Terrence Malick Producer Nicolas Ginda to Team with Academy Award and Grammy Winning Musician Ryan Bingham on Comedy Drama “A Country Called Home”

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Category: Entertainment News

Published on Thursday, 12 December 2013 06:17

LOS ANGELES, CA – Producer Nicolas Gonda (THE TREE OF LIFE, TO THE WONDER), best known for his collaborations with Oscar® Nominated Director Terrence Malick, confirmed that he will be producing the forthcoming indie comedy-drama A COUNTRY CALLED HOME. The film will star rising actress Imogen Poots (BEAUTIFUL RUINS, NEED FOR SPEED, GREETINGS FROM TIM BUCKLEY) in the title role.

Award-winning musician Ryan Bingham (CRAZY HEART, FX’s “The Bridge”) set to curate the Original Soundtrack and Score. The effort marks Bingham’s first experience producing a feature’s music in its entirety, with his most recent musical contribution to a film resulting in Oscar®, Golden Globe®, & Grammy® award wins for the singer/songwriter. A COUNTRY CALLED HOME will be the full-length directorial and screenplay debut of writer-director Anna Axster.

A COUNTRY CALLED HOME is the story of Ellie, a young woman that finds her jaded world unexpectedly shaken when the news of her estranged father’s death forces the 27-year old to reexamine her place in life and confront what happens when the structures and safety nets we build for ourselves come undone. 

In what all begins with a small unassuming town in Texas that initially feels completely foreign to her, Ellie is taken on an unforgettable, often humorous, journey of redefining her path in life whilst learning the incredible beauty that can be found through the art of letting go. A COUNTRY CALLED HOME is a film about forgiveness, family and navigating the blurry lines between being an adult and growing up.

While Axster may be a new face in the filmmaking world, a noteworthy indication of the project’s exciting potential is evidenced by the enthusiastic support of producer Nicolas Gonda. After reading the screenplay and hearing Axster’s vision for bringing the film to life, the lauded producer – recently named one of INDIEWIRE’s ‘Influencers’ and VARIETY’s ‘10 Producers to Watch’ – chose to make the project one of his own, signing on as the main producer. Axster’s own background includes work in short films, music videos, and commercials, including directing all of Ryan Bingham’s music videos.

Further adding to the project’s allure is the casting of up & coming actress Imogen Poots in the lead role of “Ellie,” who will be exciting for audiences to connect and relate with on screen while experiencing her character’s poignant journey. The talented Poots is already poised to emerge as one of next year’s breakout stars, with an impressive list of projects coming up that include Todd Field’s BEAUTIFUL RUINS, Terrence Malick’s KNIGHT OF CUPS, Aaron Paul’s NEED FOR SPEED, Peter Bogdanovich’s SQUIRRELS TO THE NUTS, the Jimi Hendrix biopic ALL IS BY SIDE, and romantic comedy THAT AWKWARD MOMENT.

Music will serve a crucial role within the context of the film as well by not only setting the overall background and tone for the story, but also soundscaping the emotional journey of a young woman (Ellie) struggling to come to terms with her past while redefining her future.  With the project marking Bingham’s debut as a feature film’s music producer, the critically acclaimed musician will aim to curate an Original Soundtrack and Score that complements Axster's vision.

Set to highlight collaborations from an array of talented musicians alongside Bingham’s own original material, which already includes the film’s theme song “A Country Called Home,” the filmmakers also plan to take the music on the road pending a successful crowd funding campaign. TheA COUNTRY CALLED HOME Movie and Music Tour will not only visit major US cities, but also many of the smaller towns that often get overlooked during touring. Keeping with this grassroots approach is extremely significant to the filmmakers, particularly since it’s a similarly small Texas town that sets the stage for Ellie’s journey, and ultimately becomes a separate character in itself as the story unfolds.

Since finding community within the most unexpected places acts as a central theme to A COUNTRY CALLED HOME, the filmmaking team and cast behind the project have likewise been inspired to build their own “community” around the making of this film, encouraging fans to be a part of the process from day one. Thus, from December 6, 2013 – January 15, 2014 (45 days) via the Kickstarter platform, fans will be given the chance to participate and contribute to the film’s development through pledges ranging from $5 to $10,000.  In exchange, a diverse range of unique experiences and rare opportunities will be offered, including everything from name recognition in the end credits, to being an extra in the film, to even having Ryan Bingham performing a private concert for friends/family. The full list of opportunities available can be viewed at: http://kck.st/1eVjAnp

“It’s so great that artists and creatives can reach out through this platform on Kickstarter and literally anyone can be a patron of their projects and become a part of a community that forms around these ideas. As collaborative as filmmaking already is, this adds a whole new level of collaboration between filmmaker and audience,” says director Anna Axster.

Pending a successful crowd-funding campaign, filming is estimated to begin on location in Texas early next year.