FILMS
IN DEVELOPMENT:
Solaris's mandate for telling original and compelling stories is evident in the company's various projects in development. Among them are:
BOUDICA - An epic historical adventure based on the life of the legendary female warrior who united the divided tribes of Britain and defeated the Roman army in first century A.D., written by Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal. Gavin O'Connor will direct. Solaris is producing with Icon Entertainment.
BORN TO ROCK - The story revolves around a teenager whose Harvard dreams get dashed when his scholarship is revoked after an ethics scandal. After discovering that his mysterious biological father is the lead singer of an iconic '80’s punk band that is mounting a comeback tour, the youth finds work as a roadie in hopes of prying tuition money from him. Set up at Paramount with Solaris and MTV Films producing.
CLARK AND LEWIS - A rousing adventure that tells the story of iconic explorers Lewis and Clark, turning the myth surrounding the single most important expedition in American history on its head. Gavin O'Connor and Mark Wheaton are writing. Gavin O'Connor will direct. Set up at Universal.
ELVIS AND ANABELLE - A magical fable that captures the spirit of teenage angst and young love, Elvis & Anabelle tells the amazing tale of a troubled young man from Coward, Texas - a mortician's son who has unwillingly inherited the family business and whose uninspired life is suddenly jolted with purpose when the local teenage beauty queen mysteriously awakens from the dead. Written and to be directed by Will Geiger.
FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS - A dramatic comedy based on a Based on a play written by Alan Ball (AMERICAN BEAUTY and SIX FEET UNDER). This is a beautifully written and humanistic comedy about five mismatched bridesmaids who reunite for a cousin's wedding at a manor in Knoxville, Tennessee and conspire in sharing some earth-shattering secrets about one another which threaten to ruin the marraige. Solaris is currently looking for a writer to adapt. Solaris is producing with Alan Ball.
MAY GOD HAVE MERCY - Based on the non-fiction book by John C. Tucker about the conviction and subsequent execution of Roger Coleman despite overwhelming evidence of his innocence. The story is being adapted by Ed Radtke, and being produced with Tim Chambers.
THE MIGHTY BISHOPS – Based on the book "I Choose to Stay" by Salome Thomas-EL about an African-American teacher who returns to the hopelessness and squalor of his old middle school in inner city Philadelphia where he assembles a co-ed chess team. Challenging his students to use their minds and arming them with a profound belief in their potential, he leads his team to the National Chess Championship while at the same time galvanizing an entire community. Don Scott (Barbershop) is writing. This is set up at Disney with Solaris and Tim Chambers producing.
PARENTS ON STRIKE - Set up at Paramount with Solaris and Misher Films Producing. Being written by Bert Royal.
PRIDE & GLORY - A saga revolving around a multi-generation family of New York City cops and one police officer's investigation into a police corruption scandal that leads to the discovery of his own brother's complicity. This was written by Gavin O'Connor and Joe Carnahan (NARC, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III). Gavin O'Connor is directing. Set up at New Line and begins production in Winter 06'.
SAFETY - an original dramatic thriller written by Gavin O'Connor that tells the story of an auto mechanic turned businessman named Frank Hughes whose seemingly perfect life and family are shattered when Frank witnesses a murder and hidden truths concerning Frank's past are revealed in order to convict the killer. When the courts fail to convict the killer, the family is relocated to a remote town through the Witness Protection Program, and Frank must help put the pieces back together in their lives and prepare his family for one last confrontation. Solaris is producing with Misher Films. This is currently set up at Revolution Studios.
TV - A dramatic comedy about the bacchanal life of an aging live sports television director whose world is turned upside down when his network is bought out by a giant media conglomerate that refuses to tolerate his irreverent antics. This is based on the novel "TV" by Brian Brown. Solaris is currently looking for a writer to re-write.
THE THIRD WITCH - A children's adventure and fable set in medieval Scotland, this is a retelling of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" through the eyes of one of the three witches, a fifteen-year old girl seeking revenge against her father's murderer. This is based on the novel by Rebecca Reisert. It was adapted by Denise Meyer. Chris Noonan ("Babe") is directing. Set up at New Line.
UNTITLED WILL GEIGER "CHRISTMAS" PROJECT - Will Geiger is writing this independent script for Solaris to produce.
UNTITLED JESSE WIGUTOW PROJECT - Solaris is producing the original script by Jesse Wigutow.
COMPLETED FILMS:
MIRACLE - A $40 million Disney feature directed by Gavin O'Connor and produced by Greg O'Connor that grossed over $64 million domestic. MIRACLE, starring Kurt Russell, tells the inspiring story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team's unlikely quest for the Gold Medal.
SUPERHEROES - Unflinching, lyrical, and raw, Superheroes tells the story of 13-year old Sammer, a young orphan thief who escapes the mean streets of the Bronx by stealing video cameras and retreating into the documented lives of New York City tourists. When Sammer discovers that not all of the lives he witnesses on the stolen tapes are as bucolic as he imagined, a friendship is born between he and a reclusive older man who has lost his will to live. Sammer is suddenly endowed with a sense of purpose, but when his probation officer learns of his penchant for stealing cameras, Sammer's dreams of escape and redemption may be dashed. The film incorporates footage shot by local youth in conjunction with The LIFT Project. Written and directed by Ed Radtke.h
Finished shooting in New York November 2005 and is currently in post production.
TUMBLEWEEDS - co-written and directed by Gavin, produced by Greg. Winner of the Filmmaker's Trophy at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. Released by Fine Line Features. Actress Janet McTeer won the Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance.
THE SLAUGHTER RULE - co-written and co-directed by Andrew and Alex Smith. Premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. Stars Ryan Gosling and David Morse. Released by Cowboy Pictures in 2003.
THE SMASHING MACHINE - the acclaimed documentary directed by John Hyams, this is the true story of Mark "The Specimen" Kerr, a world champion No Rules Fighter. Premiered on HBO in January of 2003.
MULE SKINNER BLUES - a documentary directed by Stephen Earnhart. Released theatrically by the Sundance Channel in 2002.
MY GENERATION - a documentary directed by Academy Award winner Barbara Kopple. This is a chronicle of the three Woodstock music festivals and their impact on popular culture. Premiered on Starz/Encore in 2001.
CONTACT INFO:
Solaris Entertainment
12 Washington Blvd
2nd Floor
Venice, CA 90292
Tel. 310-591-8845 Fax. 310-591-8847