Sales of the documentary about fans of the biggest bands in history will launch at Hot Docs
Montréal – April 9, 2018 – Seville International is pleased to announce it has secured international rights to I USED TO BE NORMAL: A BOYBAND FANGIRL STORY and will launch sales of the documentary to coincide with its premiere at Hot Docs and will continue at Cannes’ upcoming Marché du Film.
The documentary, which has been five years in the making, made with the help of a global network of boyband devotees who contributed their stories, imagery and artwork to give a fan-made feel to the film. Producer Rita Walsh (Associate Producer, Netflix’s Casting JonBenet) and director Jessica Leski (The Ball) worked with fangirl communities worldwide to help put the finishing touches on their nostalgic doc. The film later received principal production investment from Screen Australia, in association with Documentary Australia Foundation and produced with the assistance of Film Victoria. Walsh and Leski produced the film under their Australian-based Over Here Productions banner. Kristina Ceyton (The Babadook), Samantha Jennings (Cargo) and Deanne Weir (Australia Day) served as Executive Producers.
“I USED TO BE NORMAL: A BOYBAND FANGIRL STORY has been a labor of love for us, and we are beyond excited to share the film with anyone who has ever felt a passionate and undying devotion to a boyband or those who connect deeply with the music from their youth” said director Jessica Leski. “Making this film with Jessica for the past five years has been phenomenal. It’s truly rare to find a subject that sparks the full spectrum of emotions,” added producer Rita Walsh. “We’re thrilled to work with Anick and the team at Seville to share our film with fans everywhere,” said Leski and Walsh.
From The Beatles, to Take That, the Backstreet Boys and One Direction, I USED TO BE NORMAL: A BOYBAND FANGIRL STORY will take audiences back to the fun, fantasy, nostalgia and feelings of their teenage years. Filmed over four years, and spanning three generations, this intimate coming of age story follows a diverse group of women who have had their lives dramatically changed by their boyband obsessions. These women must navigate the challenges of love, sexuality, family and faith, while constantly grappling with all the problems and contradictions that are part of being in love with a boyband.
“I USED TO BE NORMAL: A BOYBAND FANGIRL STORY captures the beating heart of multi-generation mega fans.” said Anick Poirier, Senior Vice President, International Sales, Seville International. “I was very curious to visit the world of fangirls to see how crazy they were and how far they would go for their bands. I was completely charmed by this film. I laughed, cried and am now a fangirl of this documentary.”
The deal was negotiated by Poirier for Seville International and Walsh on behalf of the film.
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About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a global independent studio that specialises in the development, acquisition, production, financing, distribution and sales of entertainment content. The Company’s diversified expertise spans across film, television and music production and sales, family programming, merchandising and licensing, and digital content. Through its global reach and expansive scale, powered by deep local market knowledge, the Company delivers the best content to the world.
Entertainment One’s robust network includes newly-launched MAKEREADY with Brad Weston; content creation venture Amblin Partners with Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media, and Reliance Entertainment; leading feature film production and global sales company Sierra Pictures; unscripted television production company Renegade 83; world-class music labels Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang; and award-winning digital agency Secret Location.
The Company’s rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 80,000 hours of film and television content and approximately 40,000 music tracks.
Seville International is the company’s Montréal-based international film distribution arm specializing in strong independent films with crossover potential and arthouse films with award pedigree from Québec, Canada and around the world.
For more information:
Jackie Rubin
Entertainment One
jrubin@entonegroup.com
424.274.4151
