Will McIntosh's Followed set for 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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| For Press Use: Concept Art by Steven Roberson |
STATESBORO, Ga., Feb. 25, 2010 - Fighting Cheese Productions, in association with JamesWorks Entertainment, will begin production in late 2010 on "Followed," based on the short story by acclaimed author Will McIntosh.
McIntosh has published stories in Asimov's, Interzone, CHIZINE, Postscripts, Black Static and others. He was a finalist for both the British Science Fiction Association and the British Fantasy Society awards for best short story of 2005. In 2009, he was nominated for a Nebula Award by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
"Followed" is the story of a socially-responsible professor whose perfect world is threatened by the appearance of a tag-along zombie child.
The idea came from a graduate social psychology class McIntosh was teaching, in which he posed the question: "If you knew you could save lives for $100 each, how many would you save?"
"I pointed out that we probably can save lives for $100 or less, and we don’t," McIntosh said, "and each of us has to live with that knowledge, or rationalize it away, or sell our cars."
"I’m eager to see 'Followed' brought to life, just as the exploited dead are brought to life in the story," said "Followed" author Will McIntosh. "James Kicklighter brings a passion and energy that is sure to translate into a powerful, visionary film."
"I am excited that Will McIntosh has given Fighting Cheese and JamesWorks the opportunity to adapt his brilliant short story into a film, with our terrific team of collaborators," said James Kicklighter, Co-Chairman of JamesWorks Entertainment. "As the director, it thrills me that Will is supportive and involved in the creative process, trusting this collaboration to bring his story to life."
"I fell in love with 'Followed' the first time I read it, and I am thrilled to be working with both James and Will on such an incredible story," said Kimberly Liphardt of Fighting Cheese Productions. "I am a fan of both of them and know the collaboration between JamesWorks and Fighting Cheese will result in an outstanding film."
"Honestly, I’ve worked on few projects that excite me as much as 'Followed,'" said Mark Ezra Stokes, Director of Creative Media and producer at JamesWorks Entertainment. "Doing a 'horror film' that provides such a clear message of social responsibility will be a blast, and I can’t wait to show it off to the world."
About Fighting Cheese
Fighting Cheese is a New Mexico media company founded by the former partners of Fat Man Media, the production company responsible for the award-winning shorts "On the Bus" and "The Sitter."
About James Kicklighter
James Kicklighter is the Co-Chairman of JamesWorks Entertainment, recently featured in the Examiner.com "CEOs Under 25" series. He was also a screener for the 2009 International Documentary Association's Distinguished Feature Award. A film director and producer, his titles include "The Car Wash" (starring Edith Ivey of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"); "Land of Higher Peace," which recently finished principle photography in Ethiopia; "Theater of the Mind," created with Georgia Southern University for the National Association of Broadcasters Convention in Las Vegas; and "Di Passaggio," winner of The Accolade Award of Merit alongside ABC News, USA Today and Discovery Kids.
He will serve as the Program Director for the 2010 National Student Leadership Conference on Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of California at Berkeley, after completing his undergraduate degree in Public Relations at Georgia Southern University in May 2010.
About Mark Ezra Stokes
Mark Ezra Stokes is a Writer/Editor at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has an M.A. in Screenwriting and Film Studies and an M.F.A. in Screenwriting, both from Hollins University in Roanoke, VA. On occasion, he serves as a film critic for Hollywood Jesus, and he's an award-winning journalist. He's written, produced and directed several films, and he's currently in post-production with "Land of Higher Peace," his documentary shot in Ethiopia about the plight of AIDS orphans.
Since the trip to Ethiopia, Mark has been actively working with Ethiopia-centric charity organizations to provide a thriving network of socially-conscious entities. These entities will come together in June 2010 to establish Sustaining Hope, an annual symposium in Savannah, GA.
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