Avatar Press and Mischief Maker Studios proudly announce that legendary comic book writer Garth Ennis will be premiering his short film, Stitched, at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday evening, July 21, at 8:15pm in the convention?s Room 6DE. Featuring Ennis?s debut as a filmmaker, Stitched blends supernatural horror with a contemporary war story, creating a terrifying landscape which will be explored further in an ongoing monthly comic book series.
The fifteen-minute long film is written and directed by Garth Ennis, best known as the writer of such best-selling comic books as Preacher, The Punisher, The Boys, and Crossed. A Mischief Maker Studios production, Stitched was produced by Brian Pulido, Francisca Pulido, and Ed Polgardy. Adam Goldfine served as Director of Photography, while both Garth Ennis and William Christensen, the founder of Avatar Press, served as Executive Producers.
In Stitched, three survivors of an American helicopter crash (played by actors Tank Jones, Lauren Alonzo, and Kate Kugler) struggle across the high mountains of Afghanistan. They?re injured, without food, water, or medicine, and moving through Taliban-controlled territory. Among the sun-bleached rocks, they discover something worse than enemy fighters: an ancient supernatural power ? murderous, unstoppable, and serving a twenty-first century evil.
?I?ve been thinking about (directing films) for a number of years now,? says Ennis. ?Ever since the interest in a Preacher film became more solid, and the options on it and The Boys were picked up. I’ve written screenplays and treatments for things like Crossed, but I haven’t really devoted myself to a film project before, not the way I have with Stitched. I’ve always loved movies; my comics are much more heavily influenced by film and TV than they are by other comics. So having a go at this seems quite natural.?
Regarding the concept, Ennis says, ?Stitched began as little more than a series of images, really ? three little figures stumbling across a barren landscape, exhausted people struggling to survive, blood on the rocks of the mountains, and lots of frantic, close-in combat.? As production got underway, ?you?re watching Taliban fighters, SAS troopers, and a U.S. helicopter crew wandering around in full uniform and equipment, AKs and M4s slung, Berettas holstered. It all started as words on the page and then translated to so much hard work and commitment.?
Hosting the premiere of Stitched at San Diego Comic-Con marks a first for the convention; although it regularly host panels featuring actors or sneak peak footage of upcoming films, SDCC has never previously premiered a film on-site. San Diego Comic-Con is the largest convention in the western hemisphere, drawing 130,000 attendees annually. With Ennis being a name brand in the comic book community, the convention anticipates that his one-evening-only film premiere will draw a maximum capacity crowd. San Diego Comic-Con attendees will also have an opportunity to purchase exclusive early release DVDs on site for an autographing opportunity with creator Garth Ennis.
The footage filmed for Stitched comprises the opening conflict of a script intended as a full-length feature film. The full Ennis-penned script will be the basis of the first story arc in the upcoming, ongoing comic book series. From the behind-the-scenes footage available on the DVD release, Ennis says, ?Stitched is going to have legs beyond just this 15-minute short. Most immediately, we’re going to launch a new comic drawn by the always-excellent Mike Wolfer. The first series will tell the complete story that the film only begins.? The first issue of the comic book series will be released in November alongside the nationwide Stitched DVD release.
Garth Ennis, a critically acclaimed writer from Northern Ireland, has been working in the comic book industry for over 20 years. He is most easily recognized as the creator of Preacher from DC/Vertigo, as well as a long-time contributor to Marvel Comics? The Punisher. His previous comic book work published by Avatar Press includes Dicks, 303, Chronicles of Wormwood, Streets of Glory, and the increasingly popular Crossed franchise, a horror survival series set in a world overrun by sadistic homicidal maniacs.
Avatar Press is a groundbreaking independent publishing company which produces a wide variety of cutting-edge comic books, graphic novels, and original web content. Their high-quality publications include the work of such industry luminaries as Garth Ennis (Crossed, Chronicles of Wormwood), Warren Ellis (Freakangels), David Lapham (Caligula, Crossed: Psychopath), and Alan Moore (Neonomicon). They also produce a diverse range of licensed projects including the classic zombie epic Night of the Living Dead and George RR Martin?s Fevre Dream. Their action-oriented Boundless Comics imprint publishes Brian Pulido?s original Lady Death and Mike Wolfer?s reimagining of the classic femme fatales Pandora, Hellina, and Widow in the series War Goddess.
Mischief Maker Studios, owned by Brian Pulido and Francisca Pulido, is a multi-media entertainment company that develops, produces, and controls a library of properties and storylines, and partners with world renowned creators and clients to realize their full sales potential across all media platforms including film, television, print, online, mobile, gaming, and merchandising. Their first feature film, The Graves, sold to After Dark Films, Lionsgate, Syfy and a dozen international distributors. For more info, visit: www.MischiefMakerStudios.com.
For more information on the Stitched film, its DVD release, the film premiere at San Diego Comic-Con, and the comic book series, please visit the website www.FearTheStitched.com, or contact Keith Davidsen, Avatar Press? Director of Sales and Marketing, via e-mail at keith@avatarpress.net.
Hometown heroes Avatar Press will hit the Windy City for Chicago Comic Con 2011 from August 8th through August 11th, bringing with us a spectacular guest, Jacen Burrows (Neonomicon, Crossed)! Avatar will roll out a heaping handful of convention exclusive comic books at this show, so keep an eye out. Also, we have some incredible deals on merchandise with our V.I.P. sets! Check out the full list of goodies by clicking here!
Heading east, Avatar brings the charm to Charm City for Baltimore Comic-Con 2011, alongside the multi-talented Mike Wolfer (whose creative credits run the length of a severed arm, including Stitched, Gravel, Wolfskin, and Night of the Living Dead, just to name a few)!? Their first-ever appearance at Baltimore will be on August 20th and 21st. Be sure to stop by the Avatar Press booth and welcome the guys, and get the scoop from the respectable Mr. Wolfer on his latest projects for Avatar Press and Boundless Comics!? For more information on Avatar’s appearance in Baltimore, click here!
And finally, the Avatar gang will be headed north to Toronto for Fan Expo Canada! We’re really looking forward to a great time with our northern neighbors from August 25th through the 28th. Be sure to check out the unsettling new, exclusive Crossed: Psychopath#4 variant cover we’re debuting at Fan Expo, alongside a handful of other tasty exclusive treats! For more info, click here!
