production notes

PRODUCTION NOTES
as of May 23, 2011
Original title: Kommandør Treholt & Ninjatroppen
International title: Norwegian Ninja
Format: Feature film, 77 minutes
Genre: Action, Comedy
Language: Norwegian
Country of origin: Norway
World premiére: August 13, 2010
MAIN CAST
Mads Ousdal as Commander Arne Treholt / Kommandør Arne Treholt
Jon Øigarden as Otto Meyer
Trond-Viggo Torgersen as King Olav V / Kong Olav V
Linn Stokke as Ragnhild Umbraco
Amund Maarud as Bumblebee / Humla
Dean Erik Andersen as Chains / Kjettingen
Martinus Grimstad Olsen as Black Pete / Svarte-Per
Øyvind V. Kjeksrud as Øystein Fjellberg
Henrik Horge as Coachman / Kusken
Kristoffer Jørgensen as Tromsø
MAIN CREW
Writer/director: Thomas Cappelen Malling
Producer: Eric Vogel
Cinematographer: Trond Høines
Production Designer: Are Sjaastad
Editor: Simen Gengenbach
Sound designers: Gisle Tveito, Fredric Vogel
Composer: Gaute Tønder
Production company: Tordenfilm AS, Oslo
Co-production: Filmfondet Fuzz
Tordenfilm AS, Sandakervn. 52, N-0477 Oslo, (tlf) +47 23 40 03 40, (fax) +47 23 40 03 41 ,
org.nr: 991 446 109 MVA, www.tordenfilm.no, info@tordenfilm.no
Distribution: Euforia Film (Nordic Countries)
International Sales: Celluloid Nightmares
Territories sold: Nordic Countries, UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Austria,
Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands and The Middle East.
Financed by The Norwegian Film Institute, Euforia Film, Storyline Studios, Nordic
Film & TV Fund, NRK, Filmfondet Fuzz, Celluloid Nightmares, Canal+ and
Drømmesuiten.
SYNOPSIS
Now it can be told: the true story of the Cold War.
In 1984, the charismatic Norwegian diplomat Arne Treholt (38) is arrested on
charges of spying for the Soviet Union. He is ultimately sentenced to 20 years in
prison.
But Treholt was never a spy. He was a Ninja, entrusted by King Olav himself to
lead a secret force of enlightened shadow warriors called The Ninja Force!
Norwegian Ninja takes place in the time leading up to Treholt’s arrest. The Ninjas
discover that Stay Behind, a sinister NATO force created to battle the Soviet
Union, are planning a coup-d'état in peacetime. The Ninjas must defeat the
conspirators at all costs in order to keep Norway free.
A love letter to 1980’s Ninja movies, Bond films, conspiracies and special effects,
Norwegian Ninja is the radical feature film debut of writer/director Thomas
Cappelen Malling.
SELECTED PRESS QUOTES
“Hilarious and menacing, absurd and insightful -- an accomplished work of
genre filmmaking that authoritatively upends the cold-war spy thriller.”
- J.S. Marcus, Wall Street Journal
“An intelligent, seamless, and thoroughly entertaining movie.”
- Øystein David Johansen, Verdens Gang
“Wild storytelling, absurd comedy.”
- Ingunn Økland, Aftenposten
“Quite possibly the most inventive and peculiar Norwegian film ever.”
- Tord Olander Pedersen, iTromsø.no
Tordenfilm AS, Sandakervn. 52, N-0477 Oslo, (tlf) +47 23 40 03 40, (fax) +47 23 40 03 41 ,
org.nr: 991 446 109 MVA, www.tordenfilm.no, info@tordenfilm.no
“A very, very funny action satire. You've never seen anything like it.”
- David Edwards, Mirror (UK)
“A hugely enjoyable and highly inventive piece of film making.”
- James Mudge, Beyondhollywood.com
“A perfect antidote to the remake-fuelled, idea-recycling Hollywood machine.”
- Daniel Benson, Horrortalk.com
AWARDS
Best Director (Thomas C. Malling)
Best Actor (Mads Ousdal)
Jury’s Special Mention
International Highlight (Alen Grujic)
Best Innovator (nomination) (T. Malling)
Best Production Design (Are Sjaastad)
Fantastic Fest 2010, Austin, USA
Fantastic Fest 2010, Austin, USA
Science + Fiction 2010, Trieste, Italy
IMP Awards 2010
Kosmorama 2011, Trondheim, Norway
Kosmorama 2011, Trondheim, Norway
FESTIVALS
Fantastic Fest 2010, Austin USA (World Premiére)
/Slash Film Festival 2010, Vienna, Austria
Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival 2010, Sitges, Spain
Indonesia Fantastic Film Festival 2010, Jakarta, Indonesia
Festival du Nouveau Cinema 2010, Montréal, Canada
AFI Fest 2010, Los Angeles, USA
Norwegian Cinema Days 2011, Moscow, Russia
Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival 2011, Tallinn, Estonia
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Whose reality counts?
In 1982 I was 12 years old. I was grounded for a while and my bedroom became
my world. I spent a lot of time watching Star Wars and Ninja movies on my VCR;
Played Green Beret, Commando and other computer-games on my C64; Read
my dad's spy novels; Drew comics. And on the news, the handsome Norwegian
hot-shot diplomat Arne Treholt was arrested in what was to become our biggest
espionage trial ever.
The now-famous Arne Treholt case remains a mystery today, 28 years later.
Unable to believe the government's and the media's "true story" of his pro-Soviet
Tordenfilm AS, Sandakervn. 52, N-0477 Oslo, (tlf) +47 23 40 03 40, (fax) +47 23 40 03 41 ,
org.nr: 991 446 109 MVA, www.tordenfilm.no, info@tordenfilm.no
espionage, I still prefer the video-game-novel-news mash-up that seduced my
mind back in '82: Arne Treholt was neither traitor nor spy - he was a Ninja Master
working for the King, defending the Norwegian Way. Behold the true story of
how Arne Treholt and his Ninjas kicked the butts of illegal CIA insurgents.
Thomas Cappelen Malling
Writer/director of “Norwegian Ninja”
CHARACTER AND CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Commander Arne Treholt (Mads Ousdal)
Leader of His Majesty’s Ninja Force. Formal background from diplomacy and
Japan International Ninja School in the Iga District (Class of ’76). The
Commander protects the Norwegian Way of Life and King Olav’s slogan ”All for
Norway”. Among his flock considered wise, patriotic and unfaltering. He is also
Enlightened, at one with the Cosmos. Portrayed by actor Mads Ousdal, wellknown for performances in features, TV and stage productions. Supporting
competency: Shotokan karate, brown belt.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0653626/
Otto Meyer (Jon Øigarden)
Operations Chief in the secret CIA-controlled army Stay Behind, the nemesis of
the Ninja Force. Self proclaimed alpha male, eager collaborator in US
warmongering and with a weakness for defense technology and performance
enhancing drugs. Played by Jon Øigarden, known for numerous roles in feature
films and TV.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0960276/
Ragnhild Umbraco (Linn Stokke)
Behind the Commander stands the Ninja Force’s supplier of special equipment,
spiritual advice and female intuition. Umbraco runs HM Tool Factory at an
undisclosed location in the Lofoten Mountains, where the Force’s vehicles and
gadgets are conceived, produced and tested. Beautiful Linn Stokke has worked
in Norwegian films since the eighties, and is also active as a writer and musician.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0831419/
King Olav V (Trond-Viggo Torgersen)
The King is a sportsman, speaker, smoker and countryman. He is most at ease
among the Ninjas on idyllic Grassy Island, where he can be himself, visit the
animals and barbecue with the boys. The King founded the Ninja Force to
protect the Norwegian Way of Life, and finances the group from his own
pocket. Played by Trond-Viggo Torgersen, a medical doctor, writer,
broadcaster, character actor and former Children’s Ombudsman of Norway.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0867987/
Tordenfilm AS, Sandakervn. 52, N-0477 Oslo, (tlf) +47 23 40 03 40, (fax) +47 23 40 03 41 ,
org.nr: 991 446 109 MVA, www.tordenfilm.no, info@tordenfilm.no
Bumblebee (Amund Maarud)
A pacifist and conscientious objector with a short fuse and inner turmoil, hand
picked by Treholt who is planning great things for him. Bumblebee is a country
boy, and an apprentice Ninja going on seven years. He struggles with attaining
Enlightenment. Played by Amund Maarud, songwriter and virtuoso guitarist with
the renowned Norwegian blues/psychedelia group The Grand.
http://www.myspace.com/thegrandspace
Black Pete (Martinus Grimstad Olsen)
The second apprentice in the Ninja Force, and the youngest. Apart from what
his prison tattoos reveal, very little is known about him. He is a natural in Ninja
techniques, known for dirty tricks and being impatient and crass. Minds his own
business most of the time. Played by Martinus Grimstad Olsen, also a dancer
with acute balance and the body control of a lifelong circus performer.
Øystein Fjellberg (Øyvind V. Kjeksrud)
Deputy Master of the Ninja Force, and Treholt’s right-hand man. Hard as stone,
tough as a mountain. Responsible for delivering all the bad news and making
sure the job gets done. It does, when Fjellberg is on it. Played by Øyvind V.
Kjeksrud, a longtime theater actor and activist who also has the biggest fists and
the broadest shoulders of all the actors in the movie.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2892485/
Chains (Dean-Erik Andersen)
Stay Behind agent. Otto Meyers right-hand man and compatriot. Quiet and
professional, with a checkered past from black ops in Africa and the Far East.
Played by Dean-Erik Andersen, widely known from the drag group Great Garlic
Girls and the duo Queentastic.
http://www.kjentfolk.no/skuespillere/ggg/
Coachman (Henrik Horge)
The Ninja Force motorist, responsible for the upkeep of all vehicles. Coachman
drives like a maniac and has a big mouth. But he never tells a lie. Some lack of
impulse control notwithstanding, this does not interfere with daily life in the
Force. Played by Henrik Horge, actor, DJ and one half of the musical duo
Brødrene Löwenstierne.
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrik_Horge
Tromsø (Kristoffer Jørgensen)
Troop assistant and film photographer from the high North. Only speaks when
necessary, which is rarely. Documents the Ninja Force missions and everyday life
as thoroughly as possible. Played by Kristoffer Jørgensen, also the film’s stunt
coordinator and a stunt performer, circus teacher and 2009 World Chamioon in
stage fighting with medieval weapons!
http://stuntmann.no
Tordenfilm AS, Sandakervn. 52, N-0477 Oslo, (tlf) +47 23 40 03 40, (fax) +47 23 40 03 41 ,
org.nr: 991 446 109 MVA, www.tordenfilm.no, info@tordenfilm.no
CREW BIOGRAPHIES
Writer-director Thomas Cappelen Malling hails from Kongsvinger, Norway. He
has a background from the communications industry and various visual arts
projects. Writer of the infamous Ninjutsu manual “Ninjateknikk II: Usynlighet i Strid
1978 av Arne Treholt”. “Norwegian Ninja” is his first feature film.
Producer Eric Vogel studied film production at the Norwegian National Film
School and is co-founder and managing director of Tordenfilm. His previous
feature film credits include "Sons" (2006, producer), "The Bothersome Man" (2006,
associate producer) and "Metropia" (2009, co-producer).
Tordenfilm AS is a production company for film and television based in Oslo,
Norway. Recent projects include the award winning drama series "Norwegian
Cozy" (2011) and the feature films "Norwegian Ninja" (2010) and "Metropia"
(2009, co-production).
LINKS
Official webpage: http://ninjatroppen.no
Production blog: http://ninjatroppen.montages.no
IMdB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1528769/
Trailer (with English subtitles): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wNVjI9bJIk
PRESS MATERIALS (STILLS, GRAPHICS, TEXT)
http://tordenfilm.no/KTN
TECHNICAL INFO
Shooting formats: Red One, various video sources
Aspect ratio: 2,35:1 (Cinemascope)
Mastering format: 2K HDCAM-SR 4:4:4
Distribution format: 35mm, 4 reels (note: 25fps playback preferred)
Sound formats: Dolby SR, Dolby Digital
CONTACTS
Sales inquirires:
Ms. Sarah Gabriel
Head of International Sales, Celluloid Nightmares
Tordenfilm AS, Sandakervn. 52, N-0477 Oslo, (tlf) +47 23 40 03 40, (fax) +47 23 40 03 41 ,
org.nr: 991 446 109 MVA, www.tordenfilm.no, info@tordenfilm.no
sarah@celluloid-nightmares.com
Festival and international press inquirires:
Mrs. Stine Oppegaard
Head of International Relations, The Norwegian Film Institute
stine.oppegaard@nfi.no
mobile +47 90 85 96 38
Press inquiries, Nordic:
Ms. Anett Fondevik
Press agent, Euforia Film
anett@euforia.no
mobile +47 93 63 39 33
Distribution inquiries, Nordic:
Mr. Tore Fredrik Dreyer
Manager, Euforia Film
tore.fredrik@euforia.no
mobile +47 98 23 24
Production company:
Mr. Eric Vogel
Producer, Tordenfilm
eric@tordenfilm.no
mobile +47 91 88 72 82
Tordenfilm AS, Sandakervn. 52, N-0477 Oslo, (tlf) +47 23 40 03 40, (fax) +47 23 40 03 41 ,
org.nr: 991 446 109 MVA, www.tordenfilm.no, info@tordenfilm.no