Alliance Studios and Folktellers Studios Partner to Bring Excerpts from an Unknown Guidebook to the Screen as Live-Action Series with Emagine Theatres

Photo courtesy of Emagine Entertainment

Troy, Michigan – Emagine Theatres, Alliance Studios, and Folktellers Studios today announced an exciting new creative partnership to adapt Josef Bastian’s award-winning series, Excerpts from an Unknown Guidebook into a live-action fantasy series, bringing the beloved literary world to life in a bold, cinematic format designed for modern audiences.

Building on the momentum of the Folktellers for Literacy initiative,

this collaboration bridges the gap between literature and film, transforming the imaginative universe of the seven-book series into compelling episodes crafted for digital and theatrical showcase. The format will highlight key moments, characters, and themes from the books, making the story accessible, engaging, and visually dynamic for viewers of all ages.

The partnership also aligns with ongoing literacy efforts supported by Emagine Theatres and Folktellers for Literacy, which promotes reading, storytelling, and filmmaking as tools for education and personal growth. Select episodes may be featured as part of community programming and special screenings at Emagine Theatres, further connecting audiences to the magic of storytelling on the big screen.

Stephen Sadler,

Executive Producer at Folktellers Studios, shared, “This partnership with Alliance Studios allows us to expand storytelling into a new format that meets audiences where they are today. This series is powerful because it delivers emotional, meaningful narratives in a short span of time. With Excerpts from an Unknown Guidebook, we’re inviting viewers to experience imagination in a way that is immediate, cinematic, and deeply human.”

Carl Weyant, CEO of Alliance Studios added, “We see tremendous potential in adapting this series, while still allowing for the full cinematic experience. The stories are rich, thought-provoking, and visually inspiring. Our collaboration with Folktellers Studios and Emagine reflect a shared commitment to innovation, creativity, and meaningful content.”

Weyant, serves as a celebrity judge, along with Paul Glantz, RJ King, and Terri Lee Chandler for the Folktellers for Literacy Program, which is a program created to encourage young readers to become a filmmaker by scripting, directing, producing, while inspiring kids to see their stories come alive on the big screen. Weyant emphasized the broader impact of the initiative: “Being part of the judging panel has shown me firsthand how storytelling can transform lives. This partnership is a natural extension of that mission—encouraging people not only to read stories, but to see them, feel them, and ultimately create their own.”

By combining cinematic expertise with a passion for literacy and storytelling, Emagine Theatres, Alliance Studios, and Folktellers Studios aim to create a new model for adapting literature into accessible, visually engaging content. This collaboration represents a continued commitment to fostering creativity, promoting literacy, and celebrating the power of storytelling across mediums.

Additional details, including release timelines and distribution plans, will be announced in the coming months.

About Folktellers Studios:

Twenty years ago, Josef Bastian, a writer and instructional system designer, had a vision – to create a world of storytelling based on myth and legend. His concept was ambitious, and he had written over 20 novels, but something was still missing. In 2017, he was introduced to Stephen Sadler, also a writer, engineer, and tech innovator with success selling his technology to Walt Disney Studios, as well as other majors in Los Angeles. With the perfect complement of skills and talent, Josef and Stephen set off to build their collective dream – a world that combined technology and mythology. The goal was to create an interactive, immersive experience and forge a totally new storytelling platform. They knew it wouldn’t be easy, but they were determined to take this new idea as far as it could go. And that’s exactly what they did…

Made up of experts and artisans from film, music, television, gaming, literature, and digital media, our team crafts immersive tales of magic and wonder, encouraging audiences to engage with us on a deeper, more experiential level.

Being from Detroit, we’re used to creating physical, tangible things like V8 engines, carburetors and two-ton vehicles. Everyone knows what a car or a truck looks like, so we don’t have to help them visualize what we’re talking about. But in the entertainment industry and the world of storytelling, things are VERY different.

This is an environment where creators must build castles in the clouds, in the hopes that someone will support and back them, helping the clouds thicken, so the castle can rise higher and higher until it can be seen from anywhere. At Folktellers Studios, we believe that a story, well told, can change the world. For more information, please visit: https://folktellers.com

About Emagine Entertainment:

Emagine Entertainment is a recognized leader and innovator in luxury cinema, operating 27 theaters with 330 screens and across Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Headquartered in Troy, Michigan, Emagine was the world’s first theater chain to fully convert to digital projection and continues to set the standard in the industry providing advanced technologies including 4K projection, Dolby Atmos® sound, and Super EMX® auditoriums (located in Novi, Michigan, Canton, Michigan, Rogers, Minnesota and Batavia, Illinois) which feature some of the largest screens in the country.

Emagine offers more than just movies – delivering a full spectrum of entertainment experiences with features such as bowling, duckpin bowling, Krazy Darts, MX Axe experience and specialized spaces like the podcast studio at Emagine Palladium in Birmingham, MI, and the Caesars Sportsbook Lounge at Emagine Royal Oak, in Michigan, where sports fans can watch and bet on some of the most sought-after sporting events.

Emagine sets itself apart by pairing state-of-the-art cinematic presentation with upscale amenities, combining heated recliners, gourmet concessions, craft cocktails, and local brews like the signature Emagine Ale by Leinenkugel, to offer a premium moviegoing experience at an exceptional value.

Beyond Hollywood blockbusters, Emagine also offers a wide array of alternative content, including live concerts, sporting events, classic films, and private screenings. Through its Emagine for Everyone initiative, Emagine is committed to inclusivity, offering a program that ensures everyone, including families, individuals with sensory sensitivities, new parents, those who require on-screen captions, and individuals living with dementia, can enjoy the big screen experience together.

With a growing footprint and a dedication to community, comfort, and cutting-edge innovation, Emagine Entertainment continues to redefine the movie theatre experience. For more information, visit www.emagine-entertainment.com.

About Alliance Studios International:

Alliance Studios International was founded to create high-quality, story-driven films using modern production strategies that challenge traditional timelines and cost structures. After years of hands-on industry experience, Carl Weyant launched the studio to combine cinematic artistry with operational efficiency.

What began as a vision to produce meaningful films evolved into a structured system integrating AI-assisted workflows across development, pre-production, production, and post-production. Today, Alliance Studios operates with globally distributed teams and maintains a focus on both faith-based and mainstream storytelling.

Future plans include scaling production output, expanding strategic partnerships, deploying LEO: The AI Toolkit through Aeon Imagery Corporation, and positioning the technology platform for broader industry adoption over the next several years. More information can be found at www.alliancestudiosint.com