THE WRAP 
This past summer, the cast and crew of Fat Kid Rules the World took to the streets of Seattle to film this feature length comedy. Matthew Lillard, formerly known for his role in 2002’s Scooby Doo, made his directorial debut for the film. Tonight, Fat Kid will be premiering at the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas.
KOMO News
Four feature films are finishing up production in Seattle this summer. KOMO News reports that these might be the last big movie projects our city sees if lawmakers do not renew the state film incentive. Efforts to renew the incentive died in the state legislature earlier this year. KOMO‘s Elisa Jaffe talked to members of the creative team behind the film Fat Kid Rules the World, which just wrapped filming around Seattle last week. They agreed that the film incentive brought this project to Seattle, and that the lack of an incentive program will push future work over to Portland or Vancouver, B.C. Washington Filmworks, the state’s nonprofit film office, will lobby again to renew the incentive during the 2012 legislative session. “This program gave out $14 million, actually got $54 million in direct spending in this state,” said Amy Lillard, executive director of Washington Filmworks. “So the return on the investment is very clear.”
Pulling Focus
Filmmaking is like baking a cake with a long list of ingredients. From producing to directing, acting to music, there are countless components that go into the successful completion of the final product, and each must be carefully calculated and understood before mixing with other parts. “Pulling Focus,” an event at the Sorrento Hotel moderated by the dynamic Warren Etheredge of The Warren Report, is a panel designed to provide a discussion platform for the diverse patrons in the business of film. The upcoming “Pulling Focus” welcomes special guest Rick Rosenthal, who has directed films such as Halloween II and worked on TV shows like Smallville and The Practice. He currently runs White Water Films, which is producing actor Matthew Lillard’s directorial debut Fat Kid Rules the World, currently filming in Seattle. Following the conversation, dialogue is encouraged to continue with a cocktail party hosted by Washington Wine Commission.
The Hollywood Reporter
Based on the best-selling young adult novel by K.L. Going, Fat Kid Rules the World is the story of troubled and overweight teen Troy Billings, who is saved from committing suicide by Marcus Macrae, a young punk rocker. The two form an unlikely friendship that shapes the rest of their lives. The film is currently being shot in Seattle and is the directorial debut of actor Matthew Lillard (Scooby Doo, Scream, SLC PUNK!). The Hollywood Reporter highlighted the film in a recent casting brief, which reported that actor Billy Campbell (Once And Again, The Killing) has joined the film to play Troy’s father.
