Berlin

Bob Saget  

Producers William G. Santor, CEO of Productivity Media, and Nicholas Tabarrok, President of Darius Films, today announced a three-picture production deal between their two companies.  All three feature films will shoot in the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean as part of a sweeping agreement with the Cayman Islands Film Commission, the Cayman’s Ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs and Dart Enterprises to shoot four films in the country.  This is the first time the Cayman Islands has entered into a multi-production deal and marks a major turning point in the territory’s emerging film industry.  Stringent COVID-19 guidelines have helped the Cayman Islands become a COVID safe zone. 

Blue Iguana is the first film announced under the three-picture production deal between Productivity Media and Darius Films.  The comedy will shoot on the island of Grand Cayman starting March 8th.  Directed by Canadian filmmaker and festival favorite Jeremy LaLonde (James vs. His Future Self, Sex After Kids), from a script by Matthew Dressel (You Tube comedy series “The Pilot is Dead”),  Blue Iguana stars Joel David Moore (James Cameron’s Avatar), Bob Saget (“Full House,” “Fuller House”), Jason Jones (TBS comedy series “The Detour,” HBO Max’s “The Flight Attendant”), Carly Chaikin (“Mr. Robot”), and Mary Lynn Rajskub (Paul Thomas Anderson’s Punch-Drunk Love, Fox Searchlight Pictures’ Little Miss Sunshine and TV’s “24”). 

The cast and crew have arrived on the island amid strict protective and quarantine measures ahead of the start of principal photography.

Mimi Steinbauer’s Radiant Films International is handling worldwide distribution rights for Blue Iguana. Alongside Tabarrok and Santor, Blue Iguana is produced by Leah Jaunzems and Jason Jallet.  John Hills and Andrew Chang-Sang serve as Executive Producers.

Blue Iguana producer Santor said, “We are delighted to announce this first-ever multi-picture collaboration with the Government of the Cayman Islands.  Their vision to develop and foster a robust film industry is very exciting, while offering a safe and secure place for production in these unprecedented times.  Both the Cayman Islands Government and Dart Enterprises have worked tremendously hard to see this through and have been incredibly welcoming and we couldn’t have got this far without the amazing collaboration and support from Eric Bush and Jackie Doak.  We will shoot four feature films in the Cayman Islands with Nicholas and our partners at Darius Films as well as a fourth film planned with Joel David Moore and his Balcony 9 banner.  We are excited to get started with Blue Iguana.” 

Producer Tabarrok continued, “I’m always happy to be in production - anytime, anywhere. But to be in production in a Covid-free country which also happens to be a tropical paradise with this talented group of individuals? I couldn’t be happier or more excited.”

Under the comprehensive production deal, the Cayman Islands Government has facilitated access to multiple locations across the islands, hotel support for visiting cast and crew as well as expedited work permits and essential administration to allow production to start on time.  Strategic partner Dart Enterprises is also providing vital hospitality and logistical support

Eric Bush, Chief Officer of the Ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs, stated: “I am delighted that the Cayman Islands has become a true contender in the highly competitive arena of global film production. This multi-film project will contribute immensely to Cayman’s growing film industry. The producers’ choice of the Cayman Islands for these films showcase its world class sophistication, which combines global talent, modern infrastructure, amazing natural assets and true uniqueness of the British Overseas Territory.”

Jackie Doak, President of Business Development at Dart Enterprises continued: “The Cayman Islands is renowned as a safe, sophisticated and sought after place to live, visit and work, and is even more so now given the successful containment of COVID.  The film industry is the latest sector to appreciate the benefits of doing business in a place with a high standard of living, modern infrastructure, a tax-neutral status and a welcoming community. We are well-positioned to accommodate Cayman’s emerging film industry and know the films produced here will showcase our beautiful natural environment, our cosmopolitan and bespoke locations for filming and our people.” 

In this biting comedy, Daniel Powell’s plan to reconnect with his siblings hits a snag when he discovers they all want to kill him for his inheritance.  As the brothers and sisters are forced to spend the weekend together at the family beach house on the Cayman Islands, one thing becomes painfully clear:  Daniel’s going to find out what family means, even if it kills him.

Joel David Moore  photo Credit David Muller

Actor Joel David Moore appears as Norm Spellman in James Cameron’s epic science-fiction juggernaut franchise, Avatar.  Additional credits include 20th Century Fox’s Dodgeball and Grandma's Boy.  He is also a partner in Balcony 9 Productions, a feature film development fund.  

Funny man Bob Saget is a comedian, actor, television host and director. His television roles include his role of Danny Tanner on the long-running ABC sitcom, “Full House” and its Netflix sequel, “Fuller House.”  He also hosted “America's Funniest Home Videos” from 1989 to 1997.  Saget is well known for his adult-oriented stand-up comedy and provided the voice of the future Ted Mosby on the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother.”

Saget's 2014 comedy album, “That's What I'm Talkin' About,” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.

Jason Jones is an actor and comedian. He was a correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and appeared in HBO Max’s acclaimed “The Flight Attendant.” Jones also starred in the TBS comedy series “The Detour,” which he created with his wife, Samantha Bee.

Carly Chaikin is best known for the role of Darlene in the critically-acclaimed USA Network television drama “Mr. Robot,” starring Rami Malek and Christian Slater.   She first received notice in the breakout role of Dalia in the ABC sitcom “Suburgatory” alongside Jeremy Sisto and Cheryl Hines.

Rounding out the cast is comedian, actress and writer, Mary Lynn Rajskub, who gained fame portraying analyst Chloe O'Brian opposite Kiefer Sutherland in the popular TV series “24.”  Later this year Rajskub will be seen alongside Chris Pratt in The Tomorrow War, and her many film credits include Night School alongside Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia and Punch-Drunk Love, Sweet Home Alabama starring Reese Witherspoon, and Fox Searchlight Picture’s Little Miss Sunshine.

Moore is repped by Management 360, Sloane Offer Weber & Dern, and Imprint PR.

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ABOUT PRODUCTIVITY MEDIA

Led by CEO William G. Santor, Productivity Media develops, co-produces and finances high-quality original film and TV content. With fully-fledged development, production, sales and marketing, Productivity Media is a top destination for first class feature films. The company is behind such indie darlings as the recently released Black Bear, starring Aubrey Plaza, Christopher Abbott & Sarah Gadon, Born to be Blue, starring Ethan Hawke, The Little Hours, with Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza & John C. Reilly as well as Stockholm, starring Hawke, Mark Strong & Noomi Rapace. Productivity Media is currently in post-production on Rodrigo Garcia’s Four Good Days, starring Mila Kunis & Glenn Close,  Percy vs Goliath, starring Christopher Walken & Christina Ricci, Unplugging, starring Eva Longoria & Matt Walsh and the psychological thriller The Immaculate Room starring Emile Hirsch, Kate Bosworth, Ashley Greene and M. Emmet Walsh.

ABOUT DARIUS FILMS INCORPORATED

Darius Films is a prolific film and television production company with offices in Los Angeles and Toronto.  Darius Films has produced over thirty feature films which have been sold around the world and received both commercial and critical success.
Company president Nicholas Tabarrok was honored by Variety Magazine as one the “Top Ten Producers to Watch” in 2008.

ABOUT RADIANT FILMS INTERNATIONAL

Founded by industry veteran Mimi Steinbauer, Radiant Films International is an international sales company that acquires and distributes quality feature films for the foreign and U.S. markets. 

Radiant Films’ slate for EFM 2021 includes the comedy Unplugging starring Eva Longoria (Golden Globe nominee for “Desperate Housewives”), Matt Walsh (Emmy nominee for “Veep”), and Lea Thompson (Back to the Future trilogy), the dramatic thriller Delia's Gone starring Stephan James (TV's "Homecoming," If Beale Street Could Talk), Marissa Tomei (Spider-Man: Far From Home) and Paul Walter Hauser (Richard Jewell; I, Tonya), and the timely drama Percy Vs. Goliath starring Academy-Award winner Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter, Seven Psychopaths), Christina Ricci (Black Snack Moan, Speed Racer), and Zach Braff (Garden State, “Scrubs”).