Acquiring a cinematic distribution deal in the USA is really
tough. Doing this all the way from South Africa is nearly impossible.
Leading Lady, the
latest title from Dark Matter Studios, achieved exactly that within three weeks
before its SA theatrical release on November 28, 2014. The producers look back
at the challenging road to attain a summer holiday release in the US; remembering their 24 hour pursuit in
motels, hotels and youth hostels around the globe to give this film the
opportunities it truly deserves.
After a successful reception at the Seattle International
Film Festival, the producers swiped their credit cards to kick down doors in Los
Angeles which hosts more than 10 million hopefuls, with a tiny percentage that
they ever get to see their films on the big screen, yet the South African
spirit prevailed.
Leading Lady was
represented by Jon Bonnell from Summer Hill Films and the USA rights were sold
to Freestyle Releasing – a reputable distribution company in the USA behind
mini and major studio films.
The film tells the story of an idealistic British drama
school teacher (Jodi Rutherford) who persuades an initially reserved and rather
dour South African farmer (Kobus Willemse) to prepare her for the role in a
major film as an Afrikaans war heroine. In return, Jodi undertakes to organize
and direct the annual concert on the Willemse farm.
Jodi’s interaction with the quirky small-town citizens and stubborn
Kobus teaches her that there is more to life than “lights, camera … action!” Or
is there …?
Leading Lady,
starring Jurassic World’s Katie McGrath, Ally
McBeal’s Gil Bellows and South African Alpha Boer, Bok van Blerk, will
release in South Africa on November 28 and, as from today, in the USA summer
holiday in 2015. Other territories are now hot on the Leading Lady trail to syndicate the rights for their respective
countries.
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