THE MAN IN THE MIRROR
Director: Brett Halliday
Writers: Brett Halliday with isiZulu content by Bhekisisa Walter Mncube
Producers: Gillian O'Donoghue, Michael Auret, Brett Halliday
Genre: Psychological Drama
Status: In development as a co-Production with Spier Films
Set in Zululand South Africa three Zulu men must re-awaken sleeping demons when Mpiyakhe, now a successful Johannesburg businessman in Johannesburg, returns to his childhood home in rural Zululand. Under adversity they are compelled to “look in the mirror” and make life changing choices. Choices that set off a chain of events with irreversible consequences. Pitch Deck available on request.
Production Companies: Dreamlands Film & Media & Spier Films. Creative team: Writer/Director: Brett Halliday. Translator: Bhekisisa Walter Mncube. Producers: Gillian T O'Donoghue, Michael Auret, Wandile Molebatsi, David Wurawa, Brett Halliday. Director of Photography: Devin Carter. Casting Producer: Fikile Hlatswayo, Production Design: Gillian O'Donoghue. Set Design, Lighting Design, & Poster Design: Barry Downard. Sound Engineer: Marciano Monjane. Editor: Daniel Mitchell. Sound Design: Tyler Halliday. Line Producer: Michael Games. 1st AD: Debbie Ferguson. Office Manager: Wendy Moulton. Cast: John Kani, Terry Pheto, David Wurawa, Sello Maake-Ncube, Jailoshini Naidoo, Dr Gcina Mhlope, Muzi Mthabela, Nay Maps, Mbulelo Grootboom, Rolanda Marais, Graham Clarke, Mapule Ndhlovu, Sorisha Naidoo, Coco Merckel, Frank Malaba, Yasmin Hankel, Mark Mulder, Ashley Dowds, Brendan Grealy, Trish Downing & Annie Robinson.
DARK PORTAL
Director: Brett Halliday
Screenwriters: Brett Halliday
Genre: Paranormal horror 8 X 30 younger skewing returning series
Producer: Brett Halliday, Gillian O'Donoghue
Dark Portal is a dramatic psychological thriller/horror where seven young people are invited to a murder mystery weekend at a remote castle on the coast, where the winner walks away with a bundle of cash. At the start we meet our heroes in their various environments, on entering the castle the door literally slams on them, and they enter that other dark world.
At the castle all communication with the outside world is severed when they are compelled to hand in their tablets and cell phones. as, in the interest of fairness, outside help is forbidden. Then things go horribly wrong when their ghoulish hostess changes the game plan without warning, and macabre incident after macabre incident occurs. The ratio between that ordinary world and paranormal world tips, and we're hooked. Potentially unlimited prequels, sequela, and a series spin off. Pitch Deck/s available on request.
Director: Brett Halliday Producer: Brett Halliday & Gillian O'Donoghue Production & Costume Design Gillian T O'Donoghue Assistant Director: Daniel Perlman & Gary Ellis. Production Manager: Ciaron Davies. Cinematographer: Devin Carter. Sound Engineer: Marciano Monjane. Editor: Daniel Mitchell. Sound Design & Score: Tyler Halliday. Special Effects CGI: Peter May.
THE WAKE
A dramatic love story with a difference written by Brett Halliday, and set in post war rural Republic of Ireland. Status, script developed.
1970's Ireland, a gripping hostage situation with a difference, Danny is holding his wife of thirty years hostage, and if his demands are not met he will burn the building down, but Danny's wife is dead. Garda Superintendent McCarthy is a man who, owing to a long time grudge against Danny, now has the excuse to force entry and arrest him. Enter the beautiful Anne and American hostage negotiator Michael who, along with Danny's friend soon to retire Garda Sgt. O'Reilly, and Parish Priest Father Brennan, must fight against the clock to save the day. The Wake is a beautiful love story with a twist.
The Wake is being produced by Michael Auret of Spier Films with the view to attaching a stellar international and Irish cast and filming in late 2024. Pitch Deck available on request.
CASEBOOK #
Director, Screenwriter & Show Runner: Brett Halliday
Genre: A detective, psychological thriller hybrid
Status: A fully scripted 6X60 returnable series set in UK
While an insecure teenage girl battles to retain her sanity as the world around her descends into disarray, a burned-out once brilliant detective struggles to solve the case that has haunted him for a decade, and destroyed his career. With both parents at loggerheads on how to help their daughter, our detective gets a long overdue chance at redemption when he stumbles on a lead, and both stories head for a head-on collision as the story unfolds.
Casebook #1 has a unique structure, two parallel apparently unrelated stories that head towards a collision in the final episode, finishing on a cliff hanger that sets up the second series, Casebook #2. The mechanism for returnability is the dogged police team that investigate serial murders with a possible paranormal element. As the series unfolds, what lies under the rocks is unravelled, and laid bare in a kicker of a twist. Pitch Deck available on request.