'The Chosen Ones' is a feature film collaboration which brings together a small, multi-talented and experienced production team from both the UK and Bulgaria. The film is currently in the pre-production stage with filming scheduled to begin in April 2016.
This micro-budget production will be filmed entirely on location in the Varna/Black Sea region of Bulgaria using an Anglo-Bulgarian mix of actors and crew. It is a social awareness/coming of age story mixing the genres of comedy, science fiction, fantasy and horror. A film that aims to give an entertaining and positive message to all young people across the globe.
'BE THE CHANGE THAT YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD'
The main body of the cast consists of young Bulgarian actors with an age range of 12 to 22 years, together with five actors aged from 22 to 32 years. The cast will also feature two experienced British actors. The Chosen Ones will be made with English as the spoken language with Bulgarian sub-titles. The experienced crew are all Bulgarian nationals.
The writer and director is Mel Mills, an experienced British actor who takes a cameo in the film.
The film is aimed at a target audience of ages 12+ years, but is also intended to appeal to young and mature adults alike. The appeal of the film is intended to be both entertaining and educational. The writer /Director has a background of working for Government institutions, as a cognitive behavioural therapist, delivering motivational programmes to young people,spanning over 30 years. He has also been acting and engaged in film making since he was 15 years of age.
A campaign to raise modest funds will begin Late February 2016 along with details announcing opportunities for product placement. Proceeds raised, will be used towards funding the production stage.
The production team, actors and crew are giving their services on a deferred fee basis. 25% of residual income that may result from final distribution, also from the sale of the proposed graphic novel that will follow, will be divided equally to three Bulgarian charities, as nominated by each of the producers.
THE TEAM
Taraq Qureshi (Producer) Jj Filmworks Bulgaria Ltd
Evegina Rakatina-Qureshi (Producer/ Production Manager) Jj Filmworks Bulgaria Ltd
Mel Mills (Writer/Director/ Producer) One Big Finger Productions Ltd (UK)
Ivo Rakatin (DOP/Camera/Sound/Lighting) Jj Filmworks Bulgaria Ltd
Andrey Andrikov-Arcane (Assistant Director/Continuity)
Tessa McGinn (Artistic Director/Associate Producer/Continuity)
Ally Fine (Co-Ordinator/Boom Operator)
ACTORS
The principle roles (Bulgarian) have already been cast, using the 'Acting for Camera' film school in Varna. Those who attend this progressive acting school receive regular coaching from Evegina Rakatina - Qureshi and Taraq Qureshi (Jj Films Bulgaria) in the skills needed to act for film and TV. The two roles that will provide English actors in the production have also been cast. Check out our actors in the Gallery page.
TARAQ QURESHI - PRODUCER JJ FILMWORKS BULGARIA
1. Andrey Andrikov-Arcane 2. Desislava Marinova 3. Boris Borisov 4. Milen Denchev 5 . Galatea Laleva 6. Silvia Stoyanova 7. Elitsa Nizamova 8. Paolina Gocheva 9. Zdravko Petrov 10. Emanuela Hristova 11. Ivan Iliev 12. Stefan Ivanov 13. Diana Proddanova 14. Alexandra Kiryazova 15. Tessa McGinn 16. Mel Mills 17. Stu Hale 18. Ally Fine 19. Evgeniya Rakitina-Qureshi 20.Taraq Qureshi
I am an international independent motion picture and Film producer, having 1.5 decades of film industry experience backed by many courses from prestigious institutions like Raindance, Four Corners Workshop, and Theatre Venture etc.
My career journey started with theatre and consequently moves to film making. I involved myself as producer and / or investor in short films and features. Today I am an international independent motion picture and Film producer. I make commercially successful feature films and niche market films.
My professional contacts consider me fully equipped with 4Is (i.e. Ideas, Innovation, Intelligence, and Information) with immense networking among prestigious industry personalities both in production and finance. Industry has recognized my contribution through many awards such as Millennium Awards fellow. I am a commission agent for one of the largest film studios in Europe, www.nuboyana.com(Sofia Bulgaria). Recently I was also appointed as agent for Sarke Studios.
I have unparalleled zeal for innovation and passion for work with a vision "Art for art sake, money for God sake"
I believe in trusting people and value integrity, honour among the people that are my friends, contacts, associates and those that I work with. I pay specific attention to all the details up to very fine level and I consider it as one of the critical reason behind my success.
Inspiring quote for me is "Success is not an event but the result of continuous Smart Work with Strong Determination and Visionary directions"
Mel Mills - PRODUCER/DIRECTOR ONE BIG FINGER PRODUCTIONS
I'm delighted to be co-producing this Anglo-Bulgarian feature film alongside JjFilmworks. As a British actor, my involvement with the film and TV industry began back in 1975, when I played my first lead role in a British comedy/horror. I was one of a handful of teenagers who decided we would use the school summer holidays, to make a film and enter the BBC Horror Film Competition. The film was awarded a prestigious Runners up award, presented by the iconic British actor, Michael Winner and the seeds of my desired career were sown.
It would be another 30 years before I was able to realise my life's ambition to become a professional actor. My career choices until then, were based on a need to provide for myself and my young family. During that time, I founded several successful businesses and also worked for several years for various Government agencies. My varied career included invovement in the music business, managing and promoting bands and orchestras, as well as being the founder and co director of a specialist security provider/advisor for the entertainment industry.
I was also employed by the Ministry of Justice for many years, delivering and managing cognitive behavioural programmes for young men and women with substance misuse issues and addiction problems. Using a socratic teaching style, students are required to role-play real life scenarios to identify and problem solve personal issues. My belief in young people's ability to make positive changes in their lives has continued to inspire much of the work I undertake as an actor, and ultimately led me to write the screenplay for 'The Chosen Ones'.
I have been fortunate as an actor, to have worked on many films, commercials and TV drama/documentaries, as well as providing corporate businesses with an opportunity to enable specific training needs/opportunities to their staff. My work, both at home and abroad, has given me an insight into the invaluable and unique opportunities that exist, to use film as a platform for further learning and as a way to bring people together in an enjoyable and rewarding environment, which both encourages cross cultural communication, understanding and respect for one another.
For the past five years, my time has been equally divided between living in Kent, England and the Varna region of Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. During this time I have involved myself with networking and meeting film media professionals and establishing links to promote the idea of co-producing projects in Bulgaria. It is the intention of Jj Filmworks and myself to further explore the opportunities that exist, to produce many more feature films there in the future and to promote this idea to other British film production companies. This aim will hopefully be achieved through the successful co-production of our micro-budgeted feature film, 'The Chosen Ones'.
Tessa McGinn Ass Producer/Artistic Director
I began my career as an actor and singer and have been lucky enough to work extensively in film, TV, radio and theatre; my credits include the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and The Royal Shakespeare Company.
I am a supporter of independent film-makers, new-writing and all those wishing to expand and explore their creativity, and since moving to the Bath/Bristol area of England I have developed strong relationships with The Made In Bristol TV Channel and a growing number of independent filmmakers and musicians in the region and beyond. I love my work. My motivation is the work itself, the expression of an idea, the joy of sharing and creating something fresh and hopefully inspiring with like-minded people, the journey, the source, the act of creation in all its forms.
As well as being a performer, I am also a choir-leader and writer of songs and stories. I have co-written one children’s album as well as taking a number of commissions for songs for the theatre and for film. My first short film script was filmed last year and I am already thinking up new scenarios. My works of fiction have been published by Kindle Press and are science fantasy fiction stories and novels for young people. My next novel is nearing completion and will hopefully be published in 2016/7.
A few years ago I was asked to lead a number of drama, music and song-writing workshops for young people aged 11-19 years. This was a new direction for me and through it I discovered a passion for working with this age-group exploring their creativity, their passions and ambitions. ‘The Chosen Ones’ resonates with this and with so many of my deeply held beliefs about working with people to create ‘the dream’. I consider myself most fortunate to be part of the talented, creative and experienced team making this wonderful film.