Amelia Baker + Mackenzie Munro’s BLONDE MAMBA Partners With FIREHOUSE PRODUCTIONS and GOLD FILMS On THE ART OF LOVE

Peter Gold attached to direct feature based on Betsy Franco’s novel
The Art of Love

Emmy Award-nominee and BAFTA-winning Kari Skogland to Executive Produce

Founded and led by Amelia Baker and Mackenzie Munro, Blonde Mamba aims to develop and produce projects which resonate with a Gen Z audience for mainstream networks and platforms, emerging digital content services, and brand partners.

Operating between LA, London and Toronto, Blonde Mamba has developed content for platforms such as Snapchat Discover and Facebook Watch, as well as delivering internationally award-winning short films.

Along with an active development slate across scripted, documentary and feature projects, the company has two subsidiary divisions: The Collective, which focuses on creating authenticity in the scriptwriting process by assembling relevant contributors for third party projects, and The Agency, which focuses on innovative branding and marketing campaigns targeting Gen Z.

Peter Gold’s Gold Films is partnering with Blonde Mamba, the next-gen production house led by Amelia Baker and Mackenzie Munro, and Tom Franco and Iris Torres under their banner Firehouse Productions on The Art of Love, a feature based on Betsy Franco’s YA novel, “The Art of Love”.

The Art of Love is being adapted as a film by Betsy Franco, Mackenzie Munro and Esteban Gast, with Peter Gold set to direct. Kari Skogland (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loudest Voice) will executive produce, with writer Nic Sheff (13 Reasons Why) co-producing alongside the award-winning cinematographer (Donnie Darko, Someone to Watch Over Me), and former President of the International Cinematographers Guild, Steven Poster.

The Art of Love follows a charming, obsessive high schooler whose talented and charismatic older sister’s drug addiction leads her to run away from their suburban home. He goes on a search for his sister, who is living on the streets of San Francisco with a makeshift family of four homeless misfits, spiralling further into drugs, relationships and eventually sex trafficking. The siblings end up in an honest, messy coming of age story which explores the impact of America’s opioid crisis and its homeless teen communities.

Betsy Franco said “I wrote the novel and screenplay after teaching poetry to girls in juvenile hall and talking to homeless youth in the Haight in San Francisco. This is an important film to expose the harsh realities homeless youth face and what addiction can do to families. I am thrilled to work with this group of talented and driven filmmakers to bring this story to life.”

Steven Poster added “When I was first brought on to The Art of Love it felt like I was starting Donnie Darko again. Smart young director, committed producers, and a terrific script. It doesn’t get better than that.”

Iris Torres and Tom Franco, co-founders of Firehouse Productions, said “We believe in supporting new talent and The Art of Love is a unique story that deserves an opportunity to be told.”

Amelia Baker and Mackenzie Munro, co-Founders of Blonde Mamba, added “The Art of Love is a project rooted in authenticity driven by the desire to give a voice to a community which is often vilified or, at best, ignored. Blonde Mamba was set up to create resonant content for a Gen-Z audience and we’re thrilled to be collaborating with our fantastic partners on this special project.”

Peter Gold, founder of Gold Films, commented “My hope is that this film will illuminate various aspects of addiction in families, crush stereotypes, and shine a light on the homeless teens in San Francisco, making this community portrayed as human, real, and immediate. I am honoured to be working with such a talented group of professionals, and I can’t wait to share this story with the world.”

About Blonde Mamba
Founded and led by Amelia Baker and Mackenzie Munro, Blonde Mamba aims to develop and produce projects which resonate with a Gen Z audience for mainstream networks and platforms, emerging digital content services, and brand partners.Operating between LA, London and Toronto, Blonde Mamba has developed content for platforms such as Snapchat Discover and Facebook Watch, as well as delivering internationally award-winning short films.

Along with an active development slate across scripted, documentary and feature projects, the company has two subsidiary divisions: The Collective, which focuses on creating authenticity in the scriptwriting process by assembling relevant contributors for third party projects, and The Agency, which focuses on innovative branding and marketing campaigns targeting Gen Z.

About Gold Productions
Gold Films is a film production company founded by Peter Gold in 2018.

About Firehouse Productions
A branch of the Firehouse Art Collective, run by Iris Torres and Tom Franco, that focuses on documentary and narrative films.

We enjoy stories that bring the artists to the forefront of culture-making and community-building.

The Firehouse Art Collective mission is to empower the practice of artistry for the benefit of personal and community well-being.