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CURRENT PROJECTS •The Great One (feature film) is an script written by Jason Margolis and novelist Todd Babiak (2006 Giller Prize nominee for The Garneau Block and 2011 Leacock Medal for Toby: A Man) On August 9, 1988, Wayne Gretzky announced he was leaving Edmonton to play for the Los Angeles Kings. The press conference is known, only half-jokingly, as "Canada's JFK moment" -- all Canadians remember where they were when they heard the news. Guy is a hapless, hockey-hating journalist on the verge of breaking the story of the decade, if only he could figure out what exactly that story is. Every city loses its Gretzky and every boy becomes a man. In The Great One , it happens on one unforgettable day. The Great One won a fellowship from the Praxis Centre for Screenwriters. It participated in the fall workshops and the summer workshops and readings. The story editors were novelist Peter Behrens (2006 Governor General's Award for fiction) and Guy Bennett (writer and director of Punch). Originally conceived as a teen comedy, The Great One is currently in development as a romantic comedy... about hockey. "I knew this thing would be big. But I had no idea it would be this big.” - Wayne Gretzky, August 10, 1988 NOT SO CURRENT PROJECTS • Choke Hold (feature film), based on the acclaimed novel by Todd Babiak, adapted by Jason Margolis and Todd Babiak, produced by Maureen Prentice of Jump Communications and Paul Stiles of Velocity Entertainment (Brad Fraser's feature Leaving Metropolis). Choke Hold received development support from Telefilm Canada, BC Film, the Harold Greenberg Fund and CityTV. Story editor is Guy Bennett (Punch). The director attached the project was Philip Spink (Voyage Of The Unicorn, Big and Hairy). "Choke Hold is really about the necessity for letting your guard down enough that you can experience life in its entirety, to allow yourself be hurt a little. Babiak is definitely a writer to be reckoned with. Outside of any pride at watching a local writer make good, there’s signs of a real talent that indicate he’ll soon grow beyond any regional smothering." - Tom Murray, See Magazine (May 11, 2000)"I read Catcher In The Rye a long time ago. This is the Canadian version, I mean it." - Darryl Moore, Indigo.ca • Shadow Life a.k.a. Beside Herself (feature film), an award winning screenplay by Jason Margolis. A metaphysical romantic action comedy in the vein of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and Being John Malkovich. Development assistance provided by a fellowship from the Praxis Centre for Screenwriters and IATSE Local 891. Praxis story editor was Peter Behrens (Cadillac Girls). Maureen Prentice and Tyman Stewart (Everyone) were producers. On March 28, 2002, a reading was held for Beside Herself, with participants including Carly Pope ("Popular", Orange County), her brother Kris Pope ("Dark Angel"), Elisabeth Rosen (Babyface, Murder In A Small Town), Mackenzie Gray ("The Net", "So Weird"), Michael Scholar Jr. (Gemini nominee "Street Cents"), Larry Musser ("The X-Files"), and Sara Walker (Housekeeping). |
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