Platinum and The Shop Announce First Ever CG Horror Film

Platinum and The Shop Announce First Ever CG Horror Film

Screenplay to Be Written by McElroy and Based on Moran Graphic Novel

LOS ANGELES and VANCOUVER, Canada, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Platinum Studios, an entertainment company that controls the world's largest independent library of comic book characters, and The Shop Productions, an innovative feature-film production company specializing in computer-animation, have chosen Alan McElroy to write the screenplay for the $18 million budgeted first ever CG theatrical horror feature, "Bonesaw," based on the Platinum Studios graphic novel by acclaimed Scots writer Rob Moran. Relativity Management, one of Hollywood's leading talent management firms, will be co-financing the picture and is arranging the international elements. Production is set to begin in early 2006, and be completed Fall 2007. McElroy will be splitting his time between his Ohio home and the Vancouver production offices of "Bonesaw."

This comes on the heels of Platinum and The Shop's recent announcement that they were producing the first CGI thriller, "Dylan Dog: The Fourth Kingdom," entering pre-production in June.

McElroy is no stranger to adapting comics to film, as he worked closely with comic book superstar Todd McFarlane, writing both the "Spawn" feature film and the Emmy-winning first season of the animated series. McElroy also was nominated for a Saturn award for his work on "Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers." McElroy's other recent credits include the recently-wrapped upcoming Fox release "The Marine" from the producers of "Walking Tall" and "The Rundown."

"I couldn't think of anyone better to write what will be the first commercially released animated horror movie," says Rosenberg. "We believe that 'Bonesaw' will be the first horror movie that really takes advantage of the stunning possibilities of CGI."

Founded by Chairman Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Platinum Studios is known for comic-to-film adaptations and currently has motion pictures in development at all the major studios. Rosenberg is responsible for bringing the "Men In Black" comic book to Sony Pictures where it became a billion-dollar franchise.

Based on Rob Moran's upcoming graphic novel, "Bonesaw" is about a horror-fantasy writer who discovers that her hit novels are about to release the villain Bonesaw and the other hellish creatures she's been writing about into our world.

"'Bonesaw' will do for animation what 'Sin City' has done for live action: set a new paradigm for visual style. This represents another chance for us to redefine what CGI storytelling is all about and to show the world how far you can go," said The Shop's co-founder Ian Pearson.

"Producing a CG horror movie on a live action horror budget is brilliant," says Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh. "'Bonesaw' and Platinum's upcoming CG thriller 'Dylan Dog: The Fourth Kingdom,' both based on comics, are already looking strong across the markets."

Producing alongside Platinum's Rosenberg will be Pearson and Aaron L. Gilbert, co-founders of The Shop. Platinum's director of development, Aaron Severson, and director of production, Jay Burns, will co-produce.

Platinum Studios has a successful record of acquiring valuable comic properties and developing them for television and film. The company brought Belgium graphic novel series "Jeremiah" to TV screens with a 35-hour maxi-series starring Luke Perry and Sean Astin and is currently working on a feature film prequel. Other properties in development include:

- "Cowboys & Aliens" -- Sony

- "Unique" -- Disney

- "Mal Chance" -- Miramax

- "Dylan Dog" & "Storm" -- The Shop

- "Dead of Night" -- by "Sahara" scribes Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer

- 10 Picture $200 Million slate with Gold Circle

- Recent rights acquisition of Europe's largest creator-owned comic book syndicate, Hexagon Comics

About Platinum Studios (www.platinumstudios.com)

Platinum Studios is an entertainment company that controls the world's largest independent library of comic book characters, which it adapts and produces for film, television and all other media. Platinum Studios' library contains more than 2,500 characters representing over 50 years of comics publishing and a full range of genres and styles in 100's of millions of comics printed in 50 countries.

About The Shop Productions(www.shopinc.ca)

The Shop is a Vancouver based, independent feature-film production company, specializing in creating, developing, and producing computer-animated content for theatrical distribution in 35mm, Digital Hi-Def and 3D large-format 70mm stereoscopic (IMAX). The Shop boasts a superior team of proven computer animators, visual effects artists and experienced film executives with a history of running multi-million dollar companies. The Company is currently active on computer animated theatrical and 3D large-format films.

About Relativity Management

In groundbreaking fashion, Relativity Management is the first company to blend talent management, production and venture capital as its core businesses. With millions secured for some of Hollywood's A-list talent and production firms, Relativity focuses on bridging an inherent gap that existed between the worlds of traditional finance and independent Hollywood production. Relativity represents the career interests of high-profile directors, producers, writers, and entertainment companies. Relativity's client list to date includes such notable production companies as, Mark Canton's Atmosphere Entertainment, Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney's Section Eight Productions, Company Films, Exception Wild Bunch and Dean Zanuck's DFZ Productions. Relativity just completed executive producing "Land of The Dead" which marks the come back of guru horror film director George Romero. "Land of The Dead" is set to open in theaters Halloween of 2005.

Source: Platinum Studios

CONTACT: Jordan Fischler of Allison & Partners, +1-310-907-5378, Jordan@allisonpr.com for Platinum Studios

Web site: http://www.platinumstudios.com/

Web site: http://www.shopinc.ca/

------- Profile: Ent