Fresh off signing domestic and international video deals for their HD horror pic “Cup of My Blood,” Lance Catania and Noel Olken headed to the Cannes Film Market to promote the development slate for their new production shingle Severe Films.
MTI Video of Miami has signed on as domestic distributor for “Cup of My Blood,” with a tentative release date set for Aug. 30.
“They have extensive experience in genre pictures, they distribute to all major venues and promote their films a lot in the trades and genre mags,” said Catania, writer, director, DP and executive producer of the film.
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| Noel Olken |
“They were really excited about our movie,” he said, “and they have the commitment to get publicity for their projects.”
“Cup of My Blood” was a production of X-Ray Productions, the spot house Catania runs with Gene Cosentino, who was also an executive producer. Olken, of Waitergonebad Productions, produced with Ken Nilsson, in association with Duffy Swift’s Indiago Media.
“Cup of My Blood” is the story of a porn photographer (Daniel Patrick Sullivan, “Payback”) who becomes the unlikely guardian of the Holy Grail and faces the onslaught of the forces of evil.
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| Allie Smith in “Cup of My Blood” |
Cast includes Janina Gavankar (“Barbershop”), Circus?Szalewski (“Rockville Slayer”), Roger Anderson, Lance Mulvaney (Olken’s “Slave”), Allie Smith, John Turk (“Mortal Combat Mythologies”) and Darryl Warren (“Return to Me”).
Producers rep Susan Jackson of Santa Monica-based Turtles Crossing (“Cabin Fever”) brokered the deal with MTI, and inked an agreement with international sales agent Shoreline Entertainment of Los Angeles. Shoreline launches its campaign to sell the film oversees at the Cannes Market.
X-Ray retains theatrical and TV rights for “Cup of My Blood.” They plan a theatrical self-release here just prior to the video release. “We’ll see what happens from there,” Catania said. Olken said they’d start looking for a cable deal upon their return from Cannes.
At the market, Catania and Olken will seek production partners and investors for their new company, Severe Films, dedicated to independent genre pictures.
“After a steady diet of commercials and corporate, I’m hankering to shoot another film,” Catania said. “I’d love to be shooting by the end of the year if not sooner, but definitely by next year.”
They’ve optioned Florida horror novelist Edward Lee’s 2004 book “The Messenger” and are collaborating on an adaptation. Also on the slate are the noir thriller “Call Back” and the cabin-in-the-woods chiller “Night Terrors.” Both Severe partners will write and direct for the company.
See www.cupofmyblood.com.
