Local Jock of the Bushveld animation goes international

Head of Visio' Entertainment and executive producer of the movie is Dennis Rice, one of the chief architects in 2006 for campaigns that delivered the largest summer in Disney's history. Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Cars opened to US$60 million and earned over US$240 million in domestic box office and Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest from producer Jerry Bruckheimer had a record setting $135 million opening weekend and went on to exceed over US$1 billion in world wide box office, making it the biggest grossing motion picture in Disney's history.

Local producer Duncan MacNeillie, who recently returned from Los Angeles where he took the film to be viewed by international distributors, says, "We have always believed that this production had the potential to be an international success but couldn't test that potential until we had a product as close to complete as possible."

International and national input

MacNeillie was asked to make certain detail changes to the production - not on the storyline or characters - but to be more explicit on the narrative for a global audience and there is now the possibility of additional big names joining the voiceover cast.

The movie recently secured internationally acclaimed artist Bryan Adams as the voice of Jock and has local artists involved. The professional actors are joined by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, cast appropriately in a cameo role as the voice of the spiritual leader.

Sir Tim Rice, who has contributed lyrics to Aladdin, The Lion King and Evita, is the lyricist for the film and other contributors to the music include Johnny Clegg, Nianell, Craig Hinds of Watershed and Marius Brouwer, who has produced many local hits.

MacNeillie says they would have liked to release the movie in SA first, keeping to the original release date in late March, but this cannot be achieved; the threat of piracy is greatly increased if the SA and US release dates are too far apart, and the first feasible release window in the States will be in the third quarter of this year.

Local marketing partners

Jock's marketing director Andy Rice (brother of Tim Rice) says, "We have had fantastic support from South African marketers in terms of taking out licenses, who have welcomed a brand that will be stronger and will reach a global audience, even if it means waiting a little longer."

Merchandising partner Edgars was one of the first South African brands to align itself with the film. Edgars specialist buyer Alcora du Plessis, says, "The story forms part of our South African heritage and is one we can all relate to. As a leading South African retailer, we support local initiatives and by making t-shirts available in selected stores, we hope to make the legend of Jock live on in people's hearts."

The latest partner to sign up is FNB and its new head of media, Bernice Samuels, says, "Jock is a quintessentially South African story and this is a quintessentially South African bank. As an enthusiastically South African brand, and one that celebrates and drives innovation, we are proud to be associated with the film."

For more, go to www.jock-animation.com.