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POSSIBILITY PICTURES, LLC WRAPS “LETTERS TO GOD” ON STAGE 25 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FL PRODUCTION GROUP

8/14/2009

Letters to God, one of three faith based films from Possibility Pictures, completed production on Stage 25 after 28 days of filming on the lot and at Central Florida area locations.

Letters to God was directed by David Nixon - one of the producers of Fireproof and Facing the Giants (created and produced by Sherwood Pictures) and he teams again with Director of Photography Bob Scott Fireproof and Facing the Giants, Bourne Identity…). It is the first project for the team of Nixon and his partners Kim Dawson (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles I, II, II, Bobby Jones: Stoke of Genius) and Tom Swanson (Come Away Home). Inspired by true events and originally written by Patrick Doughtie, the story is filled with laughter, love, hope and triumph.

Producer Kim Dawson notes the series of elements that resulted in moving the film from Tennessee to Florida.

“Pamela Tuscany-Warren mounted an ongoing campaign to inform and encourage us to apply for the State incentive funding, explaining, as she does to everyone – that even though funds appear to be ‘gone’ there are times when a project falls away or gets moved and it’s hugely important to already be in the queue! We also had first hand knowledge of what Universal Orlando has to offer. Many people aren’t aware that producer Wayne Morris (Bring It On: In It To Win It; Beethoven’s Big Break, Ace Ventura Jr., Final Destination 4) has maintained a sophisticated movie set and set dressing that became available on Stage 25.” Morris and Paul Sirmons – who served as Supervising Producer and Line Producer, respectively, on the film – rounded out the expertise needed to complete the ambitious production on time and nearly on-budget. “We made the decision to increase our investment by about six percent because we were not willing to compromise on certain elements,” acknowledges Dawson.

Dawson also gives credit to the Universal Studios Florida Production Group team including Steve Montrowl and Katrinka VanDeventer, Jack Somerville and Julie Gibson who, he says, solved problems before they could occur. “We had nothing but the highest level of professionalism from Pamela’s team…..oh, and fabulous meals from The Cookie Jar!” grins Dawson.

Rounding out the writing team were co-writer Art D’Allessandro, co-writer/producer Sandra Thrift and first time screenwriter Cullen Douglas, Production Designer Mark Garner and Costume Designer Beverly Safier. The key role of Tyler, the young boy who writes the letters, was awarded to Tanner Maguire. Additional filming was done at Give Kids the World, Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital, and in Winter Garden. Over 25 children from various cancer organizations were cast as extras in three different scenes of the movie. The producers want people to know that people, especially children, with cancer are not alone and people who have gone before them can really help and bring hope. “It was a life-changing privilege to work with these terrific and talented young people,” Nixon said.

Universal Studios Florida Production Group is the east coast’s premiere production facility that includes sound stages, studios, 100+ backlot locations and production vendors. Please visit www.universalorlando.com/studio/florida or inquire at 407/363-8400 or via email at productiongroup@unviersalorlando.com.

The Universal Orlando resort destination (www.universalorlando.com) includes two dramatically distinct and adjacent theme parks, the Universal Studios motion picture and television theme park and Islands of Adventure, Orlando's most thrilling and exhilarating theme park. Universal Orlando also includes CityWalk, a 30-acre dining, shopping, club and live-entertainment venue as well as premier on-site Loews hotels and world-class film and television production facilities.

Possibility Pictures is a newly formed production company, headed by Orlando-based filmmaking team Tom Swanson, David Nixon and Kim Dawson, which is dedicated to creating world-class Christian content for mass distribution. The gifted team of veterans boasts decades of film production experience including key creative roles in Facing the Giants and Fireproof, the highest grossing independent film of 2008. Find more information online at www.letterstogodthemovie.com.

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