Epic finds new action with Thailand’s Film Frame

Patrick Ewald’s LA-based Epic Pictures is ramping up operations and has signed a three-film co-production and co-financing deal with Thailand’s Film Frame Productions.  

The three films will be action-driven, English language projects with a recognised male lead and the partners are eyeing a late 2010 on the first title. Epic will handle worldwide sales outside Thailand.

“We are going to produce a series of action films that will blow people away,” Ewald said. “These films are going to take a Western story sensibility and combine it with Thai action skills and production value that will deliver on all levels.”

Ewald is here talking up Film Frame’s martial arts adventure The Sanctuary 2 starring Russell Wong, about a man who journeys to the Thai-Cambodian border region in search of the emerald Buddha. The slate includes the Tony Jaa action films Spirited Killer, Hard Gun, Fighter’s Blood, and Battle Warrior.

“Epic Pictures Group’s knowledge and experience will help us add a Western cultural element to make this film appeal to an even wider audience,” Film Frame managing director Thanapon Maliwan said.

Epic has just acquired Timelock Film’s Swedish parkour action film Skills by director Johannes Pinter and will show a trailer cut from rough footage.

Skills is on schedule to be completed shortly after Cannes and stars Swedish parkour expert Marcus Gustafsson, female skateboarder My Magnusson, and martial artist Tim Man. Ewald brokered the deal with Timelock’s Tomas Amlov.