The Vancouver film studio behind Backrooms just inked a deal with a major name in Hollywood in a move that could change the landscape of Hollywood North.
Oddfellows, which formed back in 2013 and is one of the producers of the A24 blockbuster horror flick Backrooms, has just inked a deal that would see Warner Bros utilizing the Oddfellows studio in Vancouver for projects that producer Chris Ferguson brings to the studio.
That’s in addition to projects that Warner Bros brings to him from its various labels, including Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema, the latter of which has been around for ages, attached to films like The Lord of the Rings, Rush Hour, and Austin Powers.
A news release from Warner Bros Clockwork said, “Oddfellows is a diverse studio focused on filmmaker-driven theatrical features with a sharp expertise in producing smartly budgeted genre films. The studio works closely with established and emerging talent, building unique creative ecosystems allowing them to make their films at the highest level.”
It added, “Warner Bros Clockwork spearheaded the deal with Ferguson and will collaborate to produce films that reinforce their mission to work with the best filmmakers in an aggressively priced theatrical film model.”
Clockwork says that the future of cinema, specifically theatrical releases, depends on a slate with “real range,” and films of “every size, style, and ambition.”
Looking at recent box office results, massive budget movies like Masters of the Universe, Supergirl, and even the recent live-action Disney release of Moana have been major bombs at the box office.
Meanwhile, smaller budget movies with more original premises, like Obsession and Backrooms, have been some of the largest money makers of the year.
“Chris Ferguson and the team at Oddfellows have built a filmmaker-first creative engine with a proven ability to discover, support and elevate original talent, and this partnership gives us an exciting new way to bring distinctive, smartly produced films to audiences across the theatrical landscape,” said Warner Bros. Pictures Group’s Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy.
Backrooms director Kane Parsons heaped praise on Ferguson and the team at the Vancouver film studio.
“I cannot stress enough how integral Chris and the Oddfellows team were to the creation and success of Backrooms. The level of intense care, focus, and trust I found from every individual we worked with was incredibly heartening. Chris is a fantastically meticulous creative partner and has done a stand-out job of curating a well-oiled, human-centric production system over the last decade,” Parsons said.
Ferguson also had some thoughts on the deal.
“Pam and Mike have fostered Warner Bros into the kind of studio environment that invites filmmakers to create their best work. It was obvious right away that we’re driven by the same passion for talent. Together we are going to be able to be ambitious and take the risks we need to elevate the next generation of filmmakers while continuing to forge new ground with the greatest artists of today,” he said.
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