> Projects

PROJECTS

Darren Gets Whacked, feature screenplay, written (2008)

Darren is about to be killed by a pair of foul mouthed, tire-iron wielding, devoutly catholic mobsters with terrible breath and a fetish for girls in kinky costumes. Stuffed in the trunk of a car, the only thing he has to save him are hits wits, his cell phone, and his incessantly nagging girlfriend. 4 people, one scene, and a thousand laughs.

This screenplay has won an Alberta screenwriting award, and is currently in development with Panacea Entertainment of Edmonton.

The Boiler Room (2008)
Short Thriller, 10 Minutes, currently on the festival circuit.

The terrorist who set the bomb claims she doesn’t have the code to disarm it. She swears she doesn’t, even under torture. But there’s only 6 minutes left. And they have her daughter…

The Femme Fatale (2008)
Short Film Noir Mystery, 10 Minutes, currently on the festival circuit.

Sam is a detective. You bring him a murder and he’ll find you the killer. But when Sam’s ex wife walks through his door she brings him a murder case with a twist. She knows who the killer is, he needs to find the victim.
The Detective stars Canadian actors William B. Davis and Karen Ryan.

Outervention (2008)
Short Comedy, 10 Minutes, Premiering at the World Of Comedy Film Festival in Toronto

Poor Kevin has been addicted to everything, drugs, gambling, assembling office furniture, but now his family is beginning to suspect he has become addicted to the interventions themselves. Time for something different… time for an Outervention!

Have Guide Will Travel (2007)
Documentary travel series, 3 half hour episodes. Now playing across Canada on CLT, Access and Book TV

Journey with backpackers Jonathan Joffe, Dan McKee, and a host of friends from around the world as they make their way through one of the most magnificent and varied countries in the world… Mexico! Together they explore the good the bad and the ugly of adventure on a shoestring, and examine the how various travel guides stack up under the pressures and chaos of actual travel.

Episode #1, Mexico City, Taxco, Acapulco Episode #2, Puerto Escondido and Oaxacca Episode #3, Puebla, Huamantla, Isla Mujeres, Chichen Itza

Check local listings at www.clt.ca

Cost Of Living (2005)
Short Sci-Fi Drama, 11 minutes, starring William B. Davis and Andrew Krivanek Now playing on CBC.

What would you pay to live forever?

That is the question posed by Cost Of Living, a short film starring William B. Davis (Cigarette Smoking Man, The X-Files). Set in the near future, when a man dying of cancer attempts to purchase a new body he is forced to decide just how much he is willing to pay for immortality. An engaging script, powerful performances, and stylish effects make this short film a must see for everyone.

“With this film, it’s not the Sci-Fi factor that got me, it’s the human factor.” William B. Davis

Shown at over 45 festivals in 6 countries, and winner of over 15 awards for excellence, this astounding short film is shocking drama and an astonishing tale of independent filmmaking success.

Young Rocket Samurai (2003)
Short Fantasy drama, 21 minutes. Currently playing on Space, the imagination station.

Maximum action on minimum budget, Young Rocket Samurai pushes the limits of independent moviemaking.

Set in a fantasy world our story follows an orphaned Boy living on a distant farm with his Grandfather. When the well is taken over by a Demon, the Boy convinces a Wandering Samurai to train him to fight the monster. Over the years they train together, and the Boy learns the rich and tragic story of his mysterious teacher. In the end the Boy faces his Demon in a spectacular battle of martial arts and magic. If he survives, he will emerge a Young Rocket Samurai.

With stunning photography and spectacular martial arts, Young Rocket Samurai, brings you the action and the beauty of a Hollywood production on a shoestring budget. The result… a 21 minute roller coaster ride of live action and animation filled with magic and adventure.

Completed for only $10,000, Young Rocket Samurai is a testament to the ingenuity and abilities of Producer / Director Jonathan Joffe. With the construction of a 900 square foot blue screen, countless hours of creature makeup, and months of special effects editing, the film is a triumph of talent and creativity, challenging the traditional limitations of independent moviemaking.

A King A Hero A Boy with Courage

Young Rocket Samurai

Calgary Food Bank (2006)
Promotional Video series of 4 five minutes videos

This highly engaging series of promotional videos explains the role and function of the Calgary Food Bank, and how Calgarians can and do help.

To view the videos and learn more about one of the cities largest charities, please visit http://www.calgaryfoodbank.com/main/index.php?page_id=184

Calgary Health Region, Making Health Happen (2006)
Promotional video, 5 minutes.

This 5 minute promotional video was directed by Jonathan Joffe, and produced through Highwood Communications and White Iron Productions.

Bentall Real Estate (2007)
Promotional Video, 4 minutes

This highly stylized promotional video involved the partnership Bentall Real Estate, British Colombia Investment Management Corporation, Ellis Don Construction and Gibbs Gage Architects on a pitch to Imperial Oil for construction of a new high rise office tower worth hundreds of million of dollars.

Upstart (2007)
Ongoing creative development workshop

Upstart is a professional development program hosted by the Alberta Motion Pictures Industries Association and Jonathan Joffe Pictures. The purpose of this ongoing workshop is to create a place for Alberta talent to master the basic creative skills of traditional filmmaking. Upstart brings Alberta Actors, Writers, and Directors together to perform scene studies, fostering ongoing, hands-on practice of the basic filmmaking skills of everyone involved. The program provides a safe environment in which Alberta film and television talent can practice, grow, and thrive.

Participants will perform two scene studies per session, which will be shot and edited together for review at the following session. There will be no lighting, costumes, locations, etc. just the participants and a simple video camera. The emphasis at Upstart is on the creative quality of the performance, not the technical quality capturing that performance. Finished scenes will not be broadcast or distributed, so both union and non-union participants are welcome.

Anyone is welcome to audit, however all participants should have some level of experience in their field. For writers or directors this could be completion of a training program, or short film, or a produced theatre piece. For actors this could be speaking roles on a film or television set, stage work, or extensive training in acting. Please note that scenes performed may contain profanity, and anyone under 18 who wishes to participate will need consent of a parent or guardian.

Participation is based on attendance, and everyone will be given equal opportunity for hands-on practice. There is a fee of $15 to participate in a scene as an actor, writer, or director and $5 to audit as a non-participant.

Upstart will be held every other weekend, on a Saturday from 10:00 am to 2 pm, on the SAIT campus, Room MD 212.

Go to http://www.sait.ab.ca/pages/Campus_map.shtml for a campus map and parking information.

Frozen Feature length Sci-Fi screenplay
Currently in development with long time Canadian Executive Producer Noah Segal (Ginger Snaps II and III, Nothing, Ryan, Black Christmas, Nemesis Game)

What would you do if you had one day to save the world?

A strange machine frozen in the Russian Arctic. A deranged spy with the ability to read minds. A computer counts down, but to what? A thousand unanswered questions, a thousand impossible facts, all somehow interconnected. When the Spy escapes and takes Doctor Nadia Smyslov as his hostage, her life and the fate of the world will rest on her ability to piece together the mysteries of Man and Machine before time runs out.

Think fast… Move fester… Or be Frozen.