FL takes a 'Tumble'
New Line arm snags rights to O'Connor pic
The dramatic pic, which stars Janet McTeer and Kimberly J. Brown, is about a mother and daughter who take to the road in order to escape an abusive relationship. But when the mother takes up with a new boyfriend, she is tempted to head off again -- much to the dismay of the daughter, who wants to stay put.
Fine Line execs were evidently thrilled by the pic, which was written by O'Connor and Angela Shelton, based on Shelton's childhood memoirs.
" 'Tumbleweeds' is an extraordinary movie, a superb portrayal of the unique bond between parent and child. It's funny without being frivolous, and moving without being sentimental -- and Janet McTeer's performance is phenomenal," said Fine Line Pictures prexy Mark Ordesky.
Compared to 'Shine'
Ordesky compared "Tumbleweeds" to "Shine" in terms of its emotional impact and Oscar-caliber performances. Fine Line is planning a November/December release, beginning with a platform in New York and Los Angeles, with a strong focus on McTeer.
While other distribs sniffed eagerly around the pic, Ordesky swooped to claim it for Fine Line, and was victorious after a marathon 18-hour negotiating session. The studio would confirm only that it made a "seven-figure deal" with the filmmakers, but it's understood that the purchase price was between $1 million and $1.5 million.
Greg O'Connor produced the film, while Ted Demme, Gavin O'Connor, Thomas Mangan IV, Jerry McFadden and Joel Stillerman were exec producers.
Long relationship
The O'Connor brothers have been friends with producer-director Demme ("Rounders") for nearly a dozen years. In fact, Gavin O'Connor wrote the first short film that Demme directed, "The Bet" in 1991.
Gavin O'Connor sent Demme the "Tumbleweeds" script nearly three years ago. Demme tried to set the pic up at a studio, but was told it was too small.
Once McTeer agreed to do the film, the O'Connors found the financing and, with Demme's assistance, put together a crew and did some rewrites.
"It's been an amazing ride for me," Demme told Daily Variety. "In this second half of my career, I've always wanted to produce projects for people I care about or projects I am fond of; and with 'Tumbleweeds' I managed to help get my buddies' movie made and, better yet, it's been bought by the same studio I have a deal with." (Demme's Spanky Pictures has a first-look deal with New Line Cinema.)
Gavin O'Connor previously directed the romantic comedy "Comfortably Numb" for the Shooting Galley and Overseas Film-group.
Attorney Steven Beer repped the filmmakers, and New Line VP of business affairs Andrew Matthews and Ordesky negotiated for the studio.
