Ryan Gosling will go behind the camera.
Do you think Ryan Gosling can do everything? Then you won’t be surprised to hear he’s going to make his directorial debut with an indie called “How to Catch a Monster.” Did we mention that he wrote it too? I wasn’t sure if I even needed to mention that, but of course he did. To top things off, Christina Hendricks is set to star, which is good news for her–she’s done enough supporting roles in movies, so now she’ll get her chance to be the center of it all (Gosling and Hendricks worked together on “Drive,” by the way, in case you were wondering how this pairing happened).
Here’s the story as summarized in the press release:
Written and directed by Ryan Gosling, How to Catch a Monster weaves elements of fantasy noir, and suspense into a modern day fairytale. Set against the surreal dreamscape of a vanishing city, Billy, a single mother of two, is swept into a macabre and dark fantasy underworld while her teenage son discovers a secret road leading to an underwater town. Both Billy and Bones must dive deep into the mystery, if their family is to survive.
Should we be shocked or worried that Gosling? No, as I’ve said a million times, if you’re an actor who’s been making movies a fairly long time, you should be able to at least direct a small-scale, character-driven movie. Get a good crew from the people you’ve met along the way and you’ve won half the battle. I’m sure getting financing and finding a distributor is much harder than actually directing the movie.
Here’s an excerpt from the press release:
Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut, How to Catch a Monster, will star Christina Hendricks (“Mad Men”) in the lead role, it was announced today. Marc Platt and Adam Siegel will produce on behalf of Marc Platt Productions, along with Ryan Gosling via his Phantasma Films banner, and Michel Litvak and David Lancaster via the Bold Films banner. Sierra / Affinity will handle international sales for the film which will be made available to buyers for the first time at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival. Principal photography for the film is scheduled to commence in the spring of 2013.
Ryan Gosling said, “I am very appreciative to Marc Platt, Adam Siegel and Bold Films for being so supportive and I look forward to making this film with all of them.”
Michel Litvak, Bold Films financier, said, “We have a tremendous amount of trust and confidence in Ryan, Christina, Marc and Adam, both personally and professionally. We responded immediately to Ryan’s script, and look forward to nurturing the next phase of his career and continuing Bold’s commitment to an artistically collaborative environment.”
Producer, Marc Platt added, “We are thrilled to be producing Ryan Gosling’s debut as a writer & director and continue our collaboration which began on ‘Drive.’ He has composed a beautifully haunting script and has a very clear vision of how he will bring it to life. His ability to draw audiences into his world as an actor will serve him well as a filmmaker.”
“Ryan Gosling has established himself as a dynamic talent onscreen with incredible instincts, and that ability to connect with audiences will serve him well in the director’s chair.” said Sierra’s Nick Meyer. “We are excited to be involved with the next phase of his career and look forward to bringing his directorial debut to the international marketplace.”
