So, what is happening and what has been happening? For the past few months we’ve been exploring our options with production companies and groups with a view to either partner with them on the film or to have a bigger company/studio take us on.
During “JAM” we learnt SOOO much about practical film-making. We were thrown in at the deep-end, producing and directing for the first time on a film starring the likes of Stephen Fry, Frank Skinner and Phillip Schofield. Now we are discovering (at the same rate) how it all works on the business side.
So, here’s the news: Clovis Dardentor has looked at himself in the mirror and has had an epiphany. He is not a cheap movie after all. We always knew that we wanted to make something big. We took Jules Verne’s story and adapted it into what we thought would be a film with international appeal. Something that people would SEE! But what we did was turn a commercially viable story into something much more niche and domestic. This has been brought to our attention over the past few months by some of the biggest people in the industry. We’ve been very lucky to have their guidance and continued support. Everyone from ‘Blackadder’ creator John Lloyd to Summit Entertainment’s President have given us feedback. We spent a long time adsorbing this feedback and diagnosing the problems with Clovis’ screenwriter, Lizzie Hopley.
We concluded that we needed to go back to the book; the story that is already so international, commercial, fun, exciting and all the rest of it. By doing this we realised that we hadn’t changed Clovis Dardentor for the better the first time round. So a few weeks ago, Lizzie compiled a new treatment, one that was much more in tune with the book and still maintained the magic of Jules Verne. We’ve spent a week or two discussing the new treatment and comparing it to the current screenplay and have decided that we should go in the new direction; the direction which would lead us back to Jules.
… And so, that is what’s happening. Clovis Dardentor is being re-written. Once it is done it’ll be a lot more appealing for studios and production companies and we’ll be in a much MUCH better position to get it made. Whether that is under the umbrella of another production company/studio or with us still in the driving seat, we really don’t know!
Whatever happens, it is sure to be fun and we can’t wait… Will keep you informed!
Don’t be fooled by the silence! It doesn’t mean that nothing is going on, oh no! In fact there’s lots going on back here behind these doors. What we’re doing now is talking to Producers and Production Companies/Groups regarding joining us in order to secure a successful future for “Clovis Dardentor”. We’re being very careful about making decisions as we need producers who will be able to help us take the film to the top! It’s very exciting and there’s lots of talking and thinking and dealing going on. I will of course let you all know what happens…
Okay. Maybe I’ll explain:
