“CITY SLICKERS” RON UNDERWOOD TO DIRECT VERMONT SKIING COMEDY “WOODCHUCKS”

A dramatic comedy about a local Vermont ski team that rises up to save its local mountain from development is being produced by Vermont’s Britton & Broyles Media and Los Angeles based Branded Pictures Entertainment. The "Woodchucks” screenplay written by recent Vermont United States Senate candidate Len Britton and Hollywood writer Rick Parks, will be produced by J. Todd Harris, Bradford Broyles and Britton.

“Our sports-genre dramatic comedy with downhill ski racing as the backdrop is set in Vermont. It’s a New England story and we’d like to film it here, but we also are evaluating resort host opportunities and incentives throughout North America” states producer Broyles. “We view the project as a tremendous opportunity to portray downhill racing with authenticity coupled with a feel good story of small town redemption. Woodchucks has built-in marketing prospects across multiple platforms and we’ll be out garnering support from within the ski and snowboard industry and beyond” concluded Broyles.

“Woodchucks” Director Ron Underwood, best known for City Slickers and Tremors, has directed numerous other features, including Heart and Souls, Speechless, and Mighty Joe Young. He expressed his enthusiasm for the film noting, “it’s been a long time since Downhill Racer, and while Woodchucks is certainly a lighter tone, it has the makings of the first exciting ski movie in a long time. I’m an avid skier and I can’t wait to showcase the sport.”

Len Britton, a Vermont native and former professional ski coach who is also a produced screenwriter (1996’s Precious Find for Republic Pictures) teamed up with fellow native Vermonter Rick Parks, who has written for films Sweet Home Alabama, Hitch and Ever After, as well as several other commercially successful Hollywood films. Britton adds “this is the movie ski fans have been waiting to see. We will make a motion picture that will appeal to everyone who loves skiing and – frankly – underdog sports movies.”

Recent Academy Award nominated producer J. Todd Harris (The Kids Are All Right, Bottle Shock), CEO of Branded Pictures Entertainment, leads the Los Angeles producing efforts. Branded VP Marc Marcum is co-producing. Production is scheduled to commence 4th quarter of 2011.