Norman opens LA/Mexico office; announces Melbourne studio
Director/producer Matt Norman has partnered with Victorian expat and Camera d’Or winner Michael Rowe to produce films in Mexico, and with producer Alexandra Townsend to raise funding for his US projects and run Wingman Pictures’ Los Angeles office.
The Salute filmmaker also announced that Craig Jansson will head Wingman Pictures Studio 1 in Melbourne, a facility which will give the Wingman “a full in-house production, post-production, finance, sales and distribution company” to complement its slate of projects.
“[Townsend] brings a brilliant energy and a hard working passion for making big budget feature films but is as comfortable with smaller $5-10m projects as well,” said Norman of the appointment. “She is heading the finance of all the American films as well coming on as an EP. Her main responsibility is to manage and facilitate the cashflow, tax incentives, etc.”
“And what I see with Rowe is the fact that Mexican / Spanish Cinema has a great market that is cheap to shoot, has amazing locations and even better stories of real people worthy of a bigger audience. Rowe is heading the Mexico office and apart from his own projects will help bring in other projects from his area,” explained Norman. “He is a smart writer/director; he fits perfectly as a partner and we see Mexico as the perfect place to open another office for non-English speaking films. Michael has already started writing his next masterpiece.”
Norman said that he doesn’t “see much enthusiasm” in Australian funding bodies to get involved with his projects, so he will pursue incentives in Canada, the US and Mexico to shoot films in those countries, and then bring post-production to Wingman Pictures Studio 1.
“If the opportunity arises that Screen Australia funding could work in with our American partners then we will cross that bridge at that time,” he added. “I love Australian talent and know that what we have in this country is a whirlpool of amazing people, which I will use in all aspects of production and post as each project comes up. Using ex-pat Aussies overseas is also something that I will focus on.”
According to Norman, his slate includes 11 projects, ranging from U$5 to $50m.
“Wingman Pictures Studio One (WPSO) is already open and already has a healthy client base. WP will start putting money into upgrading the facilities to manage a sound stage, editing suits and a much bigger D-Control style mixing deck to have the post done completely through the new studio,” added Norman.
His next feature as a director, Scab Girl Asylum, is still in development, with plans for a Queensland shoot.
As I stated, prior…FLY LIKE AN EAGLE…
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