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Astral’s Harold Greenberg Fund Announces Support for Script Development Projects

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  • Astral’s Harold Greenberg Fund’s English-Language Program is pleased to announce its latest round of funding for 29 new and ongoing projects through its Script Development Program.

    Chosen from 135 applications, the most recent selection includes five projects at the Polish and Packaging phase including All the Wrong Reasons, Anthem of a Teenage Prophet, The Book of Negroes, The Flying Troutmans and Truck Stop. From first time feature film writer/director Gia Milani is All the Wrong Reasons, which recentlywon a top award for the script at Slamdance.Gia is co-producing alongside Tony Whalen, and Phyllis Laing is the executive producer. The film is about the choices made in the aftermath of a severe traumatic stress. Anthem of a Teenage Prophet is a project that the Fund has supported in various stages of development. It is based on the novel by Joanne Proulx. The Book of Negroes is based on the award-winning novel by Lawrence Hill. The film will be written and directed by Clement Virgo. The Flying Troutmans is also an adaptation which was co-written by the author Miriam Toews, alongside Semi Chellas. Also supported at the Polish and Packaging phase was Truck Stop, to bedirected by Laurie Lynd. It is the story of a teenage truck stop prostitute who is sent to foster care in a small, Northern Ontario town, turning her foster family and classmates upside down.

    “It a very exciting time for us as some of these projects, which we’ve been involved with throughout development, near production,” says John Galway, the Fund’s English-Language Program President. “This support will be instrumental in helping these projects secure cast and crew, scout locations and in helping them to create a final, polished version of the script.”

    Projects approved this quarter include:

    SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

    Story Optioning

    Ava Lee
    Strada Films Inc.
    Esta Spalding

    City of Champions
    Gokart Pictures
    TBD

    Consecrated Ground
    Emotion Pictures Inc.
    Thom FitzGerald

    A Good Girl
    Opolo Pictures Inc.
    Jonathan Williams

    The Last Crossing
    Mind’s Eye Development Inc.
    Rob King

    Needles
    Reunion Pictures Development
    Riel Stone

    Treatment to First Draft

    Idiot Wind
    Corey Marr Productions
    Joseph Kay

    Pitch
    Farpoint Films
    Collin Friesen

    Vinland
    Suki Films
    Mark Krupa

    First to Second Draft

    Borealis
    Buffalo Gal Pictures Inc.
    Jonas Chernick

    Drilled
    StromHaus Productions Ltd.
    Carolyn Saunders

    A Good Girl
    Opolo Pictures Inc.
    Jonathan Williams

    Ice Kings
    Resonance Films
    Cameron Labine

    Jumbo’s Clown Room
    Hellhound Productions
    Alison Murray and Alex Pugsley

    The Last Letter
    The Film Farm
    Esta Spalding

    Lucky 13
    Buck Productions
    Jonathan Sobol

    Needles
    Reunion Pictures Development
    Riel Stone

    The Runner
    1078459 Ontario Inc.
    Malcolm Clarke

    Saucer Men
    Tell Tale Productions
    Ian Johnston

    Second to Final Draft

    Action Figures
    Strident Films
    Ken Hegan

    Cold Blooded Snakes
    Darius Films
    Stephen Kunc

    Dual
    Oberon Films Inc.
    Simon Reynolds

    Jacob Green
    Independent Edge Films
    Michael Greenspan and Christopher Dodd

    Plagued
    Foundation Features
    Rachel Talalay

    Polish and Packaging

    All the Wrong Reasons
    Shore Road Pictures
    Gia Milani

    Anthem of a Teenage Prophet
    Les Films Hand Picked Inc.
    Screenwriter: Richard Bell

    The Book of Negroes
    Conquering Lion Pictures Inc.
    Clement Virgo

    The Flying Troutmans
    Four Seasons Productions Inc.
    Semi Chellas and Miriam Toews

    Truck Stop
    Sixth Avenue Enterprises Ltd.
    Bonnie Fairweather

    The Script Development Program was created to assist in the development of quality Canadian feature film scripts. The program receives a yearly contribution of $1.3 million from Astral’s The Movie Network. The script development applications are reviewed each quarter by the English-Language Committee of Astral’s Harold Greenberg Fund, which includes Suzette Couture, Damon D’Oliveira, Melanie Friesen, John Galway, Bryn Matthews, Jane Tattersall and Kevin Wright.