Success bows with 'Sea'
Co. founded by helmer Bojorquez, de Keratry
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Mexican-run and L.A.-based film production company Success Films is betting on an international strategy as it lines up its first slate of films, emphasizing family fare.
The startup is bucking the system in Mexico by distribbing its first film itself to modest success.
Founded by a young Mexican helmer Jose Bojorquez and businessman Pedro de Keratry, Success released its first film "Sea of Dreams" in Mexico on Nov. 11.
De Keratry has also partnered with veteran producer Robert Katz and the team's first project, in pre-production, is psychological thriller "Recall," scripted by Paul Schrader and to be helmed by Harold Becker.
Duo have bought the rights to children's novel "Martika Galvez: The Jaguar of Uxmel." Soon-to-be-published novel about a mystery-solving Mexican-American girl with mystic powers is billed as being the start of a Latina Nancy Drew series.
Bojorquez's first feature, magic realist-style "Sea of Dreams" is set in Mexico, but filmed in English. Pic stars U.S. thesp Johnathon Schaech, Mexican grande dame Angelica Maria, Sonia Braga and Israeli thesp Sandy Bar.
"We are looking to see if there is a market for a classic Hollywood-type film, without sex, violence and bad language," de Keratry says.
De Keratry joined with TV Azteca's burgeoning distrib venture to put out 168 copies of the film himself.
He built on Azteca's deal with Cinepolis -- forged with the exclusive release of Peruvian toon "Pirates of the Pacific" -- and made deals with Mexico's three other major exhibs: Cinemex, MMCinemas and Cinemark. Pic brought in more than 300,000 people during its first 10 days before Potter fever whittled down the number of copies in its third week to 98.
"There is a very set formula in Mexico when working with distributors and we had to challenge the system," de Keratry says.
He expects the pic to bring in close to $2 million in Mexico.
