CEO and founder Thomas Hopkins and producing partner Tony Dunoyer, announced today the formation of Griot Pictures Entertainment (GPE). The production and development company will co-produce and co-finance both studio and independent film and television projects « with mainstream appeal. » Griot’s first two projects are in pre-production, « Chevalier » and « Minion, » the group announced Thursday.
« Chevalier, » is a period-piece set in pre-revolutionary France based on the rise, fall, and rediscovery of the real-life Chevalier de Saint George, who was also known as « The Black Mozart. » A fencing and musical superstar in the late 1700’s, Le Chevalier de Saint George was also a hero during the French Revolution. The film is written by screenwriter Paris Qualles (« The Tuskegee Airmen »).
Hopkins is currently co-writing the screenplay for the horror film, « Minion. » which is based on the first two novels from LA Banks‘ vampire/huntress series, « Minion » and « The Awakening. » The plot centers on a budding music diva who has a higher calling as a slayer. The company is also developing « The Peculiar Patriot, » an independent docu-dramedy that is described by Griot as « part Whoopi Goldberg style one-woman-show and part ‘Fahrenheit 911.' »
« We believe « Chevalier » and « Minion » will strongly advance two classic genres still very popular with global audiences–the period-adventure drama and the vampire/demon-slayer horror film, » said Hopkins about their debut projects in a statement.
Additionally, GPE co-produced independent romantic-drama « Premium » (Pete Chatmon) with Double 7 Film and Palm-Star. The film premiered in March at the Miami International Film Festival and stars Zoe Saldana, Dorian Missick, Hill Harper, and Eva Pigford. Griot is based in New York.
( posted on May 11, 2006 at 02:02PM | filed under Companies )
Guadeloupe Attitude 
Ce serait tout de même aux Français de faire un premier film . En réfléchissant . Le personnage vaut mieux qu’une production approximative et à but uniquement lucratif . Nous avons un scénariste unique et parfait en France : Daniel Marciano et son superbe livre » Joseph Bologne, le fils de Noëmie ».
Qu’attendent les producteurs français???
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Je ferais un peu confiance à Tony DUNOYER et à Gabriel BANAT qui me semblent deux bons GARDIENS DU TEMPLE !
Il faut remonter au début du siècle pour retrouver un écrit français sur la musique de Saint-Georges . : cf Lionnel de La LAURENCIE, grace auquel nous connaissons le prénom du Chevalier, Joseph.
Tous les musicologues français l’ignorent superbement. Il faut donc compter sur les USA qui ont fait gravir à Saint-Georges quelques modestes marches de la renomée. Merci Dominique René De Lerma… Merci Gabriel BANAT.
Jean-Claude HALLEY
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