PRESS RELESE FOR "PURE MALICE"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Movie Works Productions and Archbishop MacDonald High School Proudly Present:

Defying the Odds: Young Movie Makers Celebrate Completion of Feature Film Three Years in the Making

Edmonton, Alberta, May 20, 2005 — On the eve of Alberta’s Centennial Celebration, a group of young high school students from Archbishop MacDonald are adding to the festive atmosphere their own personal story of persistent dedication and incredible accomplishment. As the upcoming release of their feature film “Pure Malice”, set to premiere June 1^st at the Provincial Museum in Edmonton, is steadily approaching, the now grade 12 students find it difficult to believe that this moment has finally come. “Three years ago, the project started out as part of a club activity, with 6 participating members. Now it has evolved into something much bigger than I ever imagined and we are so grateful for all the help and support from the school” says Ann Pirvu, the writer/ director of the film. The complex drama tackles a multitude of philosophical ideas while focusing on the psychological repercussions of making an impulsive mistake and the idea of running away from responsibility, emphasizing the power of choice and playing off of the vulnerabilities of being human, all artistically enveloped into a complex turn of events that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. It may be all smiles and excitement now, but the journey itself was arduous, long, and draining for everyone involved, both physically and emotionally.

“There have been so many moments when I just wanted to give up,” Ms. Pirvu says, “but I was fortunate enough to have a great support system at home that boosted my confidence during those many difficult moments when one of my actors would bail or the word “No” was repeatedly thrown in my face. I am extremely grateful for that!” The complexity of the subject matter alone would be enough to intimidate any young inexperienced filmmaker from attempting to produce such a film, but these teens embraced the challenge, never losing site of the final goal of just completing the shoot, this being their first project of this caliber. “This is not my first time through the creative process of making a movie. My brother and I have made some other short ones for our parents…but…I’ll just leave it at that”, Ms. Pirvu says.

After long hours of shooting after school on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and sometimes even Sundays for 4 months straight, while also having to juggle the demands of a high school education as well as other commitments, and even the International Baccalaureate Program, which some of the production members are enrolled in, the 1hr 45 min resulting feature is now the fruit of their perseverance and tireless effort perhaps soon to pay off this summer and throughout the upcoming months as it is currently pending involvement in more than 5 Movie festivals throughout Canada and the US. The film will premiere June 1^st at the Provincial Museum Theatre, and is to play from June 2- June 4 at Archbishop MacDonald High School as the culmination of a very rewarding experience celebrating the initiative and hard work of our young and talented filmmakers from Edmonton. We anticipate and look forward to much more from them in the years to come!

For additional information on the film, cast and crew, please visit www.youncuts.com and click on Pure Malice. This website is the official site of the Young Cuts International Film Festival - that will be held in Toronto this year Oct. 24-30- in which Pure Malice has been entered.

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