Nascent digital platform Blackpills is in the midst of launching the first pieces of its original programming slate, and while it rolls out fresh content, it is also lining up more projects for the future. The distribution platform has teamed up with director/producer Stephan Zlotescu and studios Ground Control and H1FILMS for a quintet of science fiction projects that will arrive in 2018.
The five films will hit on well-tread sci-fi themes like post-apocalyptic life, zombies, transhumanism, and artificial intelligence. Zlotescu will direct two of the five projects and will serve as an executive producer on the other three through his company, Punk City.
“We always aim to create work that pushes the traditional boundaries,” said Scott Glassgold, founder of Ground Control, in a press release. “Blackpills completely shares and supports that vision and gives us the autonomy to create and produce content at a very high standard.”
Zlotescu...
The five films will hit on well-tread sci-fi themes like post-apocalyptic life, zombies, transhumanism, and artificial intelligence. Zlotescu will direct two of the five projects and will serve as an executive producer on the other three through his company, Punk City.
“We always aim to create work that pushes the traditional boundaries,” said Scott Glassgold, founder of Ground Control, in a press release. “Blackpills completely shares and supports that vision and gives us the autonomy to create and produce content at a very high standard.”
Zlotescu...
- 7/17/2017
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Tonight's edition of Hit Me With Your Best Shot is our annual short film episode. The genre is sci-fi but we're looking at two trippy but altogether unalike films.
The first is True Skin (2012) which has rather extraordinary visual effects considering it comes from the Diy world of short filmmaking. It was once earmarked for the feature film treatment but when that didn't work out earlier this year Amazon snatched it up to develop into a TV series. The second film is recent Oscar nominee World of Tomorrow (2015) from animation legend Don Hertzfeld. (His career being Oscarless is just not right.) Lets look at the "Best Shots" as chosen by your host and the volunteer panelists elsewhere after the jump. ...
The first is True Skin (2012) which has rather extraordinary visual effects considering it comes from the Diy world of short filmmaking. It was once earmarked for the feature film treatment but when that didn't work out earlier this year Amazon snatched it up to develop into a TV series. The second film is recent Oscar nominee World of Tomorrow (2015) from animation legend Don Hertzfeld. (His career being Oscarless is just not right.) Lets look at the "Best Shots" as chosen by your host and the volunteer panelists elsewhere after the jump. ...
- 5/11/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
With technology growing by leaps and bounds, it's only going to be a matter of time before some scientist somewhere concocts some mad plan to take human beings and make them... "better." Who knows? Maybe it's time we had an overhaul.
According to Variety, Tucker Parsons has been set to adapt the Warner Bros. sci-fi pic True Skin based on the short film helmed by Stephan Zlotescu set in the near future where augmentation is the way of life. Zlotescu is also expected to direct this version as well.
Jeff Clifford will produce with John Fischer overseeing for Heyday Films along with Raymond Brothers and Scott Glassgold of Iam Entertainment. Jon Berg will oversee for the studio. This one may or may not be within our wheelhouse, but we'll keep an eye on things and keep you posted if need be. In the interim check out the aforementioned short film below.
According to Variety, Tucker Parsons has been set to adapt the Warner Bros. sci-fi pic True Skin based on the short film helmed by Stephan Zlotescu set in the near future where augmentation is the way of life. Zlotescu is also expected to direct this version as well.
Jeff Clifford will produce with John Fischer overseeing for Heyday Films along with Raymond Brothers and Scott Glassgold of Iam Entertainment. Jon Berg will oversee for the studio. This one may or may not be within our wheelhouse, but we'll keep an eye on things and keep you posted if need be. In the interim check out the aforementioned short film below.
- 4/2/2013
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Tucker Parsons has been tapped by Warner Bros to write a script for True Skin. The flick is based on a short film directed Stephan Zlotescu, who will most likely also direct the full length feature.
Per Variety the film is “set in the near future where augmentation is the way of life.”
That’s not much to go on is it?
Parsons most recently wrote the blacklisted spec script for Whalemen, which has a slightly more detailed synopsis:
Whalemen follows the leader of a 14th century Scottish whaling village who must seek out and do battle with a whale many times larger than any he has seen in order to ransom back his son from the occupying English.
Source: Variety...
Per Variety the film is “set in the near future where augmentation is the way of life.”
That’s not much to go on is it?
Parsons most recently wrote the blacklisted spec script for Whalemen, which has a slightly more detailed synopsis:
Whalemen follows the leader of a 14th century Scottish whaling village who must seek out and do battle with a whale many times larger than any he has seen in order to ransom back his son from the occupying English.
Source: Variety...
- 4/2/2013
- by Philip Sticco
- LRMonline.com
Exclusive: Here’s the new Viewfinder List, the entertainment industry survey which polls studio executives, producers and creatives for their top 10 short films, commercials and/or music videos. This is similar to The Black List, as the Viewfinder List honors short form content and the directors who made them. The list was created by Jeff Schroeder (Brain Farm), Aaron Schmidt (Langley Park Pictures) and Patrick Chu (FilmNation). In recent years, some of the shorts got optioned and some of their directors got jobs and in this day and age, it all helps. Some of these have already been lined up for feature treatment, including the top two films on this year’s list. Here is the website for the full list: 26 Votes: True Skin, directed by Stephan Zlotescu (Short) Agent: CAA: Iam Entertainment – Scott Glassgold. Set up at Warner Bros with David Heyman’s Heyday producing. 22 Votes: Archetype, directed by...
- 12/14/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING JR.
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: Here’s the new Viewfinder List, the entertainment industry survey which polls studio executives, producers and creatives for their top 10 short films, commercials and/or music videos. This is similar to The Black List, as the Viewfinder List honors short form content and the directors who made them. The list was created by Jeff Schroeder (Brain Farm), Aaron Schmidt (Langley Park Pictures) and Patrick Chu (FilmNation). In recent years, some of the shorts got optioned and some of their directors got jobs and in this day and age, it all helps. Some of these have already been lined up for feature treatment, including the top two films on this year’s list. Here is the website for the full list: 26 Votes: True Skin, directed by Stephan Zlotescu (Short) Agent: CAA: Iam Entertainment – Scott Glassgold. Set up at Warner Bros with David Heyman’s Heyday producing. 22 Votes: Archetype, directed by...
- 12/14/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING JR.
- Deadline
Music video directors making features are pretty hit and miss. For every David Fincher, Spike Jonze, or even Michael Bay, there’s a dozen or so video directors who never quite seem to make the leap (we’re still waiting on the masterful Chris Cunningham to make his feature debut, hey Chris!). However, it looks as if a regular Lady Gaga and Beyonce music video director, Stephan Zlotescu, will be trying next, only he’s already caught the attention of a major studio. Warner Bros. has snapped up “True Skin” (via The Wrap), which is a science fiction short that sent Hollywood studios and producers into a bidding war when it debuted online two weeks ago, with WB coming out on top. Zlotescu, will also be helming the feature-length version of the film – which centers on a near-future world where humans undergo procedures to improve their bodies by having doctors...
- 10/19/2012
- by Benjamin Wright
- The Playlist
Another day, another short film has landed its director a Hollywood payday. I’m telling you – if you want to break into the biz, make a short sci-fi movie. Hollywood can’t get enough of them. Stephan Zlotescu is the latest guy to see his indie sci-fi short catch the attention of a major studio. Zlotescu made his name doing FX for a bunch of music videos for acts like Lady Gaga and Kanye West, but in his spare time he shot an indie quickie entitled True Skin. The short, as /Film’s Russ Fischer points out, looks a lot like Blade Runner crossed with video game Deus Ex (particularly last year’s Deus Ex: Human Revolution). It’s about a dystopian future where body augmentations are all the rage – and have led to a treacherous black market for...
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- 10/19/2012
- by Mike Bracken
- Movies.com
The internet truly has become a viable starting gate for future filmmakers.
Warner Bros. has just picked up the feature film rights to True Skin, a sci-fi short film that just hit the web last week.
David Heyman, producer of the Harry Potter franchise, will oversee the project.
Stephan Zlotescu, director of the short, is signed on to make his feature directorial debut. He started off as a visual effects artist, working on popular music videos for people like Lady Gaga and Kanye West.
THR describes the plot:
“The short is set in the not-too-distant future where everyone is augmenting their bodies. The story’s hero can’t afford to augment in the U.S., so he heads to the black market of Bangkok, where he gets hold of a mysterious chip that he discovers is slowly turning him robotic — and is a hot commodity wanted by shadowy forces.”
Always...
Warner Bros. has just picked up the feature film rights to True Skin, a sci-fi short film that just hit the web last week.
David Heyman, producer of the Harry Potter franchise, will oversee the project.
Stephan Zlotescu, director of the short, is signed on to make his feature directorial debut. He started off as a visual effects artist, working on popular music videos for people like Lady Gaga and Kanye West.
THR describes the plot:
“The short is set in the not-too-distant future where everyone is augmenting their bodies. The story’s hero can’t afford to augment in the U.S., so he heads to the black market of Bangkok, where he gets hold of a mysterious chip that he discovers is slowly turning him robotic — and is a hot commodity wanted by shadowy forces.”
Always...
- 10/19/2012
- by Matt Granados
- LRMonline.com
Up-and-coming director Stephan Zlotescu and N1ON have just released a new sci-fi short film called True Skin.
Shot completely in Bangkok, the story takes place in a gloomy, not-so-distant future where humans regularly enhance themselves with robotic body parts. Check out the video below to get a better sense of Zlotescu’s fully developed CG world:
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Harry Potter series producer David Heyman will produce the big screen version of the film, along with Scott Glassgold and Raymond Brothers. The short’s director will also helm the feature version of True Skin, while the short’s producer, Chris Sewall, will serve as a co-producer.
THR claims:
“the studio hopes to make a project that has an underlying big concept but on budget similar to found footage sci-fi hit Chronicle. The short is set in the not-too-distant future where everyone is augmenting their bodies. The story...
Shot completely in Bangkok, the story takes place in a gloomy, not-so-distant future where humans regularly enhance themselves with robotic body parts. Check out the video below to get a better sense of Zlotescu’s fully developed CG world:
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Harry Potter series producer David Heyman will produce the big screen version of the film, along with Scott Glassgold and Raymond Brothers. The short’s director will also helm the feature version of True Skin, while the short’s producer, Chris Sewall, will serve as a co-producer.
THR claims:
“the studio hopes to make a project that has an underlying big concept but on budget similar to found footage sci-fi hit Chronicle. The short is set in the not-too-distant future where everyone is augmenting their bodies. The story...
- 10/18/2012
- by Vesna Sunrider
- Filmofilia
Well, it worked. Director and special effects master Stephan Zlotescu made a great little sci-fi short film called True Skin not too long ago in hopes to get a feature film deal out of it to launch his filmmaking career, and he got it! Warner Bros. acquired the project less than a week after the short popped up online.
The studio has brought on Harry Potter producer David Heyman to produce the project. As for Zlotescu, he will get to direct the feature film, and his partner Chris Sewall will be a co-producer.
The short is set in the not-too-distant future where everyone is augmenting their bodies. The story’s hero can't afford to augment in the U.S., so he heads to the black market of Bangkok where he gets a hold of a mysterious chip that he discovers is slowly turning him robotic -- and is a hot commodity wanted by shadowy forces.
The studio has brought on Harry Potter producer David Heyman to produce the project. As for Zlotescu, he will get to direct the feature film, and his partner Chris Sewall will be a co-producer.
The short is set in the not-too-distant future where everyone is augmenting their bodies. The story’s hero can't afford to augment in the U.S., so he heads to the black market of Bangkok where he gets a hold of a mysterious chip that he discovers is slowly turning him robotic -- and is a hot commodity wanted by shadowy forces.
- 10/17/2012
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Just as Alex predicted exactly one week ago in his write-up of Stephan Zloetescu's mesmerizing short sci-fi film True Skin, THR reports that Warner Bros. has snagged the rights and will turn the project into a full feature. Zloetescu, who wrote and directed the original short, is set to direct this version as well, and Chris Sewall, who produced the short, will be a co-producer on the feature, too. The story is set in a Blade Runner-esque world where everyone purchases robotic body parts and shuns "naturals," following a man who implants a dangerous prototype into his head and goes on the run from those who want it back. Watch! Check out the original True Skin short film in high def from Vimeo: The design work is fantastic, especially for a small budget, so imagine how amazing this will look when the filmmakers are given a few million dollars to work with.
- 10/17/2012
- by Ben Pearson
- firstshowing.net
Warner Bros. has snapped up "True Skin," a science fiction short that sent Hollywood studios and producers in hot pursuit since its debut online a week ago, two individuals with knowledge of the deal told TheWrap. Stephan Zlotescu, a music-video director for Lady Gaga, Kanye West and Beyonce, directed the short. Set in the near future, it depicts a world in which humans undergo procedures to improve their bodies with doctors replacing body parts with mechanized pieces. The main character travels to Bangkok to pay a cheaper fee on the black market,...
- 10/17/2012
- by Lucas Shaw
- The Wrap
Warner Bros. Pictures and producer David Heyman's Heyday Films have scored the feature film rights to Stephan Zlotescu's sci-fi short film turned viral sensation "True Skin" says Heat Vision.
Zlotescu was an FX genius who has worked on countless music videos and pulled together this near-future set short about a time when people are augmenting their bodies.
The protagonist heads to a Bangkok black market to get a hold of a mysterious chip that he discovers is slowly turning him robotic.
The feature will incorporate those elements into a story that has him racing against time to not only elude shadowy forces in pursuit of the chip, but to save what's left of his humanity.
Zlotescu is attached to direct the feature version, while Heyman, Scott Glassgold and Raymond Brothers will produce.
Zlotescu was an FX genius who has worked on countless music videos and pulled together this near-future set short about a time when people are augmenting their bodies.
The protagonist heads to a Bangkok black market to get a hold of a mysterious chip that he discovers is slowly turning him robotic.
The feature will incorporate those elements into a story that has him racing against time to not only elude shadowy forces in pursuit of the chip, but to save what's left of his humanity.
Zlotescu is attached to direct the feature version, while Heyman, Scott Glassgold and Raymond Brothers will produce.
- 10/17/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Stephan Zlotescu's short film, True Skin , is planned for development into a feature. The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Warner Bros. has picked up the rights and attached Zlotescu to direct. The short, which you can check out in the player below, is officially described as follows: "True Skin" is a sci-fi short set in the not too distant future where augmentation is the way of life. For Kaye, still a natural, augmenting will help him keep pace in this now hyper-paced world. However, after acquiring an off-market prototype, Kaye quickly finds himself fighting not only for his own humanity, but something much larger. David Heyman (the Harry Potter franchise) will produce alongside Raymond Brothers, Scott Glassgold and the original short's Chris Sewall....
- 10/17/2012
- Comingsoon.net
Less than a week after the sci-fi short True Skin hit the web, Warner Bros. has pre-emptively swiped it off the table, picking it up for Harry Potter’s David Heyman to produce. He will produce with his Warners-based Heyday Films president Jeffrey Clifford along with Scott Glassgold and Raymond Brothers of Iam Entertainment. Video: Hot Short 'True Skin' Grabbing Hollywood's Attention Stephan Zlotescu, who directed the short, is attached to direct the feature version; Chris Sewall, the short's producer, will be a co-producer. The deal was made Tuesday night. Zlotescu is an FX guru who has
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- 10/17/2012
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It's not the surest path to get Hollywood studio attention, but, in recent years, several filmmakers have made short films that went viral (some we featured), and got Hollywood's attention. A few of those shorts have gone on to become feature length films. Here's the latest one that, according to several reports, has Hollywood on the hunt. Titled True Skin, it's a 6-minute sci-fi film directed by Stephan Zlotescu‘s, whose manager says that “industry response has been insane,” five days after the full film was uploaded to the web, and attracted some 230,000 plays in that short time. “Within hours of release, we were receiving calls from...
- 10/16/2012
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
written and directed by Stephan Zlotescu, this new sci-fi short, entitled True Skin, is reminiscent of Blade Runner with hints of Minority Report and other staples of the genre with top notch cinematography, editing, and effects. The story of a cyborg-induced world where people interchange their human parts for robotic ones, thereby enhancing them into "living computers" is a very cool concept and one that could very well be a peek into our not-too-distant future. It's a really...
- 10/16/2012
- by Paul Shirey
- JoBlo.com
Here's an awesome short film called True Skin that was made to help launch a feature film adaptation. The movie is a sci-fi story directed by Stephan Zlotescu that's about robotic augmentation. Zlotescu is apparently a special effects wizard that's worked on music videos for Kanye West, Lady Gaga and Nikki Minaj.
According to THR, "the action is set in the not-too distant future where everyone is augmenting their bodies. The story’s hero can't afford to augment in the U.S. so heads to the black market of Bangkok where he gets a hold of a mysterious chip that he discovers is not only slowly turning him robotic but is also a hot commodity wanted by shadowy forces. Jumping off the short, the hero faces a race against time to elude his pursuers and save what's left of his humanity."
Since the director is already a master with special...
According to THR, "the action is set in the not-too distant future where everyone is augmenting their bodies. The story’s hero can't afford to augment in the U.S. so heads to the black market of Bangkok where he gets a hold of a mysterious chip that he discovers is not only slowly turning him robotic but is also a hot commodity wanted by shadowy forces. Jumping off the short, the hero faces a race against time to elude his pursuers and save what's left of his humanity."
Since the director is already a master with special...
- 10/10/2012
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
"It's all about the parts - and everyone wants them." Time to note that name - Stephan Zlotescu, also known as "H1". He's a talented filmmaker on the rise, about to break out in Hollywood, and his debut is this vibrant sci-fi short film which has already sparked a bidding war (via THR). The short is titled True Skin, a study of the future augmented world. We first featured the trailer for it back in March this year. The full six minute short film has debuted and it's a must-watch, for any/every sci-fi fan out there. It kind of reminds me of Blade Runner, but refreshed for 2012. Stunning work. Even Roger Ebert praised the short on his blog. Watch the full short film True Skin, written & directed by Stephan Zlotescu, in high def from Vimeo: True Skin – A sci-fi short set in the not too distant future where augmentation...
- 10/10/2012
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
True Skin, a sci-fi short about robotic augmentation designed to launch a feature version, was officially unveiled this morning but it has been generating plenty of buzz beforehand. In fact, when a trailer for the short hit in April, cyberpunk author William Gibson praised it while agencies and producers all inquired to see the short. It wasn't ready then but it is now. Story: Chronicle Director Josh Trenk on His Surprising Success and Possible Sequel Directed by Stephan Zlotescu, the action is set in the not-too distant future where everyone is augmenting their bodies. The story’s hero can't
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- 10/10/2012
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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