Rainmaker Entertainment & Jane Startz Family Features in the Works

VANCOUVER: Rainmaker Entertainment is partnering with Jane Startz to develop and produce two family feature films.

The two films will be produced by Startz and Catherine Winder, the president and executive producer of Rainmaker Entertainment animation studio. Startz formed her own independent production company, Jane Startz Productions, in 1997, which specializes in developing and producing family-based properties across all media.

The film Tiger’s Apprentice is based on Newbury Honor winner Laurence Yep’s best-selling young adult novel, and Far Flung Adventures: Fergus Crane is based on the children’s fantasy tale/winner of the Nestle Children’s Book Prize, written by Paul Stewart and illustrated by Chris Riddell. Oscar-nominated screenwriter David Magee (Finding Neverland, The Life of Pi) has written the feature adaptation to Tiger’s Apprentice, the first book in a trilogy that follows the adventures of Asian-American teenager Tom Lee. David Berenbaum (Elf, The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Haunted Mansion) wrote the screenplay for Fergus Crane. The comedic adventure focuses on a poor 10-year-old boy whose explorer father has mysteriously disappeared on his “last fateful voyage.”

“Jane is by far one of the most talented producers of family entertainment in both film and television as evidenced by her work as the producer of Ella Enchanted, The Indian in the Cupboard, Tuck Everlasting and the multi-award winning The Magic School Bus,” said Winder. “She has also earned a reputation as one of the most respected producers of children’s book adaptations and we are very pleased to be partnered with her on these two exciting literary properties, which both lend themselves to big screen adventures and storytelling.”

Startz added: “I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to bring Tiger’s Apprentice to the big screen. The book’s mythology is so rich and one that has not been seen before. The rich story lines are further enhanced by visually exciting and complex characters. Fergus Crane is fresh and funny and has all the elements to become a classic evergreen family film. I look forward to working with Catherine and the talented, creative forces at Rainmaker to adapt both these properties into exceptional movie going experiences.”