When the CW announced the cancellation of DC's Legends of Tomorrow in 2022, it was a blow to the show's cast and crew. However, for actor-writer Adam Tsekhman and writer-director Andrew Kasch, the setback was merely a catalyst for a new creative venture. The pair, who had become friends during their six-year tenure on the superhero series, decided to collaborate on a whacky short film called The Gummy Bear, which would soon evolve into a much larger project.

Turning Adversity into Opportunity: The Birth of The Gummy Bear

From Depression to Inspiration

Tsekhman and Kasch, both deeply affected by the cancellation of Legends of Tomorrow, found solace in their shared passion for filmmaking. Kasch's idea for a short film about a man's mind-bending experience with an experimental gummy bear sparked their creative collaboration. "In our depression, Andrew had the idea for the short and invited me over, and we did it for nothing," Tsekhman recalls, highlighting the duo's determination to turn their misfortune into an opportunity.

Assembling a Talented Team

The short film, which combined live-action with a kaleidoscope of different animation styles, quickly gained momentum as Kasch and Tsekhman enlisted the help of their talented friends. "He got a bunch of his friends on board who did amazing work," says Tsekhman, citing stop-motion animator Michael Granberry (Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Wendell & Wild) as one of the key collaborators. The enthusiasm and dedication of the team were palpable, as Tsekhman notes, "Everyone was like let's do this. It will be fun."

A Turning Point at Just For Laughs

The short film's selection for the Eat My Shorts! program at the annual Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal proved to be a pivotal moment. The audience's enthusiastic response and their inquiries about a potential feature-length version of The Gummy Bear sparked the duo's ambition to expand their project.

Embracing the Psychedelic Road Trip

Inspired by the audience's reaction, Kasch and Tsekhman set out to develop a feature-length film that would combine their love for road trip movies and "night from hell" narratives. Kasch explains, "I asked myself what would happen if we crossed Pee Wee's Big Adventure with a crazy hallucination drug trip aspect, kind of like injecting Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas into a cross-country road trip. That's kind of how the genesis of the project started."

Introducing the Neurotic Agoraphobe

The feature film will see Tsekhman take on the role of a neurotic agoraphobe who is thrust into a life-changing journey after biting into a substance-infused gummy bear. Convinced that a bio-cannabis company is about to unleash tainted gummies on the Burning Man Festival attendees, the protagonist sets off on a wild ride through the desert, encountering a diverse cast of eccentric characters along the way.

Blending Live-Action and Animation

Similar to the short film, the feature-length The Gummy Bear will seamlessly blend live-action with a variety of animation styles, including stop-motion, claymation, hand-drawn 2D, and rotoscoping techniques. Kasch's passion for mixed media and the protagonist's hallucinatory experiences provide a canvas for the filmmakers to explore the boundless possibilities of visual storytelling.

Partnering with Other Angle Pictures

Tsekhman and Kasch have joined forces with Paris and L.A.-based sales and production company Other Angle Pictures to bring The Gummy Bear to life. The company, known for its expertise in French comedies and feel-good dramas, has embraced the project, recognizing the talents of the two creators. Olivier Albou and Laurence Schonberg, the husband-and-wife team at Other Angle, have been instrumental in connecting the project with potential financiers and expanding the company's reach into the U.S. market.

A Post-Pandemic Subtext

Tsekhman suggests that the story of The Gummy Bear also carries a post-pandemic subtext, as the housebound protagonist is forced to confront the world and take risks in order to bring about positive change. "There's the idea that if you face the world, take a risk, maybe you can change things for the better," he says, hinting at the film's deeper thematic exploration.With a completed screenplay, a talented team, and the backing of Other Angle Pictures, The Gummy Bear is poised to take audiences on a wild, psychedelic journey that blends the absurd and the profound, offering a unique cinematic experience that promises to leave a lasting impression.