An unknown producer from Uruguay decide to make a video and post it on YouTube. He spends $300 shoots the file uploads it on YouTube and heads home for the weekend. Opens his email on Monday and finds his inbox filled with offers from top producers in Hollywood.
Unfortunately, this script will never play out in Hollywood because it is too realistic. Yes, too realistic!
This is the story of Fede Alvarez, an unknown producer who just signed a monstrous contract with Sam "Spiderman" Raimi's Ghost House Pictures, to the tune of $30 million.
What is he going to do for all that money? He is going to create a feature-length version of his viral YouTube picture; "Ataque de Panico!" (Panic Attack!)
The four-minute short will remain in its place online, while Alvarez starts from scratch and attempts to "wow" you again but this time in a theater.
The deal rings of this summer's surprise hit District 9, which started as a short film called Alive to JoBurg by South African Neil Blomkamp, which he shot for Toronto's Spy Films a few years ago. Blomkamp shot his picture in his native South Africa. Similarly, Alvarez has been asked to set his in Uruguay. Unlike Alive in Jo'Burg/District 9, Alvarez says his film will be something unrelated to the short.
Here's Alive in Jo'Burg: