Posted: Thurs., Aug. 24, 2006, 7:57pm PT

'Tattooist' gets leading man
Behr set to star in thriller

By CHRIS GARDNER


Jason Behr has signed to star in thriller "The Tattooist." Commercial helmer Peter Burger is making his feature debut on the pic from a script by Matthew Grainger and Jonathan King.

Lensing starts next month in and around Auckland, New ZealandB. "Tattooist" casts Behr as a tattoo artist who becomes fascinated by the Samoan tatau tradition, but his desire to learn the ancient skill brings him into conflict and danger with the island mysticism and a deadly spirit is released as a result.

The New Zealand Film Commission, Mediacorp Raintree Prods. and Eyeworks Touchdown Prods. are partnering on the pic. Robin Scholes is producing with Daniel Yun.

Behr, who starred in Sony's "The Grudge," has two upcoming films: Lionsgate's "Skinwalkers" and the dramatic thriller "Senseless" for Matador Pictures.

SOURCE: Variety




Jason has been cast in a new film called "The Tattooist" to be filmed in New Zealand and/or Singapore. More news to follow.

EyeWorks Touchdown Production Company

Raintree Pictures Production Company also

News release June 18, 2006

First Feature Films for Singapore-New Zealand Films Co-production Agreement




18 June 2006 Singapore's MediaCorp Raintree Pictures and Eyeworks Touchdown, New Zealand's leading entertainment television production company, today signed a Letter of Intent to co-produce two feature films The Tattooist and Altar (working title). The signing ceremony held at the Auckland Town Hall, New Zealand was witnessed by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

The Tattooist and Altar are the first feature film co-productions resulting from the Singapore-New Zealand Films Co-Production Agreement that was signed on the sidelines of the second Ministerial review of the Agreement between New Zealand and Singapore on a Closer Economic Partnership (ANZSCEP) on 13 July 2004. The Co-Production Agreement is administered by the Media Development Authority (MDA), together with the New Zealand Film Commission.

Said Dr Christopher Chia, Chief Executive Officer, MDA, "We congratulate MediaCorp Raintree Pictures and Eyeworks Touchdown for taking the Co-Production Agreement further with their feature films partnership. It is a significant step forward for more co-production ventures with New Zealand and it recognises the value of our Singapore media companies to the international markets."

Singapore is the first Asian country to sign such a co-production agreement with New Zealand, paving the way for creative minds in both countries to collaborate on film, TV, animation and other media projects. Following the conclusion of the Co-Production Agreement in 2004, three animation television co-production deals between Singapore and New Zealand have been sealed, namely Master Raindrop, Milly Molly and Jane and The Dragon. These projects were supported by MDA's Scheme for Co-investment in Exportable Content (SCREEN), which aims to encourage the production and distribution of original, high quality Made-by-Singapore content for international markets. Please refer to Annex for more information on the animation projects and SCREEN.

The Tattooist has also benefited from the support of the Singapore Film Commission (SFC), an agency under MDA to facilitate and assist film development in Singapore. Under its Project Development Scheme, a grant was awarded to MediaCorp Raintree Pictures, co-producer of the film, to develop the project.

"The SFC aims to nurture the development of high-quality Singapore films that appeal to both local and international audiences. Through our Project Development Scheme, we seed the production of Made-by-Singapore film projects by Singapore production companies by providing support for the development phase of a film. We are happy to see MediaCorp Raintree Pictures partnering Eyeworks Touchdown, to take The Tattooist to the international circuit," said Mr Man Shum Sum, Director of SFC and Director of Broadcast & Film, MDA.


From Techo's Guild

The Tattooist
Format: Feature Film
Dates: September 2006
Location: Auckland
Production Co: Eyeworks Touchdown
Robin Scholes

From Bloody Disgusting:

When a Tattoo Turns to Terror!
Posted 06.18.06 @ 11:15 pm

Singapore's MediaCorp Raintree Pictures and New Zealand's Eyeworks Touchdown will co-produce $3 million horror feature The Tattooist, the first collaboration from the countries' 2004 co-production treaty, according to Variety. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Kiwi Prime Minister Helen Clark sealed the film pact in New Zealand on Sunday. Next pic up is Altar, which is under script development. "Raintree is at a point of our development where we are looking at moving to a new level of experience and exposure," said MediaCorp CEO Daniel Yun. "We have a clear vision -- to produce a breakout hit within the next three years that breaks into key global markets," he added. More details as they come in.

From Eyeworks:

Eyeworks Touchdown NZ has signed to co-produce two movies with Singapore-based MediaCorp Raintree Pictures. Joining CEO Julie Christie and Robin Scholes at the signing were (from left) Auckland mayor Dick Hubbard, Singapore's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, and MediaCorp's Daniel Yun.Both films are psychological thrillers. The first movie, The Tattooist - about an American tattoo artist who gets caught up with a Samoan ghost - will be filmed in New Zealand.

Matthew Grainger and Jonathan King are writing THE TATTOOIST for Touchdown Films.

The film is produced by Robin Scholes and is scheduled to shoot in 2006.

More News:

The Tattooist

Producer: Robin Scholes; Touchdown Films Ltd

Writers: Jonathan King, Matthew Grainger

Director: Peter Burger

$98,923 offered for advanced development

From the New Zealand Hearald:

Spirit of partnership as NZ and Singapore sign thriller deal Monday June 19, 2006
By Wayne Thompson
New Zealand film-makers have gained a new ally with the signing of a deal to cooperatively produce feature films with a Singapore company. Eyeworks Touchdown and Singapore-based MediaCorp Raintree Pictures are to co-produce two films, which will be psychological thrillers. Prime Minister Helen Clark and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong attended the signing in Auckland yesterday of the deal for the first films to be made under the countries' two-year-old Audio Visual Agreement. The New Zealand-based film Tattooist was described by producer Robin Scholes as a psychological thriller with elements of horror. She said the screenplay was in an advanced stage of development, while the Singapore-based Altar - about an Asian child embryo ghost - was at an early stage. Robin Scholes, producer of Once Were Warriors, said both films used an Asian approach to the supernatural but were culturally specific. "By combining our two cultures it gives us a point of difference in a competitive and crowded international market where film buyers are looking for something that is unique." She said that making a film from a New Zealand base always needed international funding and combining the companies' two sources of funding would benefit both countries. "We are both small countries and both want to use our countries as a base to make films for the international market. "We have a common mission to make films which we otherwise would not be able to make as individuals." Raintree would be the film distributors in Asia. "We intend to work with Raintree to develop a slate of films long term," said Robin Scholes. "For New Zealand, it means another source of infrastructure by which we can make more films." Tattooist has private investors and the Film Commission gave development funding. The Prime Minister said New Zealand film-makers had enjoyed success and acclaim both for blockbuster big-budget movies and for films telling New Zealand stories. A key role in the tie-up was played by the Film Commission, Singapore's Media Development Authority and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
GHOST STORIES * Tattooist, about an American tattoo artist who gets caught up with a Samoan ghost in New Zealand, will be made here. * Singapore gets to make Altar, a film about an Asian child embryo ghost.



Film deal signed

Auckland, NZ, 18 June 2006




Eyeworks Touchdown NZ has signed to co-produce two movies with Singapore-based MediaCorp Raintree Pictures. Joining CEO Julie Christie and Robin Scholes at the signing were (from left) Auckland mayor Dick Hubbard, Singapore's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, and MediaCorp's Daniel Yun.Both films are psychological thrillers. The first movie, The Tattooist - about an American tattoo artist who gets caught up with a Samoan ghost - will be filmed in New Zealand.

Lori and I have been sitting on this for a bit waiting for official word! We got word of this and just starting collecting info and putting in a this top secret thread that we could see but no one else could.


It's now Official!


Jason is 'The Tattooist'!

That is so awesome! I am intregued already

Hopefully he will go with tattoist tradition and be covered in ink

It definately sounds like an interesting film.

And if he does go all traditional he will have to have less clothes.

New Movie !!! It sounds really cool. He's been a globe trotter lately. Japan, Canada, Scotland, and now New Zealand. No wonder there hasn't been any Behr sightings in a while. This is exciting news. Thank you Vicki for posting it.

If someone is interested I found a website about Samoan tattoos. http://www.polynesia.com/samoa/samoan-tattoos.html

And BTW the Samoans are known throughout Polynesia as the "happy" people

It's about danged time!
I was beginning to think they would never release the info on it
Sorry I wasn't around last night. Bad day yesterday and I just went to bed.
See what I miss when I do that?

Thanks for getting this up, Vicki

Jason baby yeah

WOW!!! what a wonderful news!
Thank you very much Vicki for posting it!



That sounds more interesting

for the great news!
New Zeland.. interesting

Vicki,

Do we know when the article from Variety was printed? Which issue, that is?

.

Says in print today's date. It's on their website like this....

Date in print: Fri., Aug. 25, 2006, Los Angeles

No recent pics of the man??

Not a one.

OMG I'm so excited!!!!
I seriously can't wait, he's wonderful

Here some blurbs that probably already have been posted.

I see you clever girls keeping secrets...I guess because it was not your secret to tell:D

Lori and Vicki you have been so good....sitting on this info from Aug 12th that would mean you have had to keep this secret almost 2 weeks.


http://www.cinescape.com/

According to Variety, Jason Behr (The Grudge) has signed on to star in the upcoming thriller THE TATTOOIST. The film will be commercial director Peter Burger's feature film debut.

The plot casts Behr as a tattoo artist who becomes fascinated by the Samoan tatau tradition, but his desire to learn the ancient skill brings him into conflict and danger with the island mysticism and a deadly spirit is released as a result.


Th script was penned by Matthew Grainger and Jonathan King. Filming is expected to begin next month in New Zealand.

Imagine all the other secrets we have! We couldn't have done it without our little birdy!

I like little birdies!!!

Wow... taht's new!!! I'm so happy!!

Tank you Vicky!

Ditto everything above

Wowwwwwwwwwwwww great newsssssss

There's a brief write up on the Sci-fi Wire. It repeats the others but it does mention Roswell in it

Cool! Thanks RoswellBrat!

Got a few replies today about this film from various sources I had contacted.

It will not be a gory(little to no blood) film, it's more of a psychological thrller. So far Jason is the only cast member signed. It will be a very small cast with Jason getting most of the screen time. It's all Jason! It's a 6 week shoot in New Zealand and does start in Sep.

All Jason on the screen is always a good thing

Exactly my thoughts!
Thanks for the info Vicky, I don't know what we'd do without you! We'd probably mop around wishing for some news

I agree. 30 e lode for Vicky!

Sirio

Vicki is definitely great at finding the info on Jason
MORE! MORE!

I just have some increadible sources who give me great tips and leads.

Well, get them to working on other stuff, like D-War and Skinwalkers!

Just sent them a note to ask about those. We'll see if we can get some more answers.

well we love a movie with JB having all the screen time

Vicki will get us some answers

sleuth that she is, with good connections!

Is there somethig elese that i can say than THANK YOU?

It may take her a bit of time to get a reply.
And our Vicki is under the weather right now
Feel better, sweetie

Poor Vicki! Get better soon hun!

Aww! Thanks! I am feeling a bit better!

Good to hear Vicki!

Hi all
Was just stopping by to check out the thread and saw that Vicki hasn't been feeling well -- so I'm wishing you a speedy recovery Vicki.

Hope you feel like your old self soon.
ciao

Thanks Loretta!

Reports are coming in that filming of "The Tattooist" was seen in the Otara Town Centre. Not sure what area that is in. Hopefully someone that lives there can tell us more.

Finally some more news

Anything is better than nothing!

I agree! The man is getting to where he hides better than Nick!

and his feet

Our 'Bear' is here:





The red circle is Otara.

Girls, JB has brought us down to read a map!

Ragazze mie, ci ha ridotto a studiare le carte geografiche!!!!!

PC

And we'll read this map! What else can we do?
Thanks Sirio!

Thanks again Sirio!

Hopefully he is getting a bit of a vacation while out of the states