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For Immediate Release:
From the producers of the Genie nominated film Choke., and the critically acclaimed productions of This is Our Youth with Woody Harrelson and Matt & Ben.
LEO
picks up top US film honor after winning
best screenplay at
Canadian Comedy Awards.
Film 23 minute
festival version to play CBC
Sunday January 28th, 12 midnight
Toronto,ON- January 22, 2007
LEO, produced in association with Bravo! FACT (www.bravofact.com), keeps trucking along and gaining steam.
The 2 X 6 minute version recently beat out thousands of submissions and won the prestigious GRAND PRIZE FOR THE 2006 LITTLE BIG FILMS SHORT FILM COMPETITION, SPONSORED BY LANDMARK THEATRES (AND STELLA ARTOIS www.littlebigfilms.net.
Landmark Theatres, founded in 1974, is the nation's largest theatre chain devoted exclusively to art and independent film in the United States, with 56 theatres in 22 markets. Known for its progressive and savvy film programming, as well as its unique way of nurturing and marketing independent film, Landmark Theatres occupies an unrivaled and important position in the motion picture industry. www.landmarktheatres.com
LEO, was also recently singled out on our own soil, winning BEST SCREENPLAY at the 2006 CANADIAN COMEDY AWARDS.
Adam Till, who is also one of the Co-Creators of the hit Showcase series, BILLABLE HOURS, was present in London to accept the award. Also at the ceremony, LEO, had three (3) other nominations: DIRECTING (DAVID HYDE), AND TWO FOR MALE PERFORMANCE (JOE PINGUE AND MARCELLO CABEZAS) www.canadiancomedyawards.ca
After winning BEST PITCH AT THE 2005 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL”- THE TORONTO STAR said about the lead character:
“(Joe Pingue) is a revelation as Leo…he is achingly perfect
Pingue went on to be nominated for best male performance at the 2006 ACTRA Awards.
With Leo, macIDeas was thrilled to announce their second consecutiveinvitation to the Toronto International Film Festival in 2005as well as the Bahamas International Film Festival.
Leo reunites the Genie nominated (2005) creative team behind the Genie nominated Choke. Producer Carolyn Newman (macIDeas), Executive Producer Scott Mackenzie (Radke Films), director David Hyde (Radke Films), and composers Tom Westin and David Sorbara (Grayson Matthews) are now joined by Executive Producer Marcello Cabezas (macIDeas), producers Erin Berry and Meg Davies, screenwriter Adam Till (The Human Kazoo, TIFF’04), and editor Geoff Ashenhurst (Stealing Time).
Produced in association with Bravo! FACT, Radke Films, and exclamation productions and Producing Patrons Marc Lavine, Mark Leggatt, Ron Kirsh, Greg Steers, Adam Williams and The Newman Family. Without this support, success stories like these are very challenging to happen.
Starring an all star cast including Liane Balaban (New Waterford Girl), Genie/ Gemini Winner Jackie Burroughs, Marcello Cabezas (This is Our Youth, Choke.), Joris Jarsky (Foolproof) and introducing Joe Pingue as Leo.
Synopsis
Single and seemingly staying that way, flower delivery man Leo has never had a real girlfriend and, well, hasn’t been able to line up any prospects. It doesn’t help that he’s not very handsome, slightly overweight, and has a crippling case of shyness to boot.
A deliveryman for “Moments”, the specialty flower store of choice for the love-struck, each day Leo’s job brings him face to face with other people’s happiest moments. Each bouquet comes with the three simple words… “Be Happy Always” …
You could say that luck is just not Leo’s lady. When one day Leo meets the kind and beautiful Amelia on delivery, energies converge and a chord strikes his heart. He knows he’s met the one. He sees her often, as her lover is sending flowers once a week. With each visit Leo’s love grows and so does his desire to make her his own. When he finds out Amelia’s beau is two-timing her, Leo knows he has no choice but to expose the villain, restore Amelia’s honor, and just perhaps change his luck and life for ever.
macIDeas, the lead producer on Leo, have enjoyed much success in the last two years. A company made up of film, theatre, and business thinkers, they have ventured to produce projects with artistic relevance, but also create exciting models that are exciting audiences. Recipients of the Bright Light Innovation Award from The Toronto Star for innovation in producing and marketing in the storytelling medium, they are the producers that brought Woody Harrelson to Toronto to direct This is Our Youth, that attracted Waydowntown’s Fab Filippo
and Genie nominated actress Marya Delver in year one and Sex and The City’s Jason Lewis and Ginger Snap’s Katharine Isabelle in year two. They also produced the cult hit, Matt & Ben, that played to a sold out extended 10 week run in 2004.
In the film world, Choke., a Bravo Fact!/ macIDeas/ Radke Films co-production starring Canadian notables Lindy Booth and Allegra Fulton went on to be invited to TIFF, and over 15 other worldwide festivals, eventually being nominated for a Genie Award in the live action short film category. The film has gone on to be sold to CBC, Air Canada, and in the later stages of completing a sale through Bravo! to The Sundance Channel. This film developed a great buzz and that must see vibe that any filmmaker hopes for.
Please visit www.macideas.com for more about us and also www.behappyalways.com
macIDeas has recently been announced as the co-sponsor with Exclamation Productions Inc. of the 2007 New Play Contest at the Toronto Fringe Festival. www.fringetoronto.com
Leo: Be Happy Always…
For additional information contact:
Marcello Cabezas Carolyn Newman,
Artistic Producer, macIDeas Sr. Producer Film and Television,macIDeas
416-294-9239 (Toronto) 416-837-3140
310-560-1760 (Los Angeles) cnewman@breakthroughfilms.com
LEO CREDITS
LEO
A macIDeas/ Radke Films production in association with Bravo! Fact and exclamation productions
Directed by David Hyde
Executive Producers:
Scott Mackenzie
Carolyn Newman
Marcello Cabezas
Marc Lavine
Producers:
Carolyn Newman
Erin Berry
Meg Davies
David Hyde
Producing Patrons:
Ron Kirsh
Mark Leggatt
Adam Williams
Greg Steers
The Newman Family
Screenplay by:
Adam Till
Original Story
David Hyde
Editor: Geoff Ashenhurst
Original Music by: Grayson Matthews
Director of Photography: Brendan Steacy
Production Designers: Mark Gabriel and Mark Lewandowski
Casting Directors: Jenny Lewis & Sara Kay
Cast:
Joe Pingue ; Leo
Liane Balaban ; Amelia
Jackie Burroughs ; Felicity
Marcello Cabezas : Jose(supervisor)
Joris Jarsky; businessman
Bradley Garrick : Barry
Cayle Chernin : Florence
James Zaza : Earl
Kristyn Butcher : Sarah on fire
Randi-Lee Butcher : Meghan
Lyne Tremblay : Felicia
Christopher Lindsay : Deliveryman
Tiffany Knight : Cynthia
Blair Johannes : Policeman
Kelsey Matheson : Reporter
David Nicols : Paramedic 1
Derek Mustachi : Paramedic 2
Production
Manager: Erin Berry
First AD: Alex Walti
Second AD: Christine Harrington
Production Assistants: Dallas Dyer and Aaron Gascoyne
Ist Camera Assistant/ Focus Puller: Darryl Augustine
2nd Camera Assistant: Victor Cajoh
Key Grips: Joe Turner, Chris Farr and Sean McBride
2nd Grips: Danny Sturman and Josh Ingelby
Best Boy Electrics: Casey Deane, Rob Scarborough and Lindesy Kelsick
Gaffers: Simon Shohet, Mick Reynolds and Daniel Paquette
Genny Operators: Adam Landucci and Gary Francis
Art Director: Mark Lewandowski
Assistant Art Director: Olga Barsky
Props: Nathan Ouwehand
Wardrobe: Ashley Wood
Assistant Wardrobe: Isabel Burns
Hair and Make-Up: Dee Daly and Sabrina Rinaldi
Sound Mixer: John Hornach
Boom Operator: Michael Owen
Final Sound Mix: Joe Serafini, Lisa Ann Meawasige and Justin Drury at Crunch
Recording Group Inc
Final Sound Design and Edit: Elizabeth Taylor, Dave Sorbara and Tom Westin
at Grayson Matthews
Script Supervisors: Soo-Won Lee and Marta Borowski
Locations Manager: Craig Williams
Craft Service: Nick Pollard
Offline Video Post- Production - Stealing Time Editing
Offline Downconversion and Conform/Online: Paul Moyer and Jane Crawford at
Optix Digital Pictures
Flowers provided by Ringe and Associates in Toronto
Picture Cars provided by Adam Williams at Triple M
Publicist: Suzanne Cheriton
Legal Counsel: Derrick Chua