Blatt comes to Life

Montreal - Filmmaker Jeffrey Blatt wrapped his feature directorial debut, Still Life, on May 22 in Montreal.

The story follows Guy Lemon (Le Marais' Alex Ivanovici), a painter who has never sold a single painting in his entire life. But in a strange twist of fate, a suicidal novelist dies and the authorities mistake his body for Lemon's, and his artworks skyrocket in value.

Blatt says the idea for the screenplay - which he co-penned with Douglas Mackay - came to them as they observed that an artists' worth often jumps in value after their death.

"It seems paintings are worth so much more once the artist has expired," says Blatt.

Blatt, whose 2002 short The Charnel House premiered at Sundance, says the tone of the $2-million film is "comic, but definitely not slapstick."

Produced by Pascal Maeder and Virginie Léger of Atopia and executive produced by Daniel Roby, Still Life will be released in the fall by Equinoxe Films in Canada and Atopia internationally. Telefilm Canada and SODEC have both invested. Matthew Hays

Marriage, Italian style

Toronto - Writer and producer Wendy Grandison wrapped her feature debut, Bad Karma, last month, after shooting in Toronto, Barrie and elsewhere in southern Ontario. The romantic thriller, set in Italy, follows a family out to save its troubled vineyard via an arranged marriage, with Dino Santoro and Janelle Bartosek in the leads. Fred Wilmot directs with Phil Pendry serving as DOP.

The picture was self-financed and its makers are shopping for theatrical distribution and a broadcaster, says Grandison. Sean Davidson