CANE TOADS: THE CONQUEST Set For Sundance

Jim here. After hearing about CANE TOADS: THE CONQUEST back in March from director Mark Lewis, I've been wondering how they've been doing with the completion of their project this month.

They just got in touch with me with a huge update for them: They will be premiering at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2010.

From their press release:
Cane Toads: The Conquest explores the history, the science, the human conflict and the bizarre culture surrounding Australia’s most notorious environmental blunder – the introduction of the South American cane toad. As we follow the march of the toad across the Australian continent, director Mark Lewis (Cane Toads: an unnatural history, The Natural History of the Chicken) injects his trademark irreverence and humor into a story filled with engaging characters and extraordinary first hand accounts.

Since Lewis first explored this story in his 1988 cult classic Cane Toads: An Unnatural History, the toads have continued their spread from town to town and from state to state, now occupying nearly a third of the country. At the same time, they have evolved into a bigger, faster, even more robust creature. “The situation is constantly evolving, both in terms of the ecological impact and the cultural impact of the toads. So, it made sense to look at where we – and the toads – have gotten to now.”

Filmed with high-resolution 3D digital technology, Cane Toads is the first Australian digital 3D feature film. The 3D cameras and rigs used in the film were designed to allow viewers to get up close and personal with the toads. Lewis has likened the unique viewing experience to being “immersed in the world of the toad”.

“The story of the cane toad might be an epic disaster, a comedy of errors or a tale of rousing success,” says Lewis. “It all depends entirely on your perspective.”

Screen Australia, Participant Media, Discovery Studios and Radio Pictures present Cane Toads: The Conquest, written and directed by Mark Lewis. The Executive Producers are Jeff Skoll, Diane Weyermann and Clark Bunting.

I am looking forward to seeing this one. The story is certainly unique and of course 3D is very well suited for movies that have a water theme. Good luck with the premiere!

"Cane Toads 2" Invading In 3D

Jim here. I had an exclusive talk with Director Mark Lewis and he said that he has a new 3D project coming out soon that is close to his heart...

CANE TOADS 2 is a live action 3D film that is a follow up to the successful film CANE TOADS: AN UNNATURAL HISTORY. Mark is directing as he did the original, released in 1988.

The original was a 47 minute documentary (at times humorous) reviewing the introduction of Cane Toads in Australia to help control a sugar cane pest. Seems after being brought to down under, they refused to eat the sugar cane grubs and instead multiplied like rabbits. To make things worse, they have no natural enemies in Australia, partly because of their poisonous skin. CANE TOADS is used in schools and colleges to assist with biology and environmental science classes. It was also nominated for a BAFTA as Best Short Film and Roger Ebert calls the original "One of my favorite films".

Says Mark: "The film follows the journey of the cane toad in Australia and features a disparate cast of characters commenting on the impact of the toad since their introduction. From the lush rain forests of Puerto Rico, to the vibrant cane farms of far North Queensland then traveling through the mangroves of the Gulf Country into the harsh and arid landscape of the Northern Territory. The journey ends in Western Australia as thousands of toads are now poised only a few miles from the border and with the coming wet season the flood waters will spread them further West into thousands of square miles of the Kimberly region."

Mark adds, "Whether the story is a tragedy, a comedy of error or a tale of success - depends on your perspective."

The anticipated delivery is in December of this year. It is being distributed in Australia by Madman Entertainment and the US through Participant Media. The film is a co-production with Participant Media, Discovery Studios, Screen Australia and Radio Pictures.

I have not seen the original, but I suspect that the sequel will echo the outstanding research (that obviously WASN'T done when the toad was introduced!) and interject humor to bring out the best again of what seems to be a very entertaining news story. 544 votes on IMDb have the original pegged at 8 stars out of 10. Not bad!

I will give fair warning though: a little flick by the name of AVATAR will be clearing a fairly large swath of 3D screens in December of this year, including IMAX. I do hope their release goes well - just make it early December!

UPDATE March 17: Just heard again from Mark - they will be delivering the project in December but distribution will occur later! :-)