Arclight Films International Pty Ltd. (“Arclight”) and Singapore’s IFS Capital Limited (“IFS”) are set to sign a financing deal for “Mental”. This is the second feature film collaboration between Arclight and IFS.
The eagerly anticipated international production “Mental” is set to shoot midsummer 2011 in Australia. “Muriel’s Wedding” (1994) director P.J. Hogan and star Toni Collette are reuniting for “Mental”, which Variety says is “about a charismatic, crazy hothead who transforms a family’s life when she becomes the nanny of five girls.”
Hogan also wrote the script, inspired by his own experiences. “Like ‘Muriel’s Wedding’, ‘Mental’ is a comedy, but a comedy based on reality, laced with pain and brimming with flawed but lovable characters. Shaz (the central character) was hilarious, outrageous, dangerous, courageous, inspiring, heartbreaking and totally, totally mad. And she changed my life,” Hogan said.
Jerry Zucker (“Airplane”, “Naked Gun”, “My Best Friend’s Wedding”) and Janet Zucker (“First Knight”) will produce “Mental” along with Todd Fellman and Jocelyn Moorhouse. Arclight’s Gary Hamilton will serve as the picture’s executive producer.
Hamilton, Arclight’s managing director, in summing up the combination, observed that “Pairing P.J. Hogan, one of Australia’s most accomplished directors, with Toni Collette, an actress who is equally adept at drama and comedy and one who has achieved both commercial and critical success with equal facility, presents a rare and wonderful opportunity to make a picture that is destined to be both artistically important and a hit at the box office.”
According to an IFS spokesperson, “We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to fund this film project with Arclight. Teaming up with Arclight positions IFS to strategically explore the international co-production space. We see ourselves playing a pivotal role as a premiere financier for international co-productions such as ‘33 Postcards’ and ‘Mental’. In Arclight we have found a good partner to do so.”
Arclight will handle sales outside of the United States, while Los Angeles-based Creative Artists Agency will handle United States rights.