On the heels of their first collaboration, the female-led, action thrill ride LIGHTS OUT, Arclight Films has inked a development deal with scribes Jeff Byrd and Lamont Magee to create original, feature content.
Arclight Films announced their partnership with Huace Pictures, a subsidiary of Huace Media Group, the largest distributor of media content in China, during AFM, on LIGHTS OUT. Huace Media Group, one of China’s top publicly traded Film/TV financing and production companies, who have made several high profile company acquisitions across Asia, most notably Korean distribution powerhouse NEW, is working with Arclight Films to package the movie.
"A top Chinese actress is in final negotiations on LIGHTS OUT, a movie that embodies all the elements of a successful film for the Chinese and International markets. We believe LIGHTS OUT is shaping up to be a Chinese female superhero franchise that the market has never seen and we are happy to be onboard this ride with Arclight Films, a company that has a real understanding of the Chinese marketplace." Said Jon Chiew, Head of International Film for HUACE Pictures.
"HUACE MEDIA has a relentless pursuit on high quality writing for motion pictures. We are pleased to be working with Jane Wan, VP of HUACE Pictures who produced the Berlin award-winner "Black Coal, Thin Ice" and who provided invaluable input into Jeff and Lamont's script to make it work for the Chinese market,” said Gary Hamilton, Managing Director of Arclight Films “This is what a great creative collaboration of East West should be. We are thrilled."
Within the last year, the Los Angeles born Magee and Brooklyn native Byrd have amassed impressive resumes, as individuals and as a team, a fact not lost on Arclight Films’ Chief Creative Officer, Mike Gabrawy (RESIDENT EVIL, RECLAIM). “Jeff and Lamont’s creative range and versatility make them a tremendous asset to a talented team of filmmakers creating commercially viable feature films that translate into cultures all over the world.
The duo’s talents are not limited to the feature world with Spike Lee disciple Byrd (SEVENTEEN AGAIN, KING’S RANSOM, SOULFOOD) currently in consideration to write and or direct various, top tier, broadcast television shows while writer Magee (THE SPEAK, SINGLE LADIES) has garnered heavy interest this staffing season, especially in the high-concept, genre realm.
The frenetically paced LIGHTS OUT, to be directed by Xavier Gens (HITMAN, FRONTIERS, CRUCIFIXION, THE DIVIDE) follows the plight of Emma Mitchell, a beautiful, twenty-something woman forced to fight for her life when her dilapidated, Louisiana, plantation-styled home is inexplicably targeted by a crew of international gangsters. Regarded as a hero origin story, LIGHTS OUT is currently finalizing deals for its core cast members from a short list of A-List, international talent with the official casting announcements coming in the near future. Lensing for Lights Out begins this summer.
Byrd is repped by Ryan Saul and Jack Leighton at APA and manager, Adam Robinson at The Rookery. Magee is repped by Ryan Saul and Malcolm Hamilton at APA and attorney Matt Rosen from Stone, Meyer, Genow, Smelkinson and Binder.
-Press Release edited by Vanessa McMahon; May 29, 2015- Xavier Gens is represented by Scott Henderson of Paradigm and Bard Dorros of Anonymous Content.