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Sci Fi Movie Pilot Shooting at Collins College

Tempe, AZ (September 14, 2006) - Arizona’s award winning graphic novelist Bryan Kinnaird executive produced a 25-minute short film inspired by the hit comic book series, The Villikon Chronicles, to sell to a major film studio. Kinnaird used Collins College film facilities.

Kinnaird, an Arizona native, is determined to film and produce the short and any derivative feature film in Arizona. "The Arizona film community is committed to making metro Phoenix the next L.A. As a collective group, we are trying to film and use as much technical talent in Arizona as possible," said Kinnaird.

Kinnaird selected Collins for final shooting because of the school’s professional HD cameras and built in green screen. Collins’s film instructors and students donated their time to work as grips and lighting technicians on the set alongside professional crew members such as director of photography, Alex Mitchell; unit production manager, Webb Pickersgill; assistant director, Paul Yang; and associate producer, Steve Wargo. Tonia Madenford’s Arizona production company, Screen Addiction, produced the film. Roy Young, a Collins College graduate, illustrated the original three-volume graphic novel and now serves as the film’s production designer. Young is also known for his work in comics on titles that include the ‘Spawn’ series. Costume designer, Donna Wilson, is also based in Arizona. The production has been on location in Arizona at the Imperial Sand Dunes in Yuma and the Grand Canyon Caverns in Peach Springs.

According to Kinnaird, "Collins has made a commitment to the professional film production community here in Phoenix. They’ve got one of the best film-making facilities in this part of the country and they support the local professionals. This is a true education and business partnership."

The original graphic novel series revolved around a soldier banished to a prison world and the consequences his escape had on the universe. Kinnaird’s books have been distributed worldwide through Diamond Comic Distributors, and sold not only in comic book retail outlets but in chains, including Borders Bookstores and in Virgin Megastore outlets. The Villikon Chronicles stormed comic book conventions worldwide from 2001-2004.

"I have received offers from studios to buy and develop the (franchise) story and turned each one down. This is an opportunity to help develop Arizona’s film industry first. Riding on the heels of comic book movie hits such as Men in Black, Sin City and Spiderman, I hope one day to be able to say we helped establish Arizona as a film destination for mega-productions," said Kinnaird.

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