14 January, 2010
Fireworks International, the television and digital distribution arm of ContentFilm plc, today announced that it has acquired worldwide distribution rights to SPLATTER, a brand new multi-platform series from renowned horror filmmaker Roger Corman (Little Shop of Horrors, Pit and the Pendulum).
Making his internet video debut, Roger Corman both conceived and produced SPLATTER, a three-part series of gripping online webisodes. Joining Corman on the project as producer is Julie Corman (Box Car Bertha) and director, horror luminary, Joe Dante (Gremlins, The Howling). The series stars Corey Feldman (The Lost Boys, Stand By Me) in the lead role of Jonny Splatter, a hard-partying music legend who accumulated as many hit records as he did enemies before his apparent suicide. SPLATTER, which premiered in the US on Netflix, offers viewers the opportunity to select the direction of the series by presenting a choice of alternative storylines as the episodes progress.
Roger Corman, creator and producer of SPLATTER commented, “We’ve come a long way from trucking 35mm film prints to the drive-in. Now through the medium of the internet, filmmakers can reach the audience immediately, and open them up to new experiences in interactive storytelling, like SPLATTER. Viewers can now decide the outcome of the story for themselves–provided the writer and director can present all the options. The devil is in the details, and it’s a new kind of entertainment for a fast-changing audience.”
Director Joe Dante said, “After 500 movies, you’d think Roger would slow down. It’s been 30 years(!) since I last worked with Roger and I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do it one more time. I found everything had changed–yet nothing had changed. I had just as much fun directing SPLATTER at the breakneck Corman pace as I did years ago…of course I was a bit more limber then!”
“This acquisition of a series from one of the greats of the horror genre is a landmark deal for Fireworks International and perfectly highlights our continued commitment to delivering world-class multi-platform content to the international marketplace”, added Jonathan Ford, Fireworks International’s Executive Vice-President of Digital Acquisitions and Distribution. “The superb production values, impeccable casting and gripping storyline offer wide appeal and we are confident SPLATTER will prove hugely successful on a range of platforms.”
Laced with edge-of-your seat suspense, SPLATTER takes the audience on a wild road trip into the dark world of fame, fortune, greed, immortality and immorality as the haunting tale unfolds. Rock-and-roll genius, Jonny Splatter, whose sudden death, ruled a suicide, brings a small circle of professional parasites and hangers-on to his Hollywood Hills mansion for the reading of his last will and testament. But as his “frenemies” come to lay claim to his fortune, Jonny returns for a deadly encore long after what they thought was his final curtain.
The distribution agreement of SPLATTER follows hot on the heels of the acquisition and distribution agreement announced by the company for Electric Farm Entertainment’s multi-platform vampire series, VALEMONT, at MIPCOM.
About Fireworks International
Fireworks International is ContentFilm’s international television distribution division with over 3,000 hours of high-quality and commercially appealing programming including an extensive slate of major drama series, non-fiction entertainment, kids live action comedy and drama series, TV movies, mini-series and special event programming. Recent additions include investigative drama series, REPUBLIC OF DOYLE, crime thriller series, THE BORDER and heart-warming family drama series, HEARTLAND; non-fiction primetime documentary specials HUNTING THE LOST SYMBOL and I KNOW WHAT I SAW; U.S. tween comedy THE ASSISTANTS; high definition multi-platform thriller series VALEMONT; new children’s programmes HALF MOON INVESTIGATIONS, FAMILY BIZ as well as the classic anime series, ROBOTECH; plus over 200 U.S. network mini-series and TV movies; and specials including the Annual U.S. PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS show. This new product is combined with the large and valuable Fireworks library catalogue which is complemented by a raft of formidable television shows including Gene Roddenberry’s ANDROMEDA, MUTANT X and RELIC HUNTER.
Fireworks International: Jennifer BrinkworthVice-President, Marketing and Communications
Tel + 44 (0) 207 851 6517
www.contentfilm.com
