May 22, 2008–Filmmakers Mark and Michael Polish have formed Prohibition Pictures. For their company, they’ve lined up financing for two features they’ve co-written, which will shoot back to back.
The first is “Manure,” a comedy about manure salesmen in 1960s heartland America that reteams them with their “Astronaut Farmer” star Billy Bob Thornton. Tea Leoni and Kyle MacLachlan also star in the film, which begins production Tuesday.
When the film wraps July 14, the brothers will begin production on “Stay Cool,” a comedy that will star Winona Ryder, Sean Astin and Chevy Chase. The pair co-wrote the scripts, and Mark Polish will be a featured actor in both films.
They will partner in Prohibition Pictures with longtime collaborator Jonathan Sheldon, financier-producer Ken Johnson and his partner-producer Ja’net DuBois.
The Polish brothers will produce the films with Johnson, Sheldon and DuBois, with Nick Byassee serving as associate producer.
Prohibition Pictures aims to generate 2-4 indie films per year. The Polish brothers made their debut with the Sundance feature “Twin Falls, Idaho,” and followed with “Jackpot,” “North Fork,” and “The Astronaut Farmer.”