Hearing production is about to get underway on terrific-sounding flick called “Great Scott”. As the title suggests, the film encompasses a “Back to the Future” connection; in it, a teenager in 1980′s Manchester, England falls so in love with Robert Zemeckis’s 1985 hit that he tries to become Marty McFly.
The main character in the film is, not unlike myself in ’85, a slightly despondent working class teenager who would do anything to escape his mundane life and have the kind of adventures Marty McFly did in the hit film (My first and only attempt to be like Marty McFly ended with me and a skateboard being dragged in the dirt by a garbage truck; don’t ask) – you know, traveling through time; sleeping in Lea Thompson’s bed; Having Huey Lewis watch you perform.
“Great Scott” had Alex Child and Hiram Bleetman on scripting duties, and sees Phil Hawkins getting behind the filming contraption as director. It’s a joint venture between Philm Company, Sonic Screenworks and Lip Sync, the investment and equity firm that has slapped down cash for such flicks as “We Need to Talk About Kevin” and “Jane Eyre”.
Hawkins name mightn’t ring a bell, but his face will – he was one of the contestants on the short-lived reality series “On the Lot”, which saw 16 aspiring filmmakers compete to become the next big Hollywood director and sign a development deal with DreamWorks. 5 years later, Hawkins finds himself back in Spielberg territory with his love letter to “Back to the Future”. Film wise, Hawkins credits include the
feature film adaptation of Philip Pullman’s “The Butterfly Tattoo” and award-winner “The Women of Troy”. His next pic, based on his own screenplay, is the laffer “Being Sold”.
I really love the idea behind “Great Scott”, so much potential there. Films that fix on a youngster’s obsession – like, say “Son of Rambow” or “Fanboys” – with a certain film or actor/musician are usually a soup bowl of whimsical croutons and salty heartfelt goodness.
Casting on the McFly homage gets underway shortly with production due to commence around Easter.
