November 5, 2002
The Hollywood Reporter
Myriad getting 'Bums' Rush'
by Stuart Kemp

MILAN, Italy -- Myriad Pictures has boarded "The Bums' Rush," snapping up worldwide sales duties on the title, Myriad president Kirk D'Amico said Monday.

Billed as an offbeat black comedy, the movie is scheduled to begin principal photography later this month.

"The Bums' Rush" will be produced by Anne Batz of Hero Films, the British independent production and development company co-owned by Batz, director Mike Barker and actor Dougray Scott. Scott executive produces the project and will take a role in the film. No budget was available at press time.

"The Bums' Rush" marks the feature directorial debut of short-filmmaker Stewart Svaasand, working from his own script. It is the first project in a two-picture deal with Hero.

Svaasand's second feature, "Curious Moments," is in development. The film, which will shoot for five weeks on location in the Scottish Highlands and around Glasgow, is co-produced with Orjan Karlsden of Oslo-based production house Motlys ("Misery Harbor") in association with Vision View, Scottish Screen, the Glasgow Film Office and Momentum Pictures. Momentum will distribute the film in the United Kingdom while SF Norway holds rights for Scandinavian territories.

"Rush" is the story of three friends who live in the middle of Scotland, where they accidentally strike gold, and the ensuing chaos their discovery triggers.

Alongside Scott, the cast includes Jamie Sives ("Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself"), Kevin McKidd ("Trainspotting"), Iain Robertson ("Small Faces") and newcomer Neve McIntosh.

Myriad's deal was brokered by the company's London-based senior vp international distribution, Samantha Horley.

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