ScreenDaily is reporting that UK sales company Bankside Films has teamed up with Irish production company Treasure Entertainment to sell writer/director John Butler’s newest feature Papi Chulo to prospective buyers at the European Film Market in Berlin.
Cast adrift in Los Angeles, Sean — a lonely TV weatherman — drives past a middle-aged Latino migrant worker standing outside Home Depot looking for work. He decides to hire this kind-looking man — to be his friend. Sean is young, gay and white; Ernesto, portly, straight and married. Despite having nothing in common, they build a sort of friendship based on sign language, until Sean becomes consumed by a deep and obsessional attraction.
U.S. star Matt Bomer, who played the lead in USA Network’s White Collar and who won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 2014 for The Normal Heart, takes the lead alongside Alejandro Patiño (The Runaways).
Papi Chulo is John Butler’s third feature film, having previously given us The Stag and Handsome Devil, both produced by Treasure Entertainment.
Rob Walpole and Rebecca O’Flanagan produce for Treasure Entertainment, with financing by the Irish Film Board, Head Gear Films, RTE and Windmill Lane. Head Gear Films’ Phil Hunt and Compton Ross are executive producing together with Bankside’s Hilary Davis and Stephen Kelliher. Production is currently underway in Los Angeles with DoP Cathal Watters.
We have long admired John Butler’s work and were delighted to read his script which tells such a funny, poignant and affecting story about love and loneliness. To see this story brought to the screen with the immense talent that is Matt Bomer is a dream come true.
Stephen Kelliher – Bankside Films
It is great to be collaborating with John on his third feature film – he is such a pleasure to work with and a master storyteller. We are really passionate about this film and so delighted to be bringing it into being.
Rob Walpole and Rebecca O’Flanagan, Producers – Treasure Entertainment
Papi Chulo is born of lived experience, and I’m so thrilled to be shooting a comedy about loneliness in the company of such a fine cast and crew.
John Butler, Writer/Director