Have You Got a Film In You?
Enter the Millionth Monkey’s Movie Competition and Find Out
A leading British filmmaker has taken up the challenge to revolutionise the way films are made in the UK.
Alex Williams’ My Haunted House, about 12-year-old Charlie and his family of dysfunctional supernatural monsters, is the first pitch entered into the Millionth Monkey’s Movie, a competition aimed at finding the best idea for a movie, and which cuts through the red tape usually associated with a film’s production and gets down to the job in hand – making great films that audiences want to see.
Alex’s animation skills are on display in such films as Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion King, The Iron Giant and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, where he has worked on everything from traditional character animation and CG animation to storyboard and character design to animation direction. He has worked for Disney, Dreamworks, Fox and Warner Brothers.
With a number of projects in development Williams, together with Nathan Erasmus of Gravy Media, a leading UK based producer of high quality animated content, has taken up the challenge set by D-Media Network and Close-Up Film, to let audiences decide for themselves which film they would most like to see get made.
However, you don’t have to be an established or experienced filmmaker to enter – the competition is about finding the best new idea, and anyone can enter.
Gina Fegan, CEO of D-Media says: ‘TV now offers so many opportunities for discovering raw talent and letting the audience choose their winner and we want to do the same for filmmaking. We are absolutely delighted that Alex and Nathan are backing the Millionth Monkey’s Movie but it really doesn’t matter if you are an Oscar winner or an accountant or a busy mum, it’s your ideas we want, and it’s down to the public to decide which they would most like to see made into a film. Whatever your level of experience, we will work with the winner to help make that happen.”
And Gina is putting her money where her mouth is. As an award-winning producer with The Tournament (dir. Scott Mann), starring Robert Carlyle and Devil’s Playground (dir. Mark McQueen), starring Danny Dyer to her credit, Gina will act as executive producer for the film. The winner will also receive development money, a development package and an industry lunch at Pinewood Studios, who are one of the sponsors.
”This is about finding new talent and new ways of getting great films made. We want to make the movie that people most want to see!” Says Gina.
The idea is simple: For a small fee, entrants sign up to the Millionth Monkey’s Movie website, create a profile, pitch their idea, supply supporting information and then gather as many votes as possible. In a twist on the crowd-funding phenomenon, two thirds of the money raised from entrance fees will go towards the development costs of the new movie. It’s a concept that is already gathering support across the industry:
Andrew Smith, Pinewood Studios: “This is an innovative way to cut through the red tape and let original concepts find their audience. Good luck to the entrants!”
Sean Pertwee, Actor: “The talent is there, bubbling up, in Manchester, Cardiff, London and more, those who are prepared to be brave and invest now will succeed. Its time to start doing, and the Millionth Monkey is a good start.”
Jon Holmes, Comedian, Writer & Broadcaster: “No more knocking on doors and pitching to the money men. This is where the audience will decide exactly what movie they want to see made. And it could be yours…”
The competition is open to entrants until midnight on 29th January 2012. On 1st February, voting will open and the entrants have until 29th February to get as many votes as possible, via the Millionth Monkey’s website.
The Runner-Up will get a tour of Pinewood Studios, including an industry lunch, and one day with D-Media and Close-Up to develop a realistic outline of how to take the project further.
The Weekly Winner will be profiled on the weekly leader board and win two cinema tickets.
To find out more and enter the Millionth Monkey’s Movie Competition, go to: www.millionthmonkeysmovie.com
Watch our launch video on youtube:
http://youtu.be/A5LGLOv5lUI
Follow us on twitter: @1MMonkey
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/millionthmonkeysmovie
For D-Media go to: www.d-media-network.com
xx - posted on 23/05/2012 13:13:28
