FORT WAYNE, Ind., Dec. 13, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Pink Sheets:MIKP) Mike The Pike Productions, Inc. and its Graphic Novels publishing partner, Spoke Lane Entertainment, is pleased to announce that Spokefish has launched production on its premier slate of Graphic Novels. "Our first three books range from the fantastic to the macabre, all of which have industry-proven ingredients for hit novels that lend themselves well for feature film adaptation," states MIKP CEO, Mark B. Newbauer.
MTP CEO and President Mark B. Newbauer and Spoke Lane Principal, Ryan Colucci selected the books from a handful of carefully selected candidates with consideration to both creative merits and overall profitability. Another heavy consideration were projects the team felt were strong toward film rights sales or independent production.
As Robert Kirkman (partner at Image Comics and creator of the popular GN that spurred AMC's hit series, 'The Walking Dead') states, "We're going to continue to see more good, unique ideas. That's what comics are good at, and that's why Hollywood is coming (to us) in a big way, adapting more material for the movies. There are an insane number of talented people working in comics, and we're going to see more and more new ideas making in onto a screen and expanding the medium. I see more of what we've seen in the past few years, just bigger and better. I have very high hopes for the industry that has an enormous amounts of untapped potential ...It'll get to the point where you go to visit your grandmother and there's a graphic novel on her nightstand. I think that's what were working towards, and by God I think we'll make it there."
And according to Kuo-Yu Liang, VP of Sales & Marketing at Diamond Book Distributors, "I think we are entering the golden age of selling graphic novels. The demographics and the audience are both broadening. We are lucky that the core readers have stuck with us through the recession. We are finding new readers crossing over from literary, commercial, speculative and genre fiction. Non-fiction graphic novels are doing well. We're getting more kids and parents (I'll talk more about that later). I also think the growth of internet shopping has changed the game, because now it is easier than ever to find what you like to read, and get recommendation from fellow readers. The key is still good books. Without them, we don't have an industry."
In addition to print, Spokefish will launch a number of digital initiatives allowing Readers to experience the novels across a variety of platforms including online or through their iPad, iPhone and other mobile and gaming devices.
To re-cap, the three novels headlining the Spokefish banner include:
1)Bulderlyns (FANTASY): A small town just outside of Chicago is turned upside down when a businessman brings his son a rare Bulderlyn egg from a trip overseas. The egg hatches and the town is besieged by one of the two mythical creatures inside. The small boy and the smaller, remaining creature learn the true meaning of trust and courage as they attempt to save the town from destruction.
2) R.E.M. (SCI-FI THRILLER): In New York City, behind a series of locks, lives Michael Letto, a brilliant but paranoid neuroscientist. Since his first and only love died, he's become consumed with unlocking the mystery of sleep. Based on ancient practices, Michael sets forth to devise a chair that enables one to attain a full nightssleep in a matter of minutes. His theories bring him to the attention of both the military and a shrouded religious order that will stop at nothing to attain his secret. As Michael grows closer to realizing his dream, he starts to unravel, trapped in an inescapable nightmare as visions of his lost love worsen.
3) Chasing Rabbits (DARK CRIME THRILLER): Officer Alice Liddell finds herself on the hunt for a serial killer after several headless female corpses have turned up around Wonderland and no one seems to be doing anything about it. The more Alice begins to investigate, the more she falls down the rabbit hole into a strange underworld of drugs, gambling, and prostitution operated by The Queen, a flamboyant crime lord who demands to be called "your majesty".Hurtling forward with clues from one strange character after another, she learns to trust no one. With all of the details based on Lewis Carroll's renowned books Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, it is a unique blend of visual elements and characters in a dark thriller like we've never before seen.
Ryan Colucciis an alumnus of the prestigious Peter Stark Producing MFA Program at USC. He received his BA in Film Studies and Production from Hofstra University, graduating Suma Cum Laude. Before that he pursued a degree in Accounting from Villanova University and spent a year at Cambridge University in England studying Economics. He has over eight years of experience in the film industry, having worked in development for Artisan/Lion's Gate (Blair Witch Project, The Punisher) and Disney (Pirates of the Caribbean, Freaky Friday). Upon graduation, he worked at Snoot Entertainment, where he was a producer on the CG-animated feature Battle for Terra 3D, released through Lionsgate nationwide in May of 2009. Ryan Colucci, along with acclaimed director Mike Newell, is teaming up with Warner Brothers Pictures to produce Terry Brooks' Shannara fantasy series (twelve books in total). Terry is the fourth best-selling fantasy author of all time, behind only JR Tolkien, JK Rawlings and CS Lewis. In the summer of 2008, Ryan sold his script Lobo to Stone Village Pictures (Touristas, Human Stain, Love in the Time of Cholera). Ryan started Spoke Lane to produce a variety of genre fare for the publishing and film worlds. The first project out of his banner is the graphic novel Harbor Moon. Financed independently and produced by Spoke Lane, the hotly anticipated book is set for pre-sale this month through award-winning publisher Arcana Studio. Colucci is thrilled to be working with Newbauer and MTP Productions by launching SpokeFish with combined strengths and efforts toward efficient production, profitable publishing with the intent to market projects for film rights sales, co-production or independent production.
MTP Producers Ryan Colucci, Beth Newbauer and Mark B. Newbauer present: George R.R. Martin's THE SKIN TRADE: From the best-selling author of the Song of Ice and Fire series comes this white knuckle chiller with a string of unsolved murders immersed deep in lycan lore : When a series of grotesque killings strikes her small hometown, private detective Randi Wade becomes suspicious. The grisly murders remind her all too much of her own father's death nearly 20 years ago. Now there is a killer in town who not only slays his victims, but also takes their skin. Undaunted, Randi takes the case head-on as the murders continue, each more brutal than the last. When a close friend suddenly becomes a target, he is forced to reveal a startling secret about himself and Randi is quickly pulled into a dark world within her own town where monsters do exist and even they have something to fear...
MTP & Horseplay, LLC present: HORSE - a wild ride through the streets of Ft. Wayne on a night no one will forget…if they live to remember…as they take part against some not-so-friendly parties on the prowl for a missing bag of Heroin. It's a race against time for a club-owner, a drug mule, two college kids and a sadistic Irish kingpin in from Chicago to reclaim his stake. SHOOTING 2011 ON LOCATION IN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA!
Mike The Pike Productions + SpokeLane Entertainment
= SPOKEFISH ENTERTAINMENT
A concept-to-finish Graphic Novel publishing banner developing high-quality, compelling stories with the world's top writers, artists & more! Stay tuned for information on the SpokeFish slate including: Chasing Rabbits, R.E.M. and Bulderlyns...
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