Happy (belated) New Year!
2018 brought more success within our community than ever before. We’ve cherished all our collaborations with you and we’re grateful for all your hard work, dedication, and commitment to sharing your stories with the world.
At Voyage, we open the doors of Hollywood so that we may come together in creating great entertainment. As always, you inspire us in unimaginable ways.
So, let’s look at some highlights and celebrate our accomplishments!
- Nat Mundel & the Voyage Crew
Breakthrough # of Projects Produced & Deals
We are proud to share that Voyage has reached an incredible inflection point, with deal-flow and successful outcomes for projects from our community sustaining an all-time high! Take a look at some of our recent wins, all of which originated from storytellers within our community:
This year we’ve reached an incredible inflection point, with deal flow and successful outcomes for projects from our community reaching an all time high. Take a look at some of your wins from 2018:
ALIVE DAY (Feature) is based on the novel “Six Days to Zeus” by Samuel Hill. Screenplay by Voyage’s own Kathleen McLaughlin - now being produced in partnership with Oscar-nominated Mike Medavoy (BLACK SWAN, ALTERED CARBON) and with Phillip Noyce (SALT, REVENGE, CLEAR & PRESENTDANGER) attached to direct.
The story is based on the life of a top Special Operations commander who loses his entire team in a friendly fire incident that leaves his body wrecked, but finds himself facing a court martial and a life back home that is falling apart.
Check out the story in the trades here:
Variety Magazine Article
CHANCE
Feature by Michael Daly, starring Matthew Modine (STRANGER THINGS, FULL METAL JACKET) and directed by Voyage’s own John Crye and now in postproduction.
The tragic true story of teen suicide, bullying, set in the context of youth baseball.
500 MILES TO NOWHEREFeature by Fred Eason, now being produced in partnership with Shaun Redick (BLACKKKLANSMAN, GET OUT). In the 1880’s, Bass Reeves, the country’s first black U.S. Marshal, goes after dangerous outlaws who attempt to hide out in Indian Territory.
ON FLEEK
TV reality show by Alyx Baranow in partnership with Voyage producer Whitney Beatty, now being produced.
Nicole Jackson (star of BLACK INK) moves to Austin for the summer to help get her microblading salon off the ground. But between an estranged ex, her child, and Nicole’s own topsy-turvey life, this will definitely be a summer to remember!
MY DADDY IS IN HEAVEN (Feature) Based on the children’s book by Rebecca Crownover, released in March to hit the #1 spot on Amazon and now streaming on Netflix. The story follows a young girl who learns to accept the death of her father in a tragic accident through her faith in Jesus and her relationship with her mother. Based on a true story.
DEIRDRE OF THE SORROWS
(Feature) By Richard Lyons, now being produced with Keith Clarke (BEN HUR, THE WAY BACK) providing a rewrite.
Set in 500 A.D, the story is about a young maiden is the prisoner of a prophecy that foretells that she has the power to unite Ireland and is caught in a love triangle with a suitor of her age and an older warlike regional King to whom she was bequeathed.
LONG SHOT Feature by Sylvia Harris in collaboration with Voyage Producer Jesse Israel, and written by Dmitry Portnoy (SAINT JUDY). An African-American woman who has struggled for years with mental illness and homelessness becomes the first black female horse racing jockey to win a major race.
HIS SUNRISE, MY SUNSET Feature byJan Hurst and written by Voyage’s own Dan Benamor, completed production in early 2018 and soon to be released!The story: After the death of her husband, a woman finds solace in her faith and a widow’s group.
LIFE AT 120
Feature by Linda Collison with financing in place and moving into pre-production.
The Story: Meeting again for a deceased teammate's "ash dive," three middle-aged skydivers recall a fateful contest during the golden age of their sport.
COWBOYS, ARMAGEDDON, AND THE TRUTH Feature by Scott Terry in collaboration with Voyage Producer Kathleen McLaughlin – partially financed and moving into pre-production. A rebellious child runs away from his abusive life and transforms the lies of his past into his joy and acceptance of his gay life.
SEAL WITH A KISS Feature by Joe Putnam, in partnership with Voyage producer Aaron Mendelsohn. Two young scientists living in St. Petersburg, Russia, rescue a baby ringed seal named Hita, facing certain death. Against amazing odds—environmental, social, financial and political— they not only saved Hita, but established and influenced rescue operations for an entire species.
MOSES OF WALL STREET Feature by Ron Tank, in partnership with Voyage producer Brad Luff. Based on the non-fiction, non-narrative self-help book detailing a method of investing in the U.S. stock market based on the author’s interpretation of Christian scripture.
EVER FAITHFUL, EVER LOYAL
Feature by Timothy Alexander, Tim Stephens and Thomas Brew, being produced in partnership with Voyage producer, Jesse Israel.
A student at the University of Alabama-Birmingham becomes the first paraplegic to earn a Division I-A football scholarship.
Voyage in the News!
In addition to the Voyage story in Variety our platform has been featured quite a bit in the news, including on Broadcasting Cable News and Student Filmmakers.
We’re also proud to announce our new joint venture with Impossible Dream Entertainment & Fortress films to develop and finance prestige independent films from the Voyage community. The partnership pairs Voyage’s extraordinary development track record with the production prowess of IDE’s Shaun Redick (GET OUT, THE BLACK KLANSMAN[i2] , BAND AID) and Fortress Films’ Patrick Rizotti (MALICIOUS, THE SUPER). Both IDE and Fortress have private equity backed financing.
Finally, we had an incredible time at ourIGNITE! 4.0 workshop, hosting thirty special storytellers and producers to collaborate and create market-ready projects. At our charity gala dinner, we raised money for our non-profit partners, Young Storytellers, which uses the timeless techniques of mentoring, collaboration, and performance to provide public school students with an opportunity to write stories and see them brought to life.
A big and wonderful surprise came out of our IGNITE!weekend: an anonymous donor established the first ever Voyage scholarship, that provides deserving storytellers with financial assistance to gain access to high level mentor-ship and develop their stories for market.
We’re always astounded with what comes out of those special weekends and what’s possible when you connect like-minded people all working toward a common goal!
Our All-Star Team
Now, let’s take a moment to acknowledge some of the recent awesome work of our producers and writers...
Fox: Voyage Producer Kathleen Mclaughlin’s pilot turned series, THE RESIDENT, that she worked on with Phillip Noyce (SALT, THE BONE COLLECTOR) is now airing on Fox!
Freeform: Voyage's SVP of Originals, Brad Luff, is executive producing SIRENS, which was just picked up for a second season.
CAA: Voyage producer Dan Benamor recently signed with CAA, with his pilot SAVAGE, NEBRASKAcurrently making the rounds.
Lifetime: Voyage Producer Regina Lee sold a TV movie in the supernatural thriller genre to Marvista Entertainment/Lifetime Movie.
Pongalo: A digital media company, where Voyage Producer Daniel Schnider is the GM, raised nearly ¾ quarters of a million dollars on equity crowdfunding platform SeedInvest.
Apple TV: Voyage Producer Aaron Mendelsohn was recently hired to write for a TV show on Apple. Details cannot yet be released.
DELIVERED: Brad Luff, SVP of Originals, is producing this feature film with Shaun Redick (GET OUT, RED SKY). Toby Oliver (GET OUT, INSIDIOUS) is set to direct. Entering production the first quarter of 2019.
Netflix: Voyage Producer & Writer Dan Benamor wrote on the second season of the Netflix Original Series ROMAN EMPIRE: REIGN OF BLOOD
The Hallmark Channel: Voyage Producer Aaron Mendelsohn's movie LIKE CATS AND DOGS aired on the Hallmark Channel in the spring. Check it out on a TV near you!
CHANCE: Voyage producer John Crye’s feature film CHANCE, starring Matthew Modine, Tanner Buchanan and Amanda Leighton, is set to be released in 2019.
SPARE ROOM: Voyage Producer & Writer Dan Bemamor wrote the indie feature SPARE ROOMstarring Martin Sensmeier (THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN) and Skyler Samuels (SCREAM QUEENS) - the film is currently in post production.
IFC Films: Voyage Producer Charlsey Adkins's filmWALKING OUT was in competition at Sundance & SXSW and then was acquired by IFC (THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY starring Dev Patel, DEALT, QUEEN OF THE DESERT starring Nicole Kidman)
Reel One Entertainment: Voyage Producer Adam Fratto is now the Senior Vice President of Scripted Series at Reel One
Participant Media: Voyage Producer Miura Kite is now the Senior Vice President of Narrative TV at Participant
We're also pleased to introduce some new faces to our team...
Mimi Dwyer, Director of Client Support
Mimi studied filmmaking at Columbia College in Chicago and has extensive production experience working on features and episodic television. Before becoming part of Voyage, Mimi was working on shows such as The Mentalist,
Desperate Housewives, and The O.C. Fun fact: Mimi is training for a marathon in 2019 with her running group!
Caitlyn Engler, Client Care Specialist
Caitlyn has worked within the entertainment industry for over 8 years. While she initially entered the industry as a performer, she has spent time working in both casting and for talent agencies. She is very excited to be contributing to the Voyage team and enjoys being part of the process. Fun fact: She lived in Malaysia for 6 months, where she discovered a love for meditation.
And the talented producers recently added to our ever growing team...
Wendie Margolis - Wendie is an independent producer and former studio executive with extensive development and production experience. She spent more than 14 years as an executive at Columbia Pictures, Universal Pictures, and Walt Disney Pictures. She has worked on projects like THE KARATE KID, GHOSTBUSTERS, BLUE THUNDER, OUT OF AFRICA, A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN and CINDERELLA STORY.
Annie Girard - Annie is a producer, writer, and performer who’s worked with major and independent studios including Disney, Comedy Central, Warner Brothers, Dreamworks TV, HGTV, and MTV with a focus on live action and animated comedy content for kids of all ages. Annie is known for her work on Disney’s CLUB PENGUIN, DONALD DUCK’S THREE CABALLEROS, and MOM TESTED.
Daniel Forcey- Dan ran development for Platinum Studios for nearly a decade, spearheading studio projects like COWBOYS & ALIENS, indie films like DYLAN DOG: DEAD OF THE NIGHT and television series like Showtime's JEREMIAH. He has also served as a consultant for Arcana Studios, overseeing both their animated and live-action projects, works as a consultant for Drama 3/4, and is partnered with Big Machine on a slate of films designed as Chinese co-productions.
Kris Hughes- Kris has over 10 years of experience developing, producing and writing children’s entertainment for independent studios as well as big networks such as Nickelodeon, Nick Jr and Netflix. Kris started her career as a sitcom writer for shows such as The Drew Carey Show and Freddie and continues to write and produce animated children’s content for several major studios.
Robert Mitas- Robert is a film producer and screenwriter. Robert ran Furthur Films, the production company of Academy Award-winning actor/producer Michael Douglas from 2010-2017.His producing credits include FLATLINERS (2017), BEYOND THE REACH (2015), and WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE (2018). Robert will also executive produce the upcoming Netflix series RATCHED (2019), based on the iconic film ONE FLEW OVER THE CUKOO’S NEST.
Tom Butterfield-
Tom is a Producer and Production Executive working in both the UK and US film industries. He has worked at companies both in Los Angeles and London including Zide/Perry (Producers of American Pie and Final Destination franchises); UK Film Council and Content Media. Some of his credits include Man on Wire, Beyond the Gates, Adulthood, Fish Tank, Red Road, Welcome to Me, London Town, An Actor Prepares and The Vault.
Cheers to 2018!