market in 2002. Start of production on Ratchet & Clank was originally announced through Variety, IGN.com, Forbes, and VentureBeat in April of 2013, along with the release of the film’s first official teaser trailer on YouTube. That trailer has garnered more than 1.5 million views on YouTube. The feature is being made in association with Sony Computer Entertainment America, and series creator and primary developer, Insomniac Games, has also played a role in the film’s production.
Ratchet & Clank tells the story of two unlikely heroes as they struggle to stop a vile alien named Chairman Drek from destroying every planet in the Solana Galaxy. Ratchet is the last of his kind – a foolhardy “lombax” who has grown up alone on a backwater planet with no family of his own. Clank is a pint-sized robot with more brains than brawn. When the two stumble upon a dangerous weapon capable of destroying entire planets, they must join forces with a team of colorful heroes called The Galactic Rangers in order to save the galaxy. Along the way they’ll learn about heroism, friendship, and the importance of discovering one’s own identity.
“This film does exactly what an animated feature is supposed to do. It builds fantastic worlds and tells the kind of fast paced action adventure stories that audiences love. Taking this beloved PlayStation franchise and turning it into a 3D animated feature so that more people can discover these fascinating stories and its unique universe is a true collaboration,” said Rainmaker Entertainment’s President and Executive Producer, Michael Hefferon. “We are thrilled to announce the appointment of CMG as our international sales agent for the Ratchet & Clank film.”
CMG’s President, Edward Noeltner said “After a visit to Rainmaker’s headquarters in December and meeting all the incredibly talented and dedicated individuals behind this production, we were keen to come on board and made Rainmaker an offer for international distribution via CMG’s recently established CMG Film Fund, Dallas – run by Fund Managers Brian and Jason Cleveland. That our CMG Film Fund, Dallas is facilitating our ability to work with high profile animation studios like Rainmaker and for CMG to bring this exciting new film to the international market is a testament to what we have been able to achieve over the past 10 years.”
The deal between Rainmaker and CMG was brokered by David Sheldon - CEO at Film Financial Services in Seattle, Michael Hefferon – President and Executive Producer at Rainmaker, Bryant Pike - CFO at Rainmaker, Edward Noeltner – President at CMG, and Brad Foxhoven – CEO at Blockade. Rainmaker is the largest investor in Ratchet & Clank, with additional financing arranged by Film Financial Services and their China partners, CNHK Media.
Source: Rainmaker Entertainment
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
