Slate Entertainment Group (SEG) has acquired worldwide distribution rights to Macon Blair’s The Shitheads starring Luke Wilson and Ron Funches, for its blockchain video on demand platform BINGE. Danny McBride, David Gordon Green and Jody Hill’s Rough House Pictures, Alex Orr (“Atlanta”), and filmscience will produce alongside Jeremy Saulnier, Blair’s Bonneville Films and XYZ Films.  SEG is fully financing the darkly comedic road movie with production to commence at the beginning of 2019.

Although a global streaming platform, SEG is committed to supporting the theatrical experience and will give selected films on the Binge platform theatrical windows.

Written and to be directed by Blair, The Shitheads, based on a story by Blair and Orr, follows a pair of deeply unqualified bozos who’ve been hired to transport a troubled teenage millionaire to rehab. While mayhem and general shenanigans do in fact ensue, it has not been confirmed at this time whether or not important life lessons are also learned. 

“I’ve been carrying this movie in my head for years now which probably accounts for my pronounced physical deterioration,” Blair says, “So I am very delighted to have the opportunity to get it out of my brain and into the world with the help of these collaborators I admire so much. It’s dynamite to be working with SEG, who’ve been so supportive and enthused about the movie. I’m grateful to be a part of their new platform, a place I think indie film is really going to flourish.”

“We have a deep respect for Macon’s work.  It’s an honor for us to work with such a talented individual and launch The Shitheads on BINGE” said SEG Co-Founder and CEO Michael Moyal.  “Our platform aims to tell great stories and collaborate with unique and talented filmmakers.  We’re excited for the journey ahead as we continue to build the Binge library.”

XYZ Films, an SEG strategic partner, will oversee production on behalf of SEG and brokered the deal with CAA Media Finance, which also packaged and arranged financing for the film.

Blair previously collaborated with filmscience and XYZ on his directorial debut, the Netflix Original I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore, which won the 2017 Sundance Grand Jury Prize. He has been developing The Shitheads with Fake Wood Wallpaper Films’ Orr since the two worked together on 2013’s Blue Ruin.

Blair, Wilson, Funches and Rough House Pictures are represented by CAA. Orr is represented by UTA.

At Cannes this year, SEG recently acquired worldwide distribution rights to the much-anticipated cryptocurrency documentary Beyond Bitcoin, directed by Jake Witzenfeld. In addition to The Shitheads, SEG is building out a slate of original content and acquisitions across film and series.

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ABOUT ROUGH HOUSE PICTURES

Rough House Pictures was created as a joint venture between David Gordon Green, Jody Hill and Danny McBride. Following its success with the hit comedy series “Eastbound and Down”, which ran for four seasons on HBO, Rough House has gone on to establish itself as a hub for bold voices in both comedy and drama. Rough House has produced films like Manglehorn, Joe, Flower, The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter & Arizona, as well as television shows like FX’s “Chozen”, HBO’s “Vice Principals” and TBS’s animated series, “Tarantula”.

ABOUT FILMSCIENCE

filmscience has produced numerous features that have been nominated for six Independent Spirit Awards and screened at festivals around the world, including Cannes, Toronto, Sundance and Venice. These films include Kelly Reichardt’s Certain Women, Meek’s Cutoff and Wendy and Lucy, Joe Swanberg’s Hannah Takes the Stairs, Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room and Blue Ruin and Macon Blair's I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore. A number of projects by emerging and established independent filmmakers are currently in development and production, including Saulnier's Hold the Dark and Ritesh Batra's Photograph.

ABOUT SLATE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP (SEG)

Slate Entertainment Group (SEG) is a highly-skilled amalgamation of entertainment, business, and technical expertise. SEG has developed a multi-layer entertainment ecosystem powered by blockchain technology and driven by cryptocurrency designed for mainstream adoption. SEG has a mission to disrupt the entertainment industry using a blend of technology and integrity through a series of blockchain platforms. BINGE, is a blockchain video on demand platform; SLATIX, a blockchain electronic ticketing application; and SLATE, a blockchain entertainment utility protocol.   

The company is led by Co-Founder and CEO Michael Moyal and Co-Founders Marino Kulas and Cody Hackman. Respected industry banners such as XYZ Films, as well as senior film executives originating from leading companies such as eOne, serve on the company’s Business Development and Advisory Board.

For more information on the Slate Ecosystem, visit: www.slate.io