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PALM PICTURES ACQUIRES WORLDWIDE RIGHTS TO SUN DOGS
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FEATURE DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE JAMAICAN DOGSLED TEAM
March 6, 2006 - New York, NY - Palm Pictures announced today that they have acquired the Worldwide Rights to SUN DOGS, a documentary feature currently in production in Jamaica. The deal was negotiated by Chris Blackwell, CEO of Palm Pictures, and David Koh, Head of Acquisitions & Production for Palm Pictures, with Andrea Stewart, Director & Producer, and Danny Melville, Executive Producer. Palm Pictures will finance the project which will be completed by the end of the year. Palm plans a theatrical release in late 2006 followed by a DVD and CD soundtrack release on the Palm label. Andrea Stewart will Produce and Danny Melville, Chris Blackwell, David Koh, and Leigh Ingleby will serve as Executive Producers. Jimmy Buffett & Margaritaville are the official sponsors of the Jamaican Dog Sled Team.
SUN DOGS follows the Jamaican Dog Sled Team who take on the impossible: the 2006 UK Dog Sledding Championships in Scotland. The film is filled with a cast of colorful characters including Devon Anderson, Jamaica’s own ‘Dr. Doolittle;’ champion Scottish dog-sledder Alan Stewart; and Danny Melville, an adventure tourism operator from Jamaica. The team is sponsored in part by musician and entrepreneur Jimmy Buffett, who not only champions the indomitable Jamaican spirit but also hopes his investment will help dispel stereotypes of Jamaica.
SUN DOGS also touches on issues that shade daily life on the island; from the struggle of the team’s back-up musher, Oswald ‘Newton’ Marshall, to get his passport to travel to Minnesota to train on snow with American mushers Rick and Annette Johnson; to the stray mongrel dogs whose only hope of survival is to make it on to the team, as the streets offer them no protection.
Andrea Stewart stated, "Jamaica is possessed with a dual spirit - a cool place with a hard edge. Despite chronic struggle, its character shines through its vibrant culture. Their humor and confidence fascinates the rest of us as Jamaicans take on challenges from Bobsled to Dogsled. It is this unique spirit that SUN DOGS will document."
Danny Melville stated, "“I am sick and tired of the Ganja, Guns, Posse and Yardie images that are often portrayed of Jamaica. There is another side; my country is crammed with hardworking, lovable and caring people that value life and love animals. The Jamaica Dogsled Team has given me the opportunity to expose that to the world and build Brand Jamaica at the same time."
Blackwell & Koh stated, "We saw the footage and thought it was an incredible story that has a lot of humor that could work with audiences worldwide and also through the humor educate us about the social conditions of Jamaica. It's the ultimate underdog story with a fierce Jamaican attitude ... a mix of Cool Runnings, the Bad News Bears, and Dr. Doolittle. We are very excited to be a part of this project."
Palm Pictures is Chris Blackwell's (founder of Island Records, Island Pictures, Island Outpost) audio/visual entertainment company and produces, acquires, and distributes independent film & music projects. Palm Pictures includes a film division, a music label, Arthouse Films, RES Media Group, and sputnik7.com. Current and upcoming projects include The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things by Asia Argento based on the book by JT Leroy, City of Men (City of God tv series), Lower City by Sergio Machado and produced by Walter Salles, Clean by Olivier Assayas and starring Maggie Cheung and Nick Nolte, The Motel by Michael Kang, Invisible Waves by Pen-ek Ratanaruang, starring Asano Tadanabu and shot by Christopher Doyle, Breaking News by Johnnie To, Who Gets to Call It Art? by Peter Rosen, and Be Here To Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt by Margaret Brown.
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David Koh
Head of Acquisitions & Production
Palm Pictures / Arthouse Films
76 Ninth Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10011
212 320 3678 office
240 266 6247 eFax
david.koh@palmpictures.com
www.palmpictures.com
www.palmvod.com
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