Feature Film Based on Quirky, Controversial Flight Attendant Blog in the Works

Feature Film Based on Quirky, Controversial Flight Attendant Blog in the Works

Former flight attendant Ellen Simonetti has optioned the rights to her book, based on her controversial career-ending blog, to Toronto-based Hiltz Squared Media Group. Hiltz Squared has commissioned Simonetti to adapt the book into a screenplay. In turn, Simonetti has started a blog, queenofscreen.com, to chronicle the creation of the screenplay, a comedy written for Katherine Heigl and Queen Latifah, among others, and tentatively titled The Queen of Sky Blog.

Toronto, ON, and Austin, TX (Advertiser Talk) 03-Sep-2009 — Hiltz Squared Media Group last week optioned the rights to former flight attendant Ellen Simonetti’s semi-autobiographical novel, Diary of a Dysfunctional Flight Attendant: The Queen of Sky Blog. Hiltz Squared has commissioned Simonetti to write a screenplay based on the book. Simonetti, in turn, has launched an interactive blog–queenofscreen.com–about the writing of the screenplay, complete with scene snippets, plot outlines, and polls.

The working title of the screenplay is The Queen of Sky Blog, but Simonetti remains open to other title suggestions from the readers of her blog. The film will feature a Bridget Jones-esque international flight attendant whose colorful blog helps her navigate the ups and downs of her life and ultimately transforms her completely. Simonetti says she plans to make it a 90-minute comedy starring Katherine Heigl in the lead, with Kathy Griffin, Queen Latifah, Ricky Martin, Ellen DeGeneres, Bette Midler, Margaret Cho, and Nathan Lane as assorted flight attendant coworkers, and Richard Branson as a long-suffering frequent flier. Casting suggestions are welcome at queenofscreen.com.

Simonetti’s book is based on her quirky, controversial, and similarly named blog, which led to her firing in 2004. However, ‘Legacy Airlines,’ the fictitious airline portrayed in the book and the screenplay, in no way represents any of Simonetti’s previous employers.

Hiltz Squared Media Group Inc. is a film, television and new media production and distribution company located in Toronto, Canada. Formed in 2000, Hiltz Squared Media has grown into various aspects of the industry and continues to create new and original material for the ever-changing media and arts landscape.

Ellen Simonetti is currently studying Radio/TV/Film at the University of Texas at Austin. For more information about Simonetti and her screenplay, Google her or visit queenofscreen.com (and leave a comment, please!)

Hiltz Squared is also exploring TV show ideas based on Simonetti’s book.

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