Seeking Scripts!!!!

Not the bad scripts.  Not the unfinished one you’ve got that could use a few more drafts and polish.  They want the good ones.  The diamonds.

From his email:

“We are seeking scripts right now that are family films, faith-based films and inspiring true stories”

From the Tall Castle website:

The script submission process for Tall Castle is a three-step process:

1. Submit your story’s logline, synopsis and other information using the form below.
2. If we’re interested in your story, then we’ll request your completed and properly-formatted script.
3. If we decide to move forward with your script, then we’ll make you an offer to option it.

Take your time when filling out the form below. We’re expecting a flood of submissions, so make sure your submission is engaging, well-written and compelling. If we decide to read your script after reviewing your submission, then we’ll contact you directly either by phone or email. You’ll be asked to sign a “submission and release waiver” before we can read your script.

Please keep in mind the following when submitting:

• Failure to follow this process will disqualify your submission for consideration.
• We are unable to respond to each submission individually.
• Tall Castle reserves the right to change its script submission process at its discretion. In the event changes are made, Tall Castle will post any such changes for review on its website.

I mean, it’s mesmerizing and puzzling all at the same time.   Now, I’m a little rusty with my late Jurassic period non-verbal skills but luckily for you, that’s where my advanced Mass Comm education and training kicks in.  I mean, not to bore you with all the Maslow and Pavlovian and Sallie Mae jibber jabber, but it appears exactly as if this baby lizard is Velocer-ravenous!  He’s hungry, Jack!  Or she.  Worse than that, it is having a moral and existential crisis because he (she?) totally wants to take a bite outta the Lamb of God.

I mean, look at those slotted yellow eyes.  Full of mischief.  Jehovah Rapha is 10 seconds away from becoming Jehovah Snack-uh.  Sadly enough, what we’re looking at here could, in fact, be the REAL reason dinosaurs became extinct.

You may disagree, but think about it…if you’re one of the trinity and one of your creatures attempts to make Nom Noms outta 1/3 of your holy personage…you get a little ticked.  Remember, at this time, we didn’t have New Testament “Your Sins are Forgiven” “My Grace is Sufficient for Thee” God.  This was still Old OLD Testament “Eye for an Eye” “Touch my ark and Fry” God.  It’s not mentioned as much in Deuteronomy, because it was more of an understood rule of thumb that devouring the Son of God was highly frowned upon.

Of course Jesus got over it by the New Testament and in fact ran with the idea.  ”This bread? Yeah, it’s my flesh.  Eat it.”  Cause why?  Cause that was part of his redemption plan.  Dino redemption.  It was His way of saying, “Sorry Dinosaurs.  Didn’t mean to wipe most of you off the planet and shrink the rest of you into Iguanas and Horned Toads.  We cool?”

Also, as I pondered this unHoly visage…what I like to call the Calm before the Storm…I remembered an announcement from over the weekend at San Diego Comic-Con where Spielberg spoke of plans for a new Jurassic Park sequel (#4 in the series for those still counting) which could be coming down the pipeline in two or three years from now.  (Read more about it at Digital Journal.)

But not much else was revealed.  And then suddenly my Journalistic instincts (second only to my Jurassic and Theological and Mathematical instincts) kicked in and I knew what was happening.  Astute readers will recall when Wired4Film — with Nostradamus-like precision — revealed that “Finding Nemo” was just a reboot of a “Jaws” prequel that some studios had laying around.  That’s the kind of journalistic insider-track nuggets you’ve come to expect.  Well you’re about to have your minds blown again.

I suspect that the above picture is an unfinished Poster for what some people assume to be “Jurassic 4″ but we now know to be a Jurassic Park Prequel Reboot.  Whew!  Mind = blown!  Oops, and by the way….Spoiler Alert!  Hmmm.  Maybe too late for that one.   Anywho, you’re welcome, America.  And my Cambodian reader.

So here now, is what could be…oh, who are we kidding…so, here now, is what WILL be coming down the pipeline in a few years.  Expect it!

Jesus Loves the Little Raptors of the World...or Does He?!?

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The million-member Church of God, based in Cleveland Tn, has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit again Sony Pictures, IFC Films, Mandalay Pictures, and Comcast for using a “mirror version” of its logo in the movie Salvation Boulevard, which opened in four theaters last weekend. Although the film depicts an amoral fundamentalist preacher, played by Pierce Brosnan, who turns his church into a business empire, the Church of God has little to say in its lawsuit about the content. It points out, however, that the logo of the fictitious church in the movie is virtually identical with its own. The Church of God is seeking an injunction to bar the further exhibition of the movie and is demanding an award based on the defendants’ profits.

And two, that said movie suh-huh-huh-huuuuuucked despite a pretty phenomenal cast.

At this point, shutting down the movie may be welcomed by the distributors. The film opened with nearly unanimous negative reviews and dismal ticket sales, despite the talents of Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, and Marisa Tomei. (Peter Rainer in the Christian Science Monitor remarked that the movie “has a terrific cast and not much else.”)

The full article can be read HERE.

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“DANGEROUS CALLING is going to shake things up,” declares Cloud Ten’s CEO, André van Heerden.  Cloud Ten Pictures Inc., has made a name for itself with its end-times dramas, the Left Behind movies and theApocalypse Series.

DANGEROUS CALLING, debuting on February 8, 2010, marks the indie production/distribution house’s first foray into the Suspense/Thriller genre.  “It’s not everyday you come across a truly scary Christian film,” notes Paul Lalonde, the company’s owner and chairman.

“DANGEROUS CALLING may raise some eyebrows, but we’re proud to be distributing it.”

Initially unsure how audiences might respond to the thriller, van Heerden waited for reactions from its premiere screening at the 2008 Rome (Georgia) International Film Festival, before approaching the producers about distributing the title.  The audience loved it, awarding it the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature.  Since acquiring the film, Cloud Ten Pictures has received a full spectrum of responses; and is warning that the film is definitely not for children or for the faint of heart.

With a nod to films like PSYCHO and MISERY, DANGEROUS CALLING is not your typical ‘church movie.’  A new pastor in a small-town church stands up to a few controlling church members who oppose his new ideas for reaching the youth of the community, and he and his wife face dire consequences.  Despite being set in a small-town church community, DANGEROUS CALLING doesn’t hold back on the chills, with genuinely ‘watch-through-your-fingers’ suspense.

DANGEROUS CALLING is the first feature film from writers/directors brother Josh and Jeremiah Daws.  The Daws brothers drew on influences from their own lives in creating this intense thriller that addresses the issue of small-town church politics from a modern perspective.  “Our primary goal was to tell an entertaining story, but the movie has an important message for the church,” explains Jeremiah.  In order to see the message, however, you have to be brave enough to watch the film.

DANGEROUS CALLING releases on DVD nationwide February 8, 2010 and is available for church exhibition through Cloud Ten’s  Church Cinema (although recommended only for older teens and adults). DANGEROUS CALLING will be distributed domestically on DVD to the secular and Christian markets through E1 Entertainment (www.e1distribution.com), and to all other markets directly by Cloud Ten Pictures.

Please visit the site below and VOTE FOR THE SAVING GOD TRAILER. It’s pretty prestigious to be selected for this contest and we’d love to have a good showing. And PLEASE pass on the link and tell your friends and family to vote as well.

The SAVING GOD film trailer has been selected by HOBOKEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (“HIFF”) to be part of the NYPOST.com film trailer contest. Here is information on this very exciting, exclusive contest–through one of the United States leading daily newspapers.

Film fans can get an immediate insider’s look at some of today’s hottest films by going HERE and they can vote for the winner!  The New York Post is hosting an exclusive contest where its website viewers can watch 10 edgy HIFF movie trailers, many of which will be worldwide premieres, seen for the first time by anyone who clicks onto the site! The contest, underway on April 20, will run through the festival’s May 29 start date. The winner will receive a special award at HIFF’s Oscar-like Gala Awards Ceremony.

So, send all of your fans, cast and crew to the link below to VOTE for your movie on NYPOST.com.

Go vote!

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Anyway, as reported HERE on Cinematical.com:

This October (2007), A.J. Jacobs is releasing The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible. Months before it hits the stands, Paramount and Plan B are working on a feature adaptation.

I see this going one of two ways. Hollywood either makes this into a total farce that flops, or this could be a really funny social satire, as the writer also says that the book is “an exploration of what is good about the Bible and what is of debatable relevance to modern times.” Are there any Biblical elements you’re ready to see him live out?

And now from Empire Online there are reports of Marlon Wayans being attached to star:

Marlon Wayans – the co-writer and star of some of the worst comedies of the last 20 years – has signed on to star in The Year Of Living Biblically, a high-concept comedy about a guy who agrees to live according to the rules of the Old and New Testament for one year.

If you’re thinking that that sounds a tad likeYes Man, you’re not a million miles away. The Year Of Living Biblically, like Yes Man, started life as a non-fiction book, with Esquire editor A.J. Jacobs pulling a Danny Wallace, with – needless to say – hilarious results!

See the full story HERE at EmpireOnline.com.   

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SAVING GOD tells the story of Armstrong Cane (played by Ving Rhames) a reformed ex-con, who returns from prison to preach at his father’s former church, only to find the neighborhood overtaken by drug dealers and the congregation in crisis. As Cane works to save the community he left behind, to save his young parishioners from the dangerous draw of the streets and to save himself from the demons of his violent past, he faces the ultimate question: Who will save God for the souls who have lost Him?

In its fourteenth year, IFFF promotes socially responsible films which express a fundamental respect for the positive values of life. “SAVING GOD is an inspiring film that we wish there were more of. Its powerful themes are heightened by a remarkable cast and some surprising twists,” says Chris Shoemaker, IFFF Executive Director. IFFF 2009 “World Peace through Filmmaking” took place February 26 through March 1, at the historic Raleigh Studios in Hollywood, California.

The IFFF award is the first festival award for SAVING GOD. “We are thrilled that SAVING GOD is receiving such positive recognition. We love the film, and it’s wonderful to see that audiences love it also,” says Cloud Ten Pictures CEO Andre van Heerden. SAVING GOD is slated to screen at several upcoming US film festivals including the Foursite Film Festival, in Ogden, Utah, March 4-7, the Lake Arrowhead Film Festival, in Lake Arrowhead, California, April 2-5, the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival, in Buffalo, New York, May 1-10 and the FirstGlance Film Festival in Hollywood, May 1-3. The film is currently available on DVD at major retail outlets and via the Cloud Ten Pictures website, www.cloudtenpictures.com.

SAVING GOD is a co-production by Canadian-based Cloud Ten Pictures and Clear Entertainment. The picture has also been endorsed by the family-focused film review boards at the Dove Foundation and the American Family Association.

For more information about Cloud Ten Pictures, or to schedule a screening of SAVING GOD, call 1-888-684-5561 or visit www.cloudtenentertainment.com

For more information about Clear Entertainment call 1-416-907-0101, or visit www.clearentertainment.com