David Carrico today announced the launch of his Los Angeles-based film and television development, production and finance banner Valparaiso Pictures. As an incubator for edgy, eccentric, and diverse content, the new venture is setting out to create opportunities for distinct voices in drama, comedy and genre, enabling and championing creatives to find their audience. The banner’s first project is After Perfect, written by Elizabeth Chomko (What They Had). Valparaiso is producing the adaptation alongside Matt Reeves’ banner 6th & Idaho Productions and Joshua Thurston.
Based on bestselling author Christina McDowell’s memoir of the same name, After Perfect is a cautionary tale about one family’s destruction in the wake of the Wall Street implosion. The story follows Christina who grew up in an affluent Washington, D.C. suburb living a life of luxury which was brutally stripped away after her father was arrested on fraud charges. Foundry Literary + Media handled the book rights on behalf of McDowell.
“We’re so excited to be launching Valparaiso with After Perfect and the talented Elizabeth,” said Carrico. “It’s an exciting time in the media industry, and we’re thrilled to be here to champion our fellow filmmakers, whether it’s finding untold stories to bring to the screen, or enabling burgeoning writers and filmmakers to take creative risks.”
Chomko most recently wrote and directed Bleecker Street’s What They Had starring Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon and Taissa Farmiga. The film, Chomko’s directorial debut, will be making its international Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Carrico is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist who previously co-founded CMG LLC, a music and entertainment technology consulting firm; EvntLive Inc, a digital interactive concert platform that was acquired by Yahoo! in 2013; and PrimeMind, Inc, a digital media company. Carrico has also invested in and advised more than 20 startups across a variety of industries.
In addition, Bobby Hoppey has joined the company as the Director of Development. He was previously at Echo Lake Entertainment, an independent production company and financier. During his tenure, Hoppey managed the film division's slate and worked closely with the company's talent management division and clients, including Dakota and Elle Fanning.
The company is in active development on a slate of projects as well as adapting shorts into feature length films and TV projects. In addition to After Perfect, Valparaiso Pictures is also behind shorts such as Lucas Amann’s Peopling and Stranger Thing’s writer & Blacklist alum Kate Trefry’s How to Be Alone with Maika Monroe, and James Gallaghers’ Love, starring Susan Sarandon and Boris McGiver.