The Canadian Short Screenplay Competition, Producer David Cormican and Director James Cooper announce the joining of Canadian actors Brian Markinson, Melanie Nicholls-King and Tonya Lee Williams to their Kick Starter crowd-funded short film, ‘Elijah the Prophet’.
Toronto, ON— The Canadian Short Screenplay Competition is launching a crowd-funding campaign starting October 12th, 2011 on the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world, Kick Starter.
The short film script, ‘Elijah the Prophet’, was penned by the writing duo Zachary and Jesse Herrmann of Brooklyn, NY, whose screenplay beat out 512 other hopefuls worldwide to take top prize as part of the 2010/11 Canadian Short Screenplay Competition.
‘Elijah the Prophet’ tells the comedic story of Elijah: the pious, chummy, and alcoholic prophet whose yearly antics have graced Jewish households for ages; unfortunately, for the childlike servant of God, not everyone understands drunk driving is, for him, a divine right, which soon ends him up on the wrong side of the law.
“The script uses the Jewish tradition of Passover to tell a story of lost innocence and the harsh realities of growing up”, says Producer David Cormican. “It does so with a hilarious, irreverent twist that gives it universal appeal. It’s kind of like that moment when every kid realizes Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy– even the Easter Bunny– aren’t real. That’s what drew me to this script”.
The cast includes Gemini and Leo award nominee Brian Markinson (Charlie Wilson’s War, Shooter, Caprica) in the title role as Elijah the Prophet, while Melanie Nicholls-King (Rookie Blue, The Wire) and two-time Emmy Award nominee Tonya Lee Williams (Young & The Restless, Poor Boy’s Game, She’s The Mayor) play Officer Murphy and Cst. Jackie, respectively.
Gemini nominated funny man, Carlos Diaz (Rent-a-Goalie, Cra$h & Burn), lends his comedic chops to the short playing Brian, the head of the Levy household and spoiler of the legend for his family when Elijah fails to make it in time for the yearly Pass Over ritual.
Behind the camera, Cormican and Cooper have assembled just as strong a team that includes Genie and Gemini nominee, Director of Photography Alwyn Kumst (Degrassi: The Next Generation, Highland Gardens), indie music and recording artist Olds Sleeper as Composer and veteran Sound Editor and two-time Genie winner, Alan Hardiman (Relic Hunter, Kids in the Hall).
“I couldn’t be more pleased with the team we’ve been able to put together. The script has really helped us generate interest from day one”, says director James Cooper of Toronto. “Kick Starter offers us a unique ability to raise awareness for the film before we go to camera, which is something a lot of shorts have trouble doing.”
Additional recognizable names and faces are in discussion right now to join the cast and Cormican promises to make these as well as a few more crew announcements during the remainder of the crowd-funding campaign.
The film, set to be shot in the Spring of 2012, will be partially funded via Kick Starter, an arts-specific crowd-funding site. The all-or-nothing campaign to raise an additional $20,000.00 in 45 days kicks off today, October 12, 2011.
Kick Starter is an online initiative designed to allow a global audience to contribute an investment in the film in return for unique rewards, which (for ‘Elijah’) range from DVD copies of the film, original music from indie recording artist Olds Sleeper, limited edition artwork, signed Polaroids from the cast and crew, Elijah bobble-heads and engraved flasks, to premiere tickets and round trip plane tickets to attend the filming of the short film.
Cormican’s executive producer credits include feature film work on the Milla Jovavich starrer, ‘Faces in the Crowd’, the Jessica Biel thriller ‘The Tall Man’ and the currently in production zombie slasher ’13 Eerie’ starring Katherine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps).
Cormican’s last two produced short films coming out of the Canadian Short Screenplay Competition, ‘Minus Lara’ and ‘Rusted Pyre’, have most recently been co-awarded the distinction of being the “Best in Canada” by the 2011 Reel Rave International Film Festival. ‘Rusted Pyre’, which first bowed in Cannes as part of Telefilm Canada’s “Not Short on Talent” programme has also screened as an official selection of the CFC’s Worldwide Short Film Festival, Calgary, Edmonton, Atlantic and Tulsa International Film Festivals, amongst other accolades and was also named one of the top 100 films of 2011 by the Young Cuts Film Festival, while ‘Minus Lara’, a Bravo!FACT funded short film, has also received ‘best of’ honours at the Yorkton Film Festival and screened recently as an official selection of the Edmonton International Film Festival.
The Kick Starter campaign for ‘Elijah the Prophet’ runs from October 12 to November 25, 2011, with principal photography scheduled for Spring 2012. More information can be found and donations made by visiting the website www.IBelieveInElijah.com.
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