Ghost House Launches Spooky Pictures
October 2nd, 2009 by GHPLOS ANGELES, CA October 2, 2009 – Ghost House Pictures has announced today the establishment of SPOOKY PICTURES, a production label dedicated to the financing, development, production and distribution of scary movies made for the family audience.
The first project under the new label, in collaboration with friends and partners Sony Pictures and Stars Road Entertainment’s Joshua Donen, will be THE SUBSTITUTE. Scott Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) will scribe the remake of acclaimed writer/ director Ole Bornedal’s 2007 Danish language thriller of the same name, with Derrickson directing. The project is being developed in cooperation with Columbia Pictures, which has an option to co-finance and distribute the picture domestically. Columbia has a first-look to distribute this and future films from Spooky Pictures.
The film will be produced by filmmakers Sam Raimi (Evil Dead, the Spider-Man franchise) and Rob Tapert (30 Days of Night, The Grudge films) through their new Spooky Pictures shingle in association with Thura Films. Russell Hollander and Nathan Kahane will executive produce alongside the makers of the Danish film Ole Bornedal and Michael Obel. Tendo Nagenda and J.R. Young will shepherd for Spooky Pictures.
THE SUBSTITUTE follows a terrified 6th grade class as they race to reveal to their parents that their new substitute teacher is an evil alien being.
Boardman and Derrickson previous collaborations include Exorcism of Emily Rose and THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL. They are repped by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and attorney Karl Austen of Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum Morris & Klein. Sam Raimi is represented by CAA and attorney Craig Jacobson. Ole Bornedal is repped by WME, Danny Sherman at Principal Entertainment and attorney Andrew Hurwitz at Schreck Rose Dapello Adams & Hurwitz. Michael Obel is repped by WME. For Spooky Pictures, Rob McEntegart negotiated the remake rights and Columbia deals, and Dan Freedman negotiated the Boardman/Derrickson deal. Principal Entertainment, WME and Andrew Hurwitz brokered the deal between Thura Films and Spooky Pictures.
Boogeyman 3 – January 20, 2009
May 14th, 2009 by GHPRelease Date: January 20, 2009
Synopsis
When Sarah, a psychology student, witnesses the alleged suicide of her roommate, it sets off a supernatural chain reaction. As she tries to convince the rest of her dorm that the Boogeyman does exist, the evil force grows stronger and her friends pay the price. Now Sarah must stop this ultimate evil before the entire campus falls prey.
Cast & Crew
Directed by: Gary Jones
Screenplay by: Brian Sieve
Producers: Andrew Pfeffer
Executive Producers: Steve Hein, J.R. Young
Co-Producers: Jeffery Beach and Phillip Roth
Director Of Photography: Lorenzo Senatore
Cast: Erin Cahill, Chuck Hittinger, Mimi Michaels, Kate Maberly, Matt Rippy, Nikki Sanderson, WB Alexander, Elyes Gabel and George Maguire.
Master of Fantasy: Rob Tapert
September 29th, 2008 by GHPRob Tapert, executive producer of ABC Studios’ syndicated series “Legend of the Seeker,” is returning to the syndie market after several years of being frustrated with the business.
Mr. Tapert, along with his partner, director Sam Raimi, produced notable fantasy first-run syndication staples including “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.”
After “Xena” wrapped in 2001 (racking up 134 episodes in the process), Mr. Tapert said the syndie market wasn’t what it had been.
“First-run syndication was being driven into the slums,” he said, adding that the quality of first-run syndicated fare had slipped. After a lengthy run, Mr. Tapert and Mr. Raimi turned their focus toward their horror film company, Ghost House Pictures.
Several years later, Mr. Raimi introduced Mr. Tapert to Terry Goodkind’s “The Sword of Truth” book series, which both thought would translate well to television, and they turned back toward syndication as the medium.
Shot in New Zealand, “Legend” follows woodsman Richard Cypher, who discovers he has magical powers. Teaming up with the mysterious Kahlan and the wizard Zedd, the group sets out to stop an evil tyrant.
“At heart, Sam and I are independents and mavericks,” Mr. Tapert said, adding that removing the network from the equation erased a level of bureaucracy for the show to go through.
While the budget is slimmer than that of a broadcast show, syndication guarantees 22 episodes, which allows for stronger story planning, key to a fantasy-based show focusing on the characters and their journey.
“What we love about sci-fi and fantasy are the heroes and the journeys they go on,” he said. He added that sci-fi and fantasy on TV allows viewers to stay with the characters longer than a 90-minute film would.
Mr. Tapert didn’t rule out appearances of “Xena” star Lucy Lawless, his wife, or “Hercules’” Kevin Sorbo in “Legend,” but they won’t be appearing in the first 22 episodes. As for Sam Raimi pal Bruce Campbell, who shows up in nearly all of Mr. Raimi’s productions, “Legend” might be the exception.
“I don’t think he’s available to us,” Mr. Tapert said, due to Mr. Campbell’s prominent role on USA’s “Burn Notice.” But frequent collaborator Ted Raimi, Sam’s brother, is appearing in “Legend.”
Source: TVWeek.com
Two more Spider-Man films on the way
September 8th, 2008 by GHPTobey Maguire to return for fourth and fifth installments
The actor and helmer are said to be close to locking in a deal to return for the fourth and fifth installments of the studio’s top-grossing “Spider-Man” franchise, with Laura Ziskin and Avi Arad producing.
In hopes of containing costs, Columbia is considering shooting the films back-to-back starting in fall 2009, much like New Line did with “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, which filmed simultaneously for 274 days. Ziskin had said she would like to aim for a May 2011 release for “Spider-Man 4,” nine years after the original movie’s debut.
Jamie Vanderbilt (”Zodiac”) is writing the screenplay.
“Spider-Man” is Sony’s most successful movie franchise; the first three films have grossed $2.5 billion worldwide.
Although there has been speculation whether Maguire would return to play Peter Parker, the studio said there was no question he would be back.
“The studio never considered any other actor. Tobey was our only choice and the only person we’ve discussed the role with,” Sony spokesman Steve Elzer said.
Both Maguire and Raimi are repped by CAA.
The studio declined comment on what villains might appear in the next two films or whether Kirsten Dunst would reprise her role as Mary Jane Watson, though it is hoped she will follow Maguire’s lead and return.
Sony also has stepped up developing the “Spider-Man” spinoff “Venom,” first recruiting writer Jacob Estes to draft a script and most recently bringing in scribes Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, who penned “Zombieland” for the studio.
Topher Grace played Venom in “Spider-Man 3,” but it’s unclear whether Sony would cast him for the “Venom” feature or bring in new talent.
