DAYBREAKERS DIRECTORS HELMING POWER OF THE DARK CRYSTAL

 
HOLLYWOOD, CA May 04, 2010 – In a joint announcement by Omnilab Media's
Christopher Mapp and The Jim Henson Company's Lisa Henson, Australian
based Omnilab Media is teaming up with The Jim Henson Company to bring
the much anticipated fantasy sequel, "Power of the Dark Crystal" to the
big screen in stereoscopic 3D. The highly anticipated film will be among
the most ambitious projects to ever be produced in Australia.
 
Power of the Dark Crystal will be produced by the Australia based
production arm of Omnilab Media, Ambience Entertainment. The Jim Henson
Company's executive producers are Brian Henson, Lisa Henson and Jason
Lust. Omnilab Media's executive producers are Christopher Mapp, Matthew
Street and David Whealy. Cinemarket Films' Peter D. Graves ("Terminator
Salvation") rounds out the executive producer team.
 
Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig, writers and directors of "Undead" and
most recently, "Daybreakers," have come aboard to direct the screenplay
written by Australian Craig Pearce ("Moulin Rouge," "Strictly Ballroom,"
"Romeo + Juliet") based on an original script by Annette Duffy and David
Odell. The legendary fantasy artist Brian Froud will reprise his role as
conceptual designer of the film, which will use a stunning mix of live
action and traditional puppetry combined with visual and special effects
produced entirely in Australia. Omnilab-affiliated Iloura ("Where the
Wild Things Are," "The Pacific," "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark") has
already begun work on the film's complex CGI elements. With this team in
place, next steps will be to secure worldwide distribution.
 
"Power of the Dark Crystal is an exciting and ambitious undertaking and,
having worked on previous projects with the top-notch talent and crews
that Australia offers, we know we have assembled the right team to
deliver the sequel to one of the most enduringly popular titles in the
Henson library. Peter Spierig and Michael Spierig are sure to create a
film that will continue the legacy of the original and exceed the
expectations of our loyal fans," said Lisa Henson, CEO of the The Jim
Henson Company. "We are especially enthusiastic to be working with
Omnilab Media, a strong and growing force in worldwide film finance and
production."
 
"We are very pleased to be producing this wonderful and fantastical film
in Australia. The Power of The Dark Crystal will showcase the depth of
talent Australia has to offer up on the international stage, including
the extremely gifted directing team of Peter Spierig and Michael
Spierig. The Jim Henson Company has consistently delivered an amazing
range of entertainment over generations and is an iconic creative studio
that we are proud to have partner with us," added Christopher Mapp from
Omnilab Media.
 
Michael Spierig said, "We feel a tremendous amount of responsibility in
telling this story with the same meticulous care that Jim Henson and
Frank Oz gave the 1982 original." Added Peter Spierig, "This is a chance
to take the world of puppetry into the modern age by using modern
techniques (like motion capture CGI) and the tried and true methods
(like puppetry and animatronics) to create a one hundred percent real
world that is unique to 'The Dark Crystal'."
 
Set hundreds of years after the events of the first movie when the world
has once again fallen into darkness, "Power of the Dark Crystal" follows
the adventures of a mysterious girl made of fire who, together with a
Gelfling outcast, steals a shard of the legendary Crystal in an attempt
to reignite the dying sun that exists at the center of the planet.
 
ABOUT OMNILAB MEDIA www.omnilab.com.au
Omnilab Media is an Australian and New Zealand based globally focused
vertically integrated entertainment company involved in the production,
visual effects, post production and financing of a diverse range of film
and television properties. Amongst the funding deals recently concluded
by Omnilab Media, covering both production and P&A financing, are Oliver
Stone's 'W', 'The Bank Job', 'The Messenger', ''Bran Nue Dae,' and the
upcoming 'Dylan Dog: Dead of Night', 'The Loved Ones,' 'Tomorrow When
the War Began', and 'The Killer Elite.'
 
Omnilab Media has also created a new digital film company with Kennedy
Miller Mitchell (Dr.D Studios) to use groundbreaking digital
storytelling, animation and visual effects. The first production will be
HAPPY FEET 2, with a range of other bluechip properties in development.
 
ABOUT AMBIENCE ENTERTAINMENT www.ambienceentertainment.com
Ambience Entertainment was originally founded as a post production
company in 1999 and in 2003 dipped it's toe into the production arena
with the creation of The Pop Pups. In 2004 Ambience Entertainment was
acquired by Omnilab Media to create content for group and has since
grown into one of Australia's fastest growing independent film and
television production companies dedicated to producing compelling film
and television programs for local and international broadcasters and
audiences.
 
With a well-earned reputation for quality, Ambience Entertainment
specializes in feature films, game shows, children's programming and
animation.
 
Ambience Entertainment is the content and production division of the
Omnilab Media, Australia's largest independently owned vertically
integrated media company. This alliance has enabled Ambience
Entertainment to develop its own distinctive television and film content
with the strategic goal of significantly increasing its production
output.
 
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family
entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an
innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as
creators of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy
Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include the Emmy
nominated "Sid the Science Kid," "Dinosaur Train" "Wilson & Ditch:
Digging America" and "Pajanimals." Features include "The Dark Crystal,"
"Labyrinth," "MirrorMask," and "Unstable Fables" and television
productions include "Fraggle Rock" and the sci-fi cult series
"Farscape."
 
With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company
is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot,
complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. Independently
owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, the
Company is also home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop, a pre-eminent
character-building and visual effects group with international film,
television and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios,
one of the music industry's top recording facilities known for its
world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment.
 
The Company's Henson Alternative brand recently launched the New York
run of "Stuffed and Unstrung," a live puppet improvisational show at the
Union Square Theatre. http://www.henson.com