Press Release by Feel Films 02.04.09
SKELLIG, the latest movie by Feel Films & UK commercials director AJ JANKEL, will premiere on SKY 1 Easter Sunday 12th April at 7pm.
Starring big name talent - Tim Roth, Kelly Macdonald, Bill Milner and John Simm. Skellig is the first project to reach the screen from Sky's investment fund committed to original drama in high-definition. The screenplay was adapted from David Almond's multi-award winning and critically acclaimed book. The book is published in thirty territories, and awards include the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year. The film will be theatrically distributed throughout the world after the SKY premier.
JANKEL first exploded onto American and UK television as the co-creator/director of the memorable cyberpunk series, MAX HEADROOM. With partner Rocky Morton she created original and inventive music videos for leading artists leading to numerous awards and the inclusion of their work in the permanent collection at New York's MUSEUM OF MODERN ART. JANKEL and MORTON partnered with David ZANDER in 1991 to form highly successful production company MJZ. JANKEL/MORTON directed many commercials during their partnership winning accolades for brands such as COCA COLA, GM, IBM, AOL, HELLMAN'S, BELL, SPEEDO and for her HALLMARK ‘KISS' campaign JANKEL earned "World's Best Humour Commercial" and "Best Directed Commercial, Best of Show" at the International Broadcast Awards plus GOLD Award for "Best TV Commercial Campaign" at The Worldfest REMI Awards.
The SKELLIG premier is part of the launch of the new SKY commitment to HD original drama.
UNIVERSAL will be releasing the film on DVD in the UK.
SKELLIG PLOT
When a move to a new house coincides with his baby sister's illness, Michael's world suddenly seems lonely and uncertain. Then, one afternoon, he stumbles into the old ramshackle garage at the end of the garden, and finds something that will change his world forever.
Skellig is a strange and extraordinary creature, as ancient as the earth and now mired in a life of nothing and nobody. With the help of his new friend Mina, who teaches him to look at the world through different eyes, Michael nourishes the reluctant Skellig back to health. As his baby sister grows ever more frail in hospital and his parents fade away with her, Michael needs a miracle to hold the family together. When he realises that Skellig may have much more power than he would ever admit to, Michael knows he has to give Skellig back faith in his own power to heal, before it is too late.
CREDITS
Screenplay by Irena Brignull
Directed by AJ Jankel
Produced by Nick Hirschkorn
DoP - Steve Lawes
Production Designer - Maurice Cain
Editor - Peter Christelis
Composer - Stephen Warbeck
Colourist -Mick Vincent, The Mill
Visual effects - The Mill
Sound Design - Zound
Sound Mixing - De Lane Lea
Shot in Cardiff - Sept - Oct ‘08
Shot on High definition Arriflex D21 camera.
BOOK REVIEW EXTRACTS
‘If you want a book that's gripping, beautiful and brilliantly written, give this one a try' (The Sunday Times)
‘A stunning debut' (The Sunday Telegraph)
‘A beautifully written, superbly crafted modern fable' (The Bookseller)
‘A triumphant debut ...prose that is at once eerie, magical and poignant' (Publishers Weekly - starred choice)
FEEL are a growing UK production house with a rosta of 10 directors represented for the UK commercials market. MD/Producer NICK HIRSCHKORN runs the movie side to FEEL that has also produced the kids adventure movie "5 Children & It" directed by FEEL director JOHN STEPHENSON and starring Kenneth Branagh and Eddie Izzard.
Further info contact: Stuart Wrigglesworth or Greg Hemes, Feel Films 020 7612 0666 / stuart@feelme.co.uk or greg@feelfilms.co.uk