Night is best known for his artist-themed illusion show which has been presented in more than 30 countries over the past 15 years and featured on ABC-TV's "Champions of Magic." For "Pavlov," he has teamed with comic and former "Seinfeld" scribe Pat Hazell to write the screenplay.
Billed as "One flea's struggle to rid himself of pests," the story follows Pavlov, an uptight flea from out-of-town that catches a greyhound to the big city in order to claim his inheritance... a canine "property." Once there, Pavlov finds himself waging a suburban war against the rambunctious, untidy and comical misfits who plague his life and mess up his neighborhood. Although Pavlov eventually succeeds in his quest to create an orderly Utopia, along the way he discovers that as a parasite in paradise what gave his life richness and diversity was the very thing he destroyed.
The movie will mark the second collaboration between Exodus, led by John D. Eraklis, and Melwood's Max Howard, who is also producing Exodus' CG-animated feature, "Igor." Howard has been involved in such animated hits as Disney's "Lion King," "Aladdin," "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid."
"Nicholas is a new and exciting talent in the world of animation," said Howard, "a fact he demonstrates in this story, with its originality, wit and charm. His extraordinary skill as a world class illusionist has helped him create a different type of magic, which will be brought to life on the screen."
"This film is very special to me and I am thrilled to be working with Exodus and Melwood,” says Night. “Max has been instrumental in my transition from a life in illusion to, as legendary Disney animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston put it, 'The Illusion of Life.'"
Veteran Disney animator Leon Joosen is attached to direct. He most recently was animation director on both "Scooby Doo" films and at the pioneering CGI studio, Rhythm and Hues. Joosen has also been involved in storyboard and design for DreamWorks and developed projects with director Ivan Reitman.
Pat Hazell has written for NBC's "Seinfeld" and ABC's "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman."
-Wayne N. Kawamoto
