Toronto – August 5, 2011
Award-winning director and producer Rob Heydon has wrapped filming his latest project Ecstasy, a culmination of an 11-year journey. Based on the novel by Irvine Welsh, (the esteemed author of Trainspotting), Ecstasy combines Welsh’s provocative characters and superb story telling with shocking thrills and dark comedy, taking us on a journey into a crafty, drug fuelled contemporary satire on modern culture.
It’s been 11 years since Welsh first met Toronto filmmaker Rob Heydon to discuss the project. In that time, the film has had to recast a lead actor, move shooting to another country, and won and lost financing several times.
Starring talent such as Kristin Kreuk, Billy Boyd, Adam Sinclair, Colin Mochrie and Dean McDermott, the film captures Scottish writer Irvine Welsh as he entranced and shocked the literary world with his 1993 novel, Trainspotting. With more than 310,000 likes online, viewers can visit www.facebook.com/IrvineWelshsEcstacy and www.ecstasythemovie.com.
Shot in Sault Ste. Marie and Toronto, as well as Scotland and Amsterdam, Ecstasy follows the romance between Heather (Canada’s Kristin Kreuk) and Lloyd (Scotsman Adam Sinclair) as they explore a chemical romance and discover whether their love for one another is real or not.
Surrounding Lloyd’s personal story is a widescreen thriller taking the audience on a journey through the power politics of both the clubber and gangsters, along with the good and the evil.
“I want Ecstasy to be the most viscerally thrilling,
emotionally exhilarating and life-affirming film,” said Heydon. “It’s fast moving, kinetic, unstoppable, blazing with colour, surprise and energy.” Heydon added, “The world of Ecstasy is challenging. Many of the events are violent and
shocking, but above it all, I feel passionately this
is a story of great hope, love and rekindling faith.”
Lloyd’s emotional experience is at the heart of this film. Every step he takes leads him deeper into the secret world of his faith and love, forcing him to confront himself and his own beliefs and prejudices.
sing hand-held cameras, mixing up drama and real life, shooting fast to capture performance and the ever changing light, the film reflects the hypnotic essence of life that young people face today.
Ecstasy also features a soundtrack by Coldplay, Primal Scream, Tiesto, Deadmau5 as well as many Canadian Artists including Bonjay, The Mahones, Hawksley Workman and others.
Heydon has researched all sorts of ecstatic experiences, from the Ecstasy drug itself to dancing in a state of trance.
“Everyone is texting and e-mailing, like time has sped up,” said Heydon. “Everyone is in a rush to get there quicker, to reach a transcendental state as fast as they can.” Heydon added, “If there’s a pill, they’ll take it. But what are the repercussions of that on their family, friends and society at large?”
Rob Heydon has had a prolific career directing and producing over one hundred music videos and commercials. In 2003, Rob moved into feature films, shooting Go Further starring Woody Harrelson, which would win the Audience Award runner up prise at the Toronto International Film Festival. Heydon won a Juno Award for Best Music Video for Edwin’s Alive, which also won the People’s Choice Award at the Much Music Video Awards.
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Available for interviews, Rob Heydon, Irvine Welsh and talent
For more information:
Check out: http://www.ecstasymovie.com, www.askthebigman.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IrvineWelshsEcstacy
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EcstasyMovie
For media inquiries please contact:
Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant [email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
Los Angeles 818.748.7517
