Serendipity Point Films announces start of principal photography on “CLARA” Starring Patrick J. Adams and Troian Bellisario Akash Sherman Writes and Directs Ari Lantos Produces TORONTO, March 6, 2017 - Producer Ari Lantos (Remember, Barney’s Version) announces today that production is underway on the sci-fi drama, “CLARA”, a feature film written and directed by newcomer Akash Sherman. Patrick J. Adams (Suits) and Troian Bellisario (Pretty Little Liars) will star opposite each other, with Kristen Hager (Wanted) and Ennis Esmer (Miss Sloane) rounding out the principal cast. Principal photography will take place in Toronto. “CLARA” tells the story of Isaac Bruno (played by Adams), an astronomer obsessed with searching the cosmos for signs of life beyond Earth, despite the collapse of his own personal life around him. Isaac takes on an unqualified but spirited young research assistant named Clara (played by Bellisario) who restores balance and perspective in the midst of his downward spiral. Working together as a team, their research ultimately leads Isaac to a shocking and profound scientific discovery. “Over the last few years we have entered a new era of science fiction storytelling whereby scientific accuracy and plausibility have superseded pure fantasy as the convention which audiences have come to expect from the genre.” says Sherman.”’CLARA' is a film which aims to deliver on these elevated expectations, while telling a distinctly human and emotional story of self-discovery and love which we can all relate to. I’m truly humbled to have the opportunity to tell this story with Patrick and Troian, and with the full support of Serendipity Point Films." Says producer Ari Lantos, “It’s incredibly exciting to be working with such a gifted and sophisticated young filmmaker. Akash and I first began this collaboration while he was a freshman in film school! Three years ago this project began as nothing more than a one-paragraph idea, so seeing it now come to fruition is a remarkably satisfying feeling. The film balances both scientific discovery and spiritual exploration in a way that is distinctly unique and original, and I can’t wait for the world to see it." "CLARA” is produced by Serendipity Point Films in association with Distant Horizon, Telefilm Canada, Ontario Media Development Corporation, CBC and The Movie Network a division of Bell Media Inc.. Mark Musselman and Anant Singh serve as Executive Producers. D Films will handle Canadian theatrical distribution. Distant Horizon is a subsidiary of the South African based independent production, distribution and financing company Videovision Entertainment. Its award-winning productions include “Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom”, “Sheppards & Butchers”, “Remember”, “The First Grader” and “Don’t Look Up”. Serendipity Point Films recent credits include “Remember”, Academy Award® Nominated “Barney’s Version,” “Eastern Promises,” “Being Julia” and Golden Globe Nominated “Sunshine.” For more information, please visit, www.serendipitypoint.com - # - For further information contact: Unit Publicist – CLARA Charlene Coy c: 416-451-1471 [email protected] Serendipity Point Films Wendy Saffer 416-967-7074 [email protected] -- Serendipity Point Films presents CLARA Production Notes Run Time 102 mins Written & Directed by Akash Sherman Starring Patrick J. Adams and Troian Bellisario Produced By Ari Lantos Serendipity Point Films press contact: Wendy Saffer [email protected] www.serendipitypoint.com O: 416-967-7074 CLARA Director's Statement Over three years ago, I set out to write a story about space - that large, shapeless forever that hangs above and around us. I always stare up a little too long on a clear night, thinking about which stars might have other worlds with life. That cosmic pondering always sparks the same, unbelievable thought for me... "we exist". Just the mere thought of it is pretty crazy, right? Pinch yourself, it's real. And then suddenly, just like that, my existence was shaken. I lost someone very close to me, without warning. Someone who if they hadn't existed - I wouldn't have either. I felt a gaping void that truly felt larger than outer space, and upon pinching myself, I knew it was very real. The story I originally set out to write evolved into something much more. Although the wonder of the cosmos, my love for science, and the discovery of life elsewhere are still very much intact in the film, at its core this film is about love and loss. Death and life. Connection. Those to me are universal concepts that we aren't nearly done exploring. CLARA isn't about the search for life, it is about two lost people who find each other while searching for it. -Akash Sherman Isaac (played by Patrick J. Adams) and Clara (played by Troian Bellisario) in a scene from CLARA. Photo credit Sabrina Lantos. CLARA Short Synopsis Isaac Bruno (played by Patrick J. Adams) is an astronomer obsessed with searching the cosmos for signs of life beyond Earth, despite the collapse of his personal life right in front of him. His relentless research of the night sky leads him into the path of unqualified but confident amateur astronomer named Clara (played by Troian Bellisario). Working together, their efforts ultimately leads them to a shocking and profound scientific discovery. Long Synopsis Following a personal tragedy, a troubled academic astronomer, Isaac Bruno (played by Patrick J. Adams), develops an unhealthy obsession with being the first in his field to make a monumental discovery. NASA has predicted that signs of life will be found elsewhere in our galaxy within a few years using new instruments like the James Webb and TESS space telescopes (both of which are real-life telescopes scheduled for launch by NASA in 2018), and Isaac is now able to use these new advanced tools in his hunt for habitable worlds. With so many stars to look at and so little time before someone else finds signs of extra- terrestrial life before him Isaac’s lack of manpower forces him to take on a research assistant, despite his own reluctance to do so. Clara (played by Troian Bellisario), a worldly young artist with a similar affinity for outer space but who is woefully under- qualified, is the only applicant. Despite her lack of qualifications and their conflicting ideologies, Clara and Isaac work together to discover a nearby solar system with a planet almost identical to our own. As a bond between them develops, their own personal tragedies are revealed, each of which begins to explain why they find meaning in this search for life elsewhere. This connection leads to a scientific and spiritual discovery so profound, it will change everything we know about our own place in the universe. CLARA The secret construct to making CLARA: Q&A with Writer/Director, Akash Sherman Q: In your own words, what is the film, CLARA, about? AS: The film is about connection. That’s the one word I went off of in creating this story - the connection between people, ones we love, ones we lost. The connection between atoms, and how everything came to be. And our connection to what might be beyond us. CLARA is a very human story about two people and the search for life, and it’s framed in a very cosmic way. Q: Can you tell us how the idea of the script came to you? AS: The idea for the film came to me while I was bored in an art history lecture. I just wanted to create something then and there. So, I left the lecture, went for a walk, listened to music, and started thinking about space - because, hey, sometimes I like to think about space. What else is out there? Thinking that big got me thinking small, about us - people. I went to my dorm, wrote for 7 hours straight, and came out with a rough concept for a film rooted by love, loss, life, death, space and discovery. Q: Why did you want to tell this story? AS: I initially wanted to tell this story purely because of my unshakeable fascination with space and our scientific pursuit for life beyond Earth. However, as I was writing the script I lost someone very close to me - my grandfather who was a huge presence in my life. I was so wrapped up in the idea of life being somewhere else, I decided to also focus on how precious life is here. My journey with loss has deepened the story in such a personal way that I have dedicated the film to my grandfather’s memory. Q: What was your knowledge on astronomy prior to starting to work on this film? To what extent, personally, did you do research to verify the authenticity? AS: My knowledge of astronomy at the beginning of this project was embarrassingly basic. I’ve always loved space, but it’s been more of an unshakeable fascination for me rather than a field of study. My first priority was the story. After we had the story, it was about specificity. So, we hit the books! I began a large phase of research with co-story writer, James Ewasiuk, and became more familiar with the field of astronomy and where the world is at right now with the search for habitable planets. We were excited by the upcoming TESS and James Webb Space Telescopes. Total game-changers. We took the accuracy as far as we personally could, and once I finished the first draft, we had several science advisors help take it further. We weren’t actually too far off overall, but the experts really helped make everything more specific, and even plausible. Q: Let’s discuss the script development. How long did it take to complete; what was the process? AS: After Serendipity Point Films picked up the story, it took me about two months to complete the first draft during development.