Simon Pegg is attached to star in LOST TRANSMISSIONS, a dramedy set in the music industry that Katharine O’Brien will direct for Pulse Films, the company announced Tuesday.
Based on O’Brien’s script, Lost Transmissions follows a shy songwriter named Hannah who discovers her friend, respected record producer Theo Ross, has lapsed on his schizophrenia medication. Hannah rallies a group of friends to help commit Theo to a psychiatric facility, chasing him as he outruns his colorful delusions through the glamour and grit of Los Angeles.
Thomas Benski and Lucas Ochoa will produce for Pulse Films, whose Brian Levy will serve as executive producer. Craig Newman of ATC Management will co-produce and Alvaro Valente will serve as associate producer. UTA Independent Film Group is representing domestic rights.
“At Pulse we’ve always been about discovering and championing new filmmakers and therefore we’re super excited about Katharine and her debut film. We are genuinely excited that we will be bringing this remarkable true story to life with Katherine O’Brien and the incredibly talented [Simon] Pegg,” said Benski.
“In dealing with mental health, Lost Transmissions combines both comedic and tragic elements. Simon has such a uniquely attuned sense of how to play a range of comedy in moments that still feel real. I’m excited to embrace his very fine skills as a dramatic actor with this film,” added O’Brien.
Pegg currently stars in the Star Trek and Mission: Impossible franchises for Paramount, though he’s also the beloved star of Edgar Wright’s Cornetto trilogy, which includes Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End. He’s represented by UTA and Dawn Sedgwick Management.
After directing a number of award-winning short films, O’Brien wrote and made her feature directorial debut with The Automatic Hate, which premiered at SXSW in 2015. She’s repped by Pulse Films and Danny Passman at Gang, Tyre, Ramer and Brown.
Pulse Films recently produced Andrea Arnold’s American Honey, as well as Sundance winners The Witch and All These Sleepless Nights. Its latest Sundance entry, Trophy, is set for release later this year.
Jeff Sneider | Editor in Chief