Fresh off the HollyShorts Premiere of Mysore Magic, Alex Woodruff and Pineapple Cut Pictures are set to go into production on Thomasville, loosely based on his family’s real-life history.
The psychodrama will be Woodruff’s much anticipated debut as a writer/director. In the film, a son and his dying father have a supernatural opportunity to explore their differences before it’s too late… Says Woodruff, “The loss of a parent is something I’ve been fearful of my entire life – particularly the idea of losing them before we’re able to mend our broken threads. In Thomasville we have the chance to share and navigate that very human fear in a safe, artful space.”
Leading the project are Jay Jones (Sweet Magnolias) and Stephen Ruffin (Snowfall). “His (Woodruff’s) text drew me in at the potential to breathe life into a character that can transcend space and time,” says Jones who is signed on to play Marc. Ruffin, who plays the titular character, Thomas, has found particular resonance with the film due to its authenticity to Atlanta. “As a native ATLien it means a great deal to me to have the opportunity to help Alex tell this story.”
Thomasville Heights, the since-demolished project housing where Woodruff’s father grew up, once served as an anchor for the black community in Southeast Atlanta. Today, the wider Thomasville neighborhood has succumbed to poverty and neglect – a phenomenon that serves as a powerful throughline of the upcoming film. Per Woodruff, “Thomasville pries into the importance of bridging disconnects within black families, our communities, and the broader African diaspora.”
Also attached are Producers Abijeet Achar (Mysore Magic) for Pineapple Cut Pictures; and Jake Casey (Sticker Movie) Partner at The Dazey Phase.
Pineapple Cut Pictures is a three-time Emmy Award-winning production company established in 2017. Their narrative films shed light on underrepresented narratives.
- Photograph provided by Lily Sanders.
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