Corner Gas: The Movie Producers Invite Fans to be Part of the Movie-Making Experience with Launch of Kickstarter Campaign

- Rewards include exclusive 'backers-only' merchandise and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, like a chance to name a character in the movie, be in the movie, and host a private world-premiere screening with Brent Butt -

- Contributing fans can become members of the Corner Gas Backers' Club, an exclusive, online, all-access backstage pass to the making and release of the movie -

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/cgkickstarter

TORONTO, May 20, 2014 /CNW/ - As announced today by Bell Media and Telefilm Canada, the gang from Dog River is back and now the Executive Producers of CORNER GAS are inviting fans - both loyal and new - to be part of the movie-making magic of Corner Gas: The Movie. Beginning today, Prairie Pants Distribution launches a 30-day Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to provide once-in-a-lifetime rewards and experiences. Fans can access the campaign at cornergasthemovie.com.

**Media Note**
Download artwork for Corner Gas: The Movie at BellMediaPR.ca.
Click on the link for Brent Butt's Kickstarter Video re Corner Gas: The Movie.

"With financing for Corner Gas: The Movie firmly in place, the focus of our Kickstarter campaign is to give fans the chance to be part of the-movie-making process from production all the way to the release of the film in December 2014," said Virginia Thompson, Executive Producer.

Kickstarter contributions to Corner Gas: The Movie range from $5 to $300 for collectable, 'backers-only' merchandise, and from $500 to $8,000 for limited, personalized one-of-a kind experiences. Contributions may be made securely by credit card through Kickstarter via cornergasthemovie.com.

Rewards include a chance for backers to get their name in the movie credits, exclusive 'backers-only' t-shirts, ball caps, posters and DVDs, autographed scripts, rare collectables from the set, and VIP tickets to red carpet screenings. There are also opportunities to spend a day on set and meet the cast, name a character in the movie, appear in the movie - or, the ultimate experience - host the private, world-debut screening of the movie with Brent Butt at the backer's local theatre.

Backers can obtain entry to the Corner Gas Backers' Club, an exclusive, online, all-access backstage pass where they will receive video messages from the cast and crew, interviews with fans that visit the set, the latest behind-the-scenes updates, photos, and footage - from the cast reunion, to the making-of process, to red carpet premieres.

If the initial $100,000 Kickstarter goal is surpassed, additional funds will be used to enhance visual effects in the production, fly the cast to Cineplex premieres across Canada, and maintain the CORNER GAS set in Rouleau, Saskatchewan as a tourist destination for one year.

Corner Gas: The Movie begins production in Saskatchewan on June 23, 2014. The 90-minute feature film will be delivered to Canadians as a national event on multiple screens. The first-ever release strategy of its kind, the film will open with a Cineplex exclusive theatrical debut followed by premieres on The Movie Network, CTV, and The Comedy Network, complemented by a special collector's edition DVD available for purchase before the holidays.

Corner Gas: The Movie is an inter-provincial co-production produced by Corner Gas The Movie (ON) Inc. and Corner Gas The Movie (SK) Inc. in association with CTV, Telefilm Canada, Cineplex Inc., Tourism Saskatchewan, Creative Saskatchewan, the Canada Media Fund and Prairie Pants Distribution Inc. CORNER GAS is distributed world-wide by Prairie Pants Distribution Inc.

WEBSITE:

cornergasthemovie.com

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
@CornerGas
#CornerGasMovie
@VirginiaTV - Virginia Thompson
@BrentButt - Brent Butt
@MillerGabrielle - Gabrielle Miller
@FredEwanuick - Fred Ewanuick
@janetwstorm - Janet Wright
@LorneCardinal - Lorne Cardinal
@TSpencerNairn - Tara Spencer Nairn

Facebook:
Facebook.com/cornergasthemovie

Instagram:
Brent Butt

About Prairie Pants Distribution
Prairie Pants Distribution Inc. is the world-wide distributor of CORNER GAS: THE MOVIE. Owned by Corner Gas Executive Producers Brent Butt (Sparrow Media), David Storey (Aslan Entertainment) and Virginia Thompson (Vérité Films), Prairie Pants Distribution is responsible for creating, managing and fulfilling the CORNER GAS: THE MOVIE Kickstarter Campaign.

About Vérité Films
Vérité Films Inc. is a boutique production company committed to incubating great ideas and championing creative talent. Founded in 1994 by Producer/Series Creator Virginia Thompson and Writer/Director/Series creator Robert de Lint, the company has established a reputation for producing quality prime-time dramas and comedies, as well as children's, youth and family programming — with smash hit successes including: CORNER GAS, INSECURITY, RENEGADEPRESS.COM and INCREDIBLE STORY STUDIO. Vérité has created and produced over 250 episodes of critically acclaimed television that has sold worldwide. The company has won or been nominated for 114 national and international awards including an International Emmy, several Gemini Awards and The Prix Jeunesse. Vérité is developing a dynamic slate of hour-long drama series, half-hour comedies and features for Canadian and world markets. For more information, please visit www.veritefilms.ca.

About Sparrow Media
Sparrow Media Co. is comprised of hard-working, no-nonsense, rough-and-tumble go-getters with a knack for hyphenated phrasing. Brent Butt, the creator, head writer, showrunner, executive producer, and sometime director of the top-rated sitcom in Canadian television history, CORNER GAS, is President and Executive Producer of Sparrow Media. Laura Lightbrown of DA VINCI'S INQUEST and INTELLIGENCE is VP, Business Affairs and Executive Producer. Together they co-executive produced with David Storey, the television comedy series HICCUPS; Butt was also creator, writer, and show runner for the series. They recently co-executive produced the feature film NO CLUE, a comedy noir detective tale written by and starring Brent Butt. Carl Bessai was recently awarded Best Director for NO CLUE at the LAComedyFest. More information is available at sparrowmedia.com.

About Aslan Entertainment
David Storey, an award-winning executive producer, director and show developer, is President of Aslan Entertainment Inc., an independent production company creating quality digital, television and feature entertainment. Best known for co-executive producing and directing the runaway hit television series CORNER GAS, he also co-executive produced and directed Brent Butt's follow-up series HICCUPS. With Pier 21 he co-executive produced the two-part mini-series KEEP YOUR HEAD UP KID: THE DON CHERRY STORY and co-created and directed the Ron James' series BLACKFLY. He also directed THE SEÁN CULLEN SHOW and the standup comedy series COMICS where he worked with some of Canada's best and brightest funny men, including Brent Butt, Ron James and Mark Farrell. Storey is the recipient of six Leos, three Geminis, two Canadian Comedy and two Director's Guild Awards. He is currently in development as Executive Producer on two features, one is a co-production with Vérité Films. More information is available at aslanentertainment.ca.

Image with caption: "Corner Gas: The Movie (CNW Group/Bell Media) (CNW Group/Executive Producers, Corner Gas: The Movie)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140520_C9019_PHOTO_EN_40518.jpg

SOURCE: Executive Producers, Corner Gas: The Movie

For further information:

Margaret Sirotich, Unit Publicity, 647.466.1746 or [email protected]