Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on May 16, 2016 10:15:26 GMT -6
variety.com/2016/film/news/lorenzo-di-bonaventura-unified-on-american-violence-1201773945/
Lorenzo di Bonaventura Teams with Unified on ‘American Violence’
Lorenzo di Bonaventura is teaming with Unified Pictures on drama “American Violence,” the first project in Unified’s feature film slate financing fund with Canadian venture firm Victory Square Labs.
The film will be directed by commercial director Johnny Hardstaff from a script by Dan Hannon and Scott Sandler. Di Bonaventura will produce alongside Unified topper Keith Kjarval. Unified’s Tyler Jackson will serve as co-producer.
“American Violence” will center on a social recluse who effortlessly dispatches terrorists who have stormed into a chemical plant and taken hostages. In order to return to his beloved everyday routine, he must undergo psychological evaluation by a doctor who’s surprised by his indifference to the events and fearful of his capabilities with a weapon — leading to a deeper investigation than she expected.
The new fund, announced Saturday at the Cannes Film Festival, will finance production of a minimum of three films per year with budgets of up to $15 million per picture and continue Unified’s content focus on director-driven commercial independent films from new and existing voices as well as opting in to strategic co-production partnerships.
“I couldn’t be more pleased to team up with Unified and Victory Square Labs on ‘American Violence,’ as part of their progressive new venture to fund commercial independent director-driven films and I’m excited by Johnny’s vision for the film,” said di Bonaventura.
Unified, founded in 2004, has produced over 20 films including David Lynch’s “Inland Empire,” David M. Rosenthal’s “A Single Shot,” Clark Gregg’s “Trust Me,” Zachary Sluser’s “The Driftless Area” and William H. Macy’s directorial debut “Rudderless.” Unified premiered “Vincent N Roxxy,” starring Emile Hirsch, Zoë Kravitz, Emory Cohen, and Zoey Deutch, at Tribeca last month and is in post-production on William H. Macy’s “The Layover,” which stars Kate Upton and Alexandra Daddario.
Di Bonaventura Pictures has produced the “Transformers,” “G.I. Joe” and “Red” franchises along with “Salt,” “Side Effects,” “Shooter,” “Jack Ryan” and “The Devil Inside.”
Kjarval, Unified Pictures’ co-founder, said, “Partnering with an amazingly accomplished filmmaker like Lorenzo on ‘American Violence’ is the perfect film to start our new slate.”
The deals for the co-production were done by WME, which is repping the slate and the film.