“Congratulations to the team at Possibility Pictures for the nation wide opening of ‘Letters To God’ filmed on our Sound Stage 25,” says Pamela Tuscany, Vice President / General Manager of Universal Studios Florida Production Group. “This was s an ideal example of producers using our facilities, our state incentive dollars and our wealth of talented local crew.”
The movie, which shot for 28 days on the lot and at Central Florida area locations, was directed by David Nixon – one of the producers of Fireproof and Facing the Giants (created and produced by Sherwood Pictures). 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 written by Patrick Doughtie, the story is filled with laughter, love, hope and triumph. For information regarding theaters listings and times visit www.Fandango.com and key word Letters To God.
Producer Kim Dawson notes the series of elements that resulted in moving
the film from Tennessee to Florida. “Pamela Tuscany 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 set dressing that became available in Stage 25.”
Morris and Paul Sirmons – who became co-producers 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.
Rounding out the team were co-writer Art D’Allessandro, co-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 and 20 children from Make a Wish Foundation 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. “It was a life-changing privilege
to work with these terrific and talented young people.”
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. www.letterstogodthemovie.com
