Michael Bonvillain To Direct Dark Comedy "Teddy Bears Are For Lovers"

Details: Category: Entertainment News; Published on Friday, 16 February 2018 18:35

Endless Media announced today that Michael Bonvillain, the cinematographer behind numerous hit feature film and TV series such as Cloverfield, Zombieland and "LOST," will direct the darkly comedic horror feature Teddy Bears are for Lovers.

The script was penned by David Ernesto Vendrell, from a story by Vendrell, Matthew Hawksworth and Almog Avidan Antonir, and is based on their award winning short film. The film is set to be Produced by Endless Media and Executive Produced by the legendary Joe Dante (Gremlins, Small Soldiers).

Endless is also in talks with Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop, the Academy Award® winning special effects company, to design and build the malevolent teddy bears and special effects for the film.

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The film, set during a campus-wide Valentine's Day party, follows college playboy Collin and his current head-over-heels girlfriend Sarah as they are targeted by a group of blood thirsty, but adorable teddy bears who come to life seeking revenge for the broken hearts of Collin's ex-girlfriends.

Together, the couple must evade the teddy bears and earn the forgiveness of these begrudged and wildly different ex-girlfriends before the sun rises in order to break the curse — all while confronting whether their current relationship is meant to be.

"It's rare to find a project with the right balance of humor, scares and emotions that can make a film entertaining on so many various levels," says Bonvillain. "This project, which at its heart is a love story, builds so many different layers on top of it to create an absolutely horrifying and hilarious thrill ride that keeps you entertained from start to finish. Having been involved as a cinematographer on a number of great films over the years that blended elements of horror and thriller with comedy, I'm excited to direct a project that I think hits all those notes and is hugely entertaining." Dante added "I was flattered that Endless Media asked me to come on board with them on a really offbeat comedy-horror project that has some affinities with Gremlins, and I'm looking forward to sharing whatever expertise I have in that arena."

Producers and principals at Endless Media, Najeeb Khuda, Gavin Lurie and Andrew Joustra add, "We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Michael and Joe on this incredibly fun film, and cannot wait to bring David's wonderful script to life. Teddy Bears immediately drew us in from page one because it has something that has become increasingly lacking at the multiplex… it's a blast. Taking inspiration from the type of films we grew up with, this film hits every chord of why we love going to the movies: mixing just the right amount of thrills and scares with a fun joyride."

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Bonvillain won a Primetime Emmy Award® for his Cinematography on "Alias," and has since lent his skills to an impressive slate of film and television projects including the upcoming third season of Sundance TV's "Hap and Leonard," HBO's "Westworld," "Lost," Cloverfield, Zombieland, Wanderlust, and American Ultra. Teddy Bears Are for Lovers will mark Bonvillain's feature length directorial debut.

Endless Media and Michael Bonvillain are represented by UTA. Joe Dante is represented by Gersh and Echo Lake Entertainment. David Ernesto Vendrell is represented by Madhouse Entertainment.

ABOUT ENDLESS MEDIA

Endless Media is a dynamic multi-platform content studio creating original content across a multitude of mediums including film, television and VR/AR. With a focus towards making wide appealing content that showcases a variety of genres from diverse filmmakers, Endless Media is at the forefront of building towards the future of the media ecosystem. Endless Media was founded on the basis of transforming the passion of talented filmmakers into quality, imaginative and endlessly entertaining content that has the ability to connect audiences and endure the test of time.