Indie
TV: Flavor Flav’s ‘Nite Tales’ Continues on Network
On the eve of NATPE’s 2009 Market & Conference, Flavor Flav and filmmaker Deon Taylor (Chain Letter) have inked a deal to turn their BET movie NITE TALES into an anthology series. At the same time, syndicator Trifecta Entertainment & Media, headed by CEO Hank Cohen, has formed a joint venture with Dennis Ray’s Star Media, which sells advertising time on syndicated series, specializing in the urban marketplace. The Flav-hosted “Tales” marks the first project to come out of the new venture, TriStar Media.
“Tales,” described as “30-minute tales of irony and twists,” originated with the BET movie that aired on Halloween and is set for DVD release Feb. 3 by BET, Paramount and Deon Taylor Enterprises.
TriStar is co-producing the series with DTE and will look for a cable partner initially. Trifecta would take over distribution duties for a syndication launch. The parties are set to present “Tales,” Trifecta’s first scripted co-production, at NATPE, which kicks off Monday in Las Vegas.
“In forming TriStar Media with Dennis, one of the key objectives is to identify new and innovative properties,” Cohen said. “Teaming with a talented filmmaker like Deon, with his extraordinary vision, imagination and energy, makes ‘Nite Tales’ the perfect launch project for the new venture.”
Taylor describes the new show as “Tales From the Crypt” meets “The Twilight Zone,” with Flav playing a role similar to “Crypt’s” Cryptkeeper as he did in the BET movie. The show will have a Web presence, including an online contest Taylor is planning in which fans can name Flav’s character.
“Flavor Flav is hilarious, but at the same time, the show is in the horror genre,” Taylor said. “It’s going to be very refreshing, a cut away from the norm of what’s on TV right now.”
Taylor said the show will be shot at his Sacramento-based soundstage. He is targeting a young audience that might not have grown up on “Crypt” or “Zone,” for whom “Tales” would be a new concept.
The plan is for “Tales” to premiere this year as a weekly cable series, with an immediate syndication window next year. In success, the parties said the show could follow an expedited production schedule so that, with the cable outlet as a partner, new episodes could be made available as a strip for subsequent years.
Taylor and Flav are set to executive produce with DTE’s Roxanne Avent and former NBA player Mitch Richmond, a business partner of Taylor.
Taylor also is planning a “Tales” movie every Halloween, including one called “Terminated,” written with Thomas H. Fenton (“Saw IV”), that is intended for theatrical release this year. Taylor’s other credits include the feature film “Chain Letter,” starring Nikki Reed.
The Wayans are out to cancel the Cancel Culture with Scary Movie, and the cast assures it will do just that.
“They sort of have an across-the-board style,” Anna Faris tells EW. “It’s always been a part of the Wayans Brothers, their electricity. ‘Can we offend you? Will you still love us? Come on, you still love us, don’t you?'”
Regina Hall concurs, promising the “boundary-pushing” sixth installment in the horror parody franchise will “offend everyone.”
EW has shared a batch of behind-the-scenes images from Scary Movie, which hits theaters June 5 via Paramount.
Faris and Hall are joined by fellow franchise favorites Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Dave Sheridan, Lochlyn Munro, Cheri Oteri, Chris Elliott, and Jon Abrahams in the legacy sequel.
The ensemble includes Damon Wayans Jr., Gregg Wayans, Kim Wayans, Benny Zielke, Cameron Scott Roberts, Heidi Gardner, Olivia Rose Keegan, Ruby Snowber, Savannah Lee Nassif, Sydney Park, Kenan Thompson, and Felissa Rose.
Michael Tiddes (A Haunted House) directs from a script by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, original Scary Movie director Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans (Scary Movie 2), and Rick Alvarez (A Haunted House).
The film will slash through reboots, remakes, requels, prequels, sequels, spin-offs, elevated horror, origin stories, anything with the word legacy in it, and every “final chapter” that absolutely isn’t final.
Scary Movie launched in 2000, followed by Scary Movie 2 in 2001. The Wayans’ involvement ended there, but the series continued with 2003’s Scary Movie 3, 2006’s Scary Movie 4, and 2013’s Scary Movie 5.
Regina Hall & Marlon Wayans on the set of ‘Scary Movie.’ Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Anna Faris on the set of ‘Scary Movie.’ Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Marlon Wayans & Regina Hall on the set of ‘Scary Movie.’ Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Michael Tiddes & Anna Faris on the set of ‘Scary Movie.’ Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Marlon Wayans on the set of ‘Scary Movie.’ Credit: Paramount Pictures.
Regina Hall & Anna Faris on the set of ‘Scary Movie.’ Credit: Paramount Pictures.
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