The Witches of Oz (2011) - update

The Witches of Oz coming soon in different venues:

UK: 2-part special (4 hours) - Syfy July 5th and 12th, 2011
USA - Miniseries (4 hours) shown in fall 2011
followed later by feature film (2 hours)

Description: "Dorothy Gale is a simple girl living with her Uncle Henry in rural Kansas. In her spare time, she writes children’s books, based on the land of Oz created by her grandfather. Her mundane life is turned upside down when she receives an offer from a big New York agency to represent her books. She grabs her faithful dog Toto and her best friend Allen and heads to the Big Apple.

In New York, Dorothy is thrust into a strange new world inhabited by slick talent agents, famous actresses, and pushy businessmen. But things are about to get stranger. Dorothy soon realizes that her books, and her grandfather’s stories, are based in reality. The magical world of Oz and all of its inhabitants are very real and they are coming here! Dorothy and her friends must find the courage, the heart and the smarts to stop the denizens of Oz from taking over our world. They are the only ones who can stop the evil Wicked Witch of the West and her plans of global domination."

Watch trailer on Syfy UK

More on The Witches of Oz

Paulie Rojas as Dorothy Gale, Jeffrey Combs as Frank








Eliza Swenson as Billie Westbrook, Billy Boyd as Nick Chopper








Noel Thurman as Glinda, Barry Ratcliffe as Bryan








Lance Henriksen as Henry, Mia Sara as Princess Langwidere







Images: Syfy UK

The Witches of Oz - preview trailer

Update: The Witches of Oz will be released as both a mini-series and a feature film, dates still yet to be determined. (The premiere on SyFy UK has been postponed.)
In the meantime, here's a video which shows more clips from the film and excerpts from the soundtrack. More details here.

Christopher Lloyd as the wizard

Plot:
Dorothy Gale is a simple girl in rural Kansas who writes children's books based on the land of Oz created by her grandfather. Her mundane life is turned upside down when she receives an offer from a big New York agency to represent her books. In New York, Dorothy soon realizes that her books, and her grandfather's stories, are based on reality. The magical world of Oz and all of its inhabitants are very real and they are coming to New York City! Dorothy and her friends are the only ones who can stop the evil Wicked Witch of the West and her plans for global domination.

Here are song excerpts from the soundtrack

More info on THE WITCHES OF OZ

The Witches of Oz premieres on Syfy UK - April 6

The new 2-part series "The Witches of Oz", directed by Leigh Scott, will make its debut in the UK...

Update: Not on Syfy Channel UK schedule as originally reported, waiting for news of new date

"Fantasy adventure starring Paulie Rojas as Dorothy Gale, an author of children's books based on the land of Oz created by her grandfather. After heading to New York following an offer of representation by a large agency, it emerges that the world she has been writing about is based on reality and that the Wicked Witch of the West has plans for global domination - so she and her friends try to stop the inhabitants of Oz from taking over."

Also starring: Billy Boyd, Eliza Swenson, Sean Astin, Ethan Ambry, Lance Henriksen and Christopher Lloyd as the wizard.

More details posted earlier

Trailer:

The Witches of Oz (2011) - production update

Leigh Scott (writer, director and producer) of The Witches of Oz has posted a note on Facebook detailing the current status of production.

"... During the shoot, we allowed the film to grow to meet the material. We followed our hearts instead of our wallets. The entire time, we all knew we were making something special.

In order to compensate for the expanding budget, we entered into a distribution agreement and made the decision to turn the film into a two part mini-series. We had already spent enough for two movies, and the first cut was over three hours long, so why not sell it that way?

During post-production we encountered the same thing that we did while shooting. The film demanded more, bigger and better. Unlike the production phase, we discovered that not everyone in our midst was up to the challenge. A few people we hired lacked the skill, drive, and determination to deliver. Some, I recommend, should seek a different career path altogether. Of course this has happened to me before. Nine times out of ten, the visual effects in smaller films underwhelm. Usually, you just do your best to cut around them, make them darker, and accept the fact that the business trumps the artistic integrity of an independent film. But that old attitude wasn't good enough. We went back and redid 90% of the visual effects. In fact, both videos floating around the internet feature these old effects.

We've given ourselves deadlines numerous times to finish the project. Yet, when we reach them and the film isn't 100% the way we want it, we ask ourselves "why"? Why put out something that you know isn't the best that it can be? We've come this far, why not go all the way?

That explains why the film isn't ready for release. While the two part version is a great mini-series or made for TV event, the theatrical version is the type of film that builds life long fans and warrants repeat viewing. It's just too on the money to not let people see it. And we will release it when we know it's right.

Oz is far too important to too many people to not give it the respect and the reverence that it deserves. People have worked too hard to see their labor and artistry not receive the praise that it deserves. The challenge to making a great movie is insuring that the sum is equal to the greatness of its parts. That takes a lot of time and a lot of detailed work.

There is a saying in Hollywood. Fast, cheap, good….pick two. We've made a movie that hangs with studio releases for a fraction of the cost. That means we can either make it fast or good. We choose good.

This is also the first film I've made that had enough interest to warrant speculation and rumors. Let me clear those up. The film is not a musical. Yes, there are two versions of the film and both will be available. Yes, we will be putting the film into theaters. No, it won't be on February 18th. And as for a sequel…well, I can't rely confirm or deny that at this point...

So there you have the update. It's a story of courage, heart, brains and realizing that you have all the skills and tools you need inside as long as you believe in yourself.

Hmmm…that's funny. Now where have I heard THAT story before?

They do say you should write what you know."

> more on The Witches of Oz
> The Witches of Oz facebook group
> More on Wizard of Oz adaptations