TomKat MediA Develops Non-Fiction Books ‘Harvest of Destiny’ and ‘The Death and Life of Aida Hernandez’ for Film

special: TomKat MeDiA, Kat Taylor and Tom Steyer announced their social justice projects for 2022. The multi-platform media company has secured the rights to Duff Wilson’s eco-thriller. apocalyptic harvest and Aaron Bobrow-Strain’s award-winning narrative fiction, Death and life of Aida HernándezBoth are planning to become feature films.

based on Seattle Times A Pulitzer Prize finalist research series, reported by Wilson apocalyptic harvest It is a distorted account of an alarming environmental scandal. The book, published in 2001, tells the story of Patty Martin, the mayor of a small Washington town called Quincy, who discovers that American industries are dumping toxic waste on farmers’ fields and home gardens under the label of “fertilizer.” He is enraged by the contaminated soil, deteriorating crops, dead horses and rare and deadly diseases in his town, as well as the imminent threat to the health of his own children. However, when she blows the whistle on a national issue, Patty Martin nearly flees town. apocalyptic harvest It is a study of corruption and courage, recklessness and revenge. A story that speaks to all of our greatest fears and last hope.

Ana Pinheiro-Guimaras (Single in Rio) will write an adaptation of the function.

Published in 2019 Death and life of Aida Hernández It is the story of a young woman whose life crosses the US-Mexico border: a brightly optimistic character in a brutally dark and unlucky world. Aida’s resilience leads to her escape from her own attempted murder, domestic violence, incarceration, deportation, separation from her son, and the US immigration system. The daughter of a rebellious hero from the Chihuahua mountains, she has a genius for survival, but it’s only the beginning of her quest to return to the United States.

New York Times bestselling author Hector Tobar (Deep Darkness: The Untold Story of 33 Men Buried in a Mine in Chile and the Miracle That Liberated Them) will adapt the script for the movie. help. MacArthur Genius Fellows and Sundance Award winners Christina Ibarra and Alex Rivera (spies) TomKat will be directed by Taylor and Marcela Davison Avilés, who will produce both films for MeDiA.

“While advocating for more equitable reforms to help bridge America’s racial, economic and environmental inequalities, TomKat MeDiA stories will promote shared understanding by dismantling comfortable myths in favor of more authentic narratives told and led by previously voiced, unknown and neglected voices. talent,” Taylor said. “Together with our partners, we will discover and develop new voices, talents and partners equally committed to entertaining and transforming society for a better cause.”

“We are excited to support the work of these outstanding storytellers in the Hollywood community with exciting projects that reflect our resilience, hope, courage and love,” said Avilés, who joined TomKat as managing partner in 2020. audiences with beauty, joy and inspiring influence. ”

After the short film by Pinheiro-Guimares dezejo in the lead role narcosisWagner Moura premiered at Sundance and continued to write and direct popular Brazilian TV series such as Brazil. as canalhas, strip Y No. He recently directed the critically acclaimed television series. Single in RioHe also co-wrote and directed the Brazilian feature film, which premiered worldwide last December through Amazon. trance.

Ibarra and Rivera previously directed documentary feature film spiesWinning the Audience and Innovator Awards in the NEXT section of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, Ibarra previously directed an award-winning documentary. martenalong with other projects. It was Rivera’s first feature film. dream saverIt won awards at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival.

Tobari is the author of five books published in fifteen languages. deep in the darkwhich one was taken 33 Starring Antonio Banderas. Tobari’s last novel The last big road bum. He was part of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that covered the 1992 Los Angeles riots for the LA Times and also wrote for The New Yorker, among other publications.

TomKat MeDiA was founded by Taylor and Steyer with the task of developing and creating content from historically marginalized storytellers across platforms including film, television, podcasts and the performing arts. Other upcoming projects from the company include a podcast series that reinvents original journalism. apocalyptic harvestY clay boneA scripted episodic series is in development at Alpita Patel’s Five Sticks Films and Color Farm Media with Peter and Benjamin Bratt and Erica Alexander and Ben Arnon. The company recently joined the financing big payoutDocumentary about the black American compensation bill passed in Evanston, Illinois, directed by Erika Alexander and Whitney Dow.

TomKat MeDiA is represented at Code Management by Rick Berg and Rich Freeman and attorneys Bill Skrzyniarz and Tanya Mallean. Wilson and Martin are represented by Echo Lake Entertainment; Pinheiro-Guimarães de Gersh, Black Rabbit Media and attorney Shep Rosenman; Bobrow-Strain at Matt McGowan’s Francis Gold Literary Agency; Presented by attorney Andrew Hurwitz; Rivera for The Rookery, APA and Andrew Hurwitz; and Tobar from WME.