Micheal Ward is a rising young British actor who has rapidly gained recognition for his acclaimed performances on screen. Though only in his mid-20s, Ward has already landed starring roles in high-profile TV shows and films, establishing himself as one of the most promising talents of his generation.
Ward first drew major attention for his role as Jamie in Top Boy, the Netflix revival of the hit crime drama series. His emotional performance as a conflicted teenager navigating London’s underground drug trade earned widespread praise. This breakthrough has led to other prominent parts, including co-starring in Steve McQueen’s award-winning anthology film series Small Axe. With his raw talent and versatility, Ward represents the future of Black British acting.
Micheal Ward in Top Boy (2011) Early Life and Education
Micheal Ward was born on June 18, 1997 in Homerton, London to parents of Jamaican descent. He grew up in Hackney with his mother,...
Ward first drew major attention for his role as Jamie in Top Boy, the Netflix revival of the hit crime drama series. His emotional performance as a conflicted teenager navigating London’s underground drug trade earned widespread praise. This breakthrough has led to other prominent parts, including co-starring in Steve McQueen’s award-winning anthology film series Small Axe. With his raw talent and versatility, Ward represents the future of Black British acting.
Micheal Ward in Top Boy (2011) Early Life and Education
Micheal Ward was born on June 18, 1997 in Homerton, London to parents of Jamaican descent. He grew up in Hackney with his mother,...
- 3/24/2024
- by Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
"You can save her..." "How?" "You need all four. One dies, she dies." Netflix has unveiled a first look teaser trailer for a thriller series titled Supacell, arriving for streaming this summer. It's the next creation by the Blue Story director who goes under the moniker "Rapman", an urban London story about people with super powers who have to join together. "Find them, before it's too late." When a regular group of ordinary people from South London are gifted with superpowers, they find their new abilities have made them targets for a powerful entity. The series stars Tosin Cole as Michael, Nadine Mills as Sabrina, Eric Kofi Abrefa as Andre, Calvin Demba as Rodney, Josh Tedeku as Tazer, Adelayo Adedayo as Dionne, Rayxia Ojo as Sharleen, and Giacomo Mancini as Spud. There's only a little bit of footage in this first teaser, but enough to make me intrigued. Looks pretty cool.
- 3/19/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The BFI and BAFTA have unveiled the 2024 intake for its 10th BFI Flare x BAFTA professional development program, supporting six emerging Lgbtqia+ creatives working on their debuts in film and TV.
They comprise writer and performer Travis Alabanza, creative producer Isabella Bassett, actor and writer Zak Ghazi-Torbati, filmmaker Cherish Oteka, writer and actor Miles Sloman and screenwriter and director Charlie Tidmas. (see full bios below)
The participants benefit from industry mentorship, bespoke events and workshops at BAFTA and BFI as well as wellbeing and career coaching and access to BAFTA Connect, the academy’s membership programme for emerging and mid-level talent.
They will also be given networking opportunities during the BFI Flare: London Lgbtqia+ Film Festival, running from March 13 to 24 March.
BFI and BAFTA noted that the festival’s opening night film, Layla, was created by two alumni of the scheme.
“The BFI Flare x BAFTA mentorship had a profound impact on my career and,...
They comprise writer and performer Travis Alabanza, creative producer Isabella Bassett, actor and writer Zak Ghazi-Torbati, filmmaker Cherish Oteka, writer and actor Miles Sloman and screenwriter and director Charlie Tidmas. (see full bios below)
The participants benefit from industry mentorship, bespoke events and workshops at BAFTA and BFI as well as wellbeing and career coaching and access to BAFTA Connect, the academy’s membership programme for emerging and mid-level talent.
They will also be given networking opportunities during the BFI Flare: London Lgbtqia+ Film Festival, running from March 13 to 24 March.
BFI and BAFTA noted that the festival’s opening night film, Layla, was created by two alumni of the scheme.
“The BFI Flare x BAFTA mentorship had a profound impact on my career and,...
- 3/12/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
The historical comedy series The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin is set to premiere with its first two episodes this Friday, March 1st, with the rest of the show’s six episodes being released on a weekly basis through Friday, March 29th – all of this exclusively on Apple TV+. In anticipation the show’s premiere, we’re proud to share an Exclusive clip from the first episode, and you can check it out in the embed above!
The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin stars Noel Fielding of The Mighty Boosh and The Great British Bake Off in the titular role as the legendary British highwayman. Also in the cast are Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Ellie White (The Windsors), Marc Wootton (High & Dry), Duayne Boachie (Blue Story), Tamsin Greig (Episodes), Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing), Dolly Wells (Doll & Em), Joe Wilkinson (The Cockfields), Mark Heap (Stardust), Geoffrey McGivern...
The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin stars Noel Fielding of The Mighty Boosh and The Great British Bake Off in the titular role as the legendary British highwayman. Also in the cast are Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey), Ellie White (The Windsors), Marc Wootton (High & Dry), Duayne Boachie (Blue Story), Tamsin Greig (Episodes), Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing), Dolly Wells (Doll & Em), Joe Wilkinson (The Cockfields), Mark Heap (Stardust), Geoffrey McGivern...
- 2/29/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
The BBC Writers section of its website now contains a selection of scripts from Doctor Who and beyond.
BBC Writers is a wonderful resource for anybody interested in the mechanics of making scripted television. You can find hundreds of scripts in its archive. From classic drama like Accused and children’s shows like The Story Of Tracy Beaker to feature films like Blue Story, In The Loop and Rye Lane, it provides a fascinating insight into British film and television production.
The BBC has now revealed a new Whoniverse section, which contains not only a selection of Doctor Who scripts from Rose right up to date with The Church On Ruby Road, you can also find scripts for Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Tales Of The Tardis, Class, animated adventures The Infinite Quest and Dreamland, and VR game The Runaway. One of the most intriguing new additions is the Fifteenth...
BBC Writers is a wonderful resource for anybody interested in the mechanics of making scripted television. You can find hundreds of scripts in its archive. From classic drama like Accused and children’s shows like The Story Of Tracy Beaker to feature films like Blue Story, In The Loop and Rye Lane, it provides a fascinating insight into British film and television production.
The BBC has now revealed a new Whoniverse section, which contains not only a selection of Doctor Who scripts from Rose right up to date with The Church On Ruby Road, you can also find scripts for Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Tales Of The Tardis, Class, animated adventures The Infinite Quest and Dreamland, and VR game The Runaway. One of the most intriguing new additions is the Fifteenth...
- 2/15/2024
- by Jake Godfrey
- Film Stories
Apple TV+ has launched the trailer for Noel Fielding-led comedy ‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin,’ which premieres globally on March 1st.
The six-episode Apple Original centres on Dick Turpin (Fielding), who sets out on a journey of wildly absurd escapades when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws — and tasked with outwitting corrupt lawman and self-appointed thief-taker Jonathan Wilde (Hugh Bonneville).
In this irreverent retelling set in the 18th century, Turpin is the most famous but least likely of highway robbers, whose success is defined mostly by his charm, showmanship and great hair. Together with his gang of lovable rogues, Turpin rides the highs and lows of his new endeavours, including a brush with celebrity, all whilst trying to escape the clutches of the thief-taker.
Starring alongside Fielding in the ensemble cast are Ellie White (“The Windsors”), Marc Wootton (“High & Dry”), Duayne Boachie...
The six-episode Apple Original centres on Dick Turpin (Fielding), who sets out on a journey of wildly absurd escapades when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws — and tasked with outwitting corrupt lawman and self-appointed thief-taker Jonathan Wilde (Hugh Bonneville).
In this irreverent retelling set in the 18th century, Turpin is the most famous but least likely of highway robbers, whose success is defined mostly by his charm, showmanship and great hair. Together with his gang of lovable rogues, Turpin rides the highs and lows of his new endeavours, including a brush with celebrity, all whilst trying to escape the clutches of the thief-taker.
Starring alongside Fielding in the ensemble cast are Ellie White (“The Windsors”), Marc Wootton (“High & Dry”), Duayne Boachie...
- 2/5/2024
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
UK director George Amponsah’s thriller Gassed Up has won the London Film Festival (Lff) Audience Award for Best Feature in the 67th edition running from October 4 to 15, as the event also posts record participation.
Further Audiences Award winners, which were announced on Monday, went to The Taste of Mango for Best Documentary, Festival of Slaps for Best British Film/Work and Murals for Best Immersive Work/Xr.
Amponsah’s London-set thriller stars Stephen Odubola as a member of a moped street crime gang, who gets on the wrong side of an Albanian crime family.
Archie Maddocks co-wrote the screenplay with One Piece breakout Taz Skylar, who also appears in the film, with other cast including including Steve Toussaint (House Of The Dragon) and Tobias Jowett, soon to be seen in Nick Hamm’s upcoming epic William Tell.
The thriller marks Amponsah’s first fiction feature...
Further Audiences Award winners, which were announced on Monday, went to The Taste of Mango for Best Documentary, Festival of Slaps for Best British Film/Work and Murals for Best Immersive Work/Xr.
Amponsah’s London-set thriller stars Stephen Odubola as a member of a moped street crime gang, who gets on the wrong side of an Albanian crime family.
Archie Maddocks co-wrote the screenplay with One Piece breakout Taz Skylar, who also appears in the film, with other cast including including Steve Toussaint (House Of The Dragon) and Tobias Jowett, soon to be seen in Nick Hamm’s upcoming epic William Tell.
The thriller marks Amponsah’s first fiction feature...
- 10/30/2023
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Good afternoon Insiders and welcome to this week’s newsletter, Max Goldbart here with my hand on the tiller. Netflix was in London this week and there was plenty else going on for you to digest over lunch. Read on. And sign up and subscribe here.
Netflix Goes Big
London calling: Netflix has been on a major European charm offensive this year and Wednesday night was the UK’s turn to host a no-expense-spared event. Held at the Battersea Power Station – once a giant south London coal-power generator and now a futuristic mall, residential complex and cinema – the Netflix See What’s Next shindig saw presenter Anita Rani host the likes of Blue Story creator Rapman, actor and filmmaker Daniel Kaluuya and Sam McAlister of Prince Andrew interview fame. Sex Education star Alistair Petrie helmed a panel comprising Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney, The Witcher’s Joey Batey and The Crown’s Claudia Harrison,...
Netflix Goes Big
London calling: Netflix has been on a major European charm offensive this year and Wednesday night was the UK’s turn to host a no-expense-spared event. Held at the Battersea Power Station – once a giant south London coal-power generator and now a futuristic mall, residential complex and cinema – the Netflix See What’s Next shindig saw presenter Anita Rani host the likes of Blue Story creator Rapman, actor and filmmaker Daniel Kaluuya and Sam McAlister of Prince Andrew interview fame. Sex Education star Alistair Petrie helmed a panel comprising Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney, The Witcher’s Joey Batey and The Crown’s Claudia Harrison,...
- 4/28/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Eddie Marsan has joined the cast of Supacell, Blue Story director Rapman’s Netflix drama series about a group of South Londoners who develop superpowers.
Marsan will play a character named Ray in the show, which has now wrapped shooting in London. No launch date has been set.
The series will follow five ordinary Black South Londoners with little in common who unexpectedly develop superpowers. One man Michael Lasaki (Tosin Cole) has to bring them all together in order to save the woman he loves.
“Eddie has just got such a good energy,” said Rapman at a Netflix See What’s Next Event in London last night. “He is a legend, such a nice human. He was making me feel like Scorsese on set.” Watch him talk about the series in a behind-the-scenes promo tape below.
Marsan joins a cast that includes Cole, Nadine Mills as Sabrina, Eric Kofi Abrefa as Andre, Calvin Demba as Rodney, Josh Tedeku as Tazer, Adelayo Adedayo as Dionne, Rayxia Ojo as Sharleen and Giacomo Mancini as Spud.
Rapman (aka Andrew Onwubolu) serves as showrunner, creator and lead director on the six part series with Sebastian Thiel directing half the episodes.
Joanna Crow is series producer, with Sheila Nortley block 2 producer and associate producer. Geraldine Hawkins serves as Co-Producer. Rapman is executive producer alongside Anna Ferguson and Steve Searle for Netflix and Mouktar Mohammed of New Wave. Henrietta Lee is associate producer for New Wave.
“Do not forget the name Supacell.”
Writer/director @RealRapman takes us behind the scenes of his upcoming Netflix series following five ordinary people who unexpectedly develop superpowers. pic.twitter.com/oizn8WKyv2
— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) April 27, 2023...
Marsan will play a character named Ray in the show, which has now wrapped shooting in London. No launch date has been set.
The series will follow five ordinary Black South Londoners with little in common who unexpectedly develop superpowers. One man Michael Lasaki (Tosin Cole) has to bring them all together in order to save the woman he loves.
“Eddie has just got such a good energy,” said Rapman at a Netflix See What’s Next Event in London last night. “He is a legend, such a nice human. He was making me feel like Scorsese on set.” Watch him talk about the series in a behind-the-scenes promo tape below.
Marsan joins a cast that includes Cole, Nadine Mills as Sabrina, Eric Kofi Abrefa as Andre, Calvin Demba as Rodney, Josh Tedeku as Tazer, Adelayo Adedayo as Dionne, Rayxia Ojo as Sharleen and Giacomo Mancini as Spud.
Rapman (aka Andrew Onwubolu) serves as showrunner, creator and lead director on the six part series with Sebastian Thiel directing half the episodes.
Joanna Crow is series producer, with Sheila Nortley block 2 producer and associate producer. Geraldine Hawkins serves as Co-Producer. Rapman is executive producer alongside Anna Ferguson and Steve Searle for Netflix and Mouktar Mohammed of New Wave. Henrietta Lee is associate producer for New Wave.
“Do not forget the name Supacell.”
Writer/director @RealRapman takes us behind the scenes of his upcoming Netflix series following five ordinary people who unexpectedly develop superpowers. pic.twitter.com/oizn8WKyv2
— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) April 27, 2023...
- 4/27/2023
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The BFI and BAFTA have set the 2023 cohort of the BFI Flare x BAFTA mentoring scheme, which provides support to six Lgbtqia+ filmmakers working towards their debuts in film and television.
The programme runs in partnership with BFI Network and is in its ninth year. Alums include Aleem Khan (After Love), Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, Georgi Banks-Davies (I Hate Suzie), Kayleigh Llewellyn, and Georgia Oakley (Blue Jean).
This year’s programme will support writer Dylan Brady, writer/director Phoebe Brooks, writer Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini, writer/director Sarah Grant, writer Bethan Marlow, and writer/director/producer Shiva Raichandani.
As part of the initiative, the participants are matched with industry mentors and invited to attend a two-day lab of events during BFI Flare, the BFI’s Lgbtqia+ film festival. The festival runs this month from March 15-26. They will also receive access to wellbeing...
The programme runs in partnership with BFI Network and is in its ninth year. Alums include Aleem Khan (After Love), Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, Georgi Banks-Davies (I Hate Suzie), Kayleigh Llewellyn, and Georgia Oakley (Blue Jean).
This year’s programme will support writer Dylan Brady, writer/director Phoebe Brooks, writer Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini, writer/director Sarah Grant, writer Bethan Marlow, and writer/director/producer Shiva Raichandani.
As part of the initiative, the participants are matched with industry mentors and invited to attend a two-day lab of events during BFI Flare, the BFI’s Lgbtqia+ film festival. The festival runs this month from March 15-26. They will also receive access to wellbeing...
- 3/15/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
It feels like we’re all sleeping on Supacell a bit. This new Netflix superhero series was first announced back in November 2021, has a super-strong cast, and has been filming since summer 2022, but there’s very little news about it. It doesn’t even have its own Wikipedia page yet.
Let’s put that right and get better acquainted with this fresh upcoming British superhero drama that could rival the likes of Misfits and Extraordinary:
Supacell Was Created By Pioneering Rapper-Turned-Filmmaker Rapman
Impressively, Rapman – real name Andrew Onwubolu – is only 33 but already has an MBE for services to drama and music. He’s known for dealing with socially conscious themes like suicide, blood donors, and domestic abuse.
You’ll most likely know Rapman for Blue Story, his critically-acclaimed 2019 film, told through the medium of rap, which starred Karla Simone-Spence (The Confessions of Frannie Langton) and Top Boy’s Michael Ward,...
Let’s put that right and get better acquainted with this fresh upcoming British superhero drama that could rival the likes of Misfits and Extraordinary:
Supacell Was Created By Pioneering Rapper-Turned-Filmmaker Rapman
Impressively, Rapman – real name Andrew Onwubolu – is only 33 but already has an MBE for services to drama and music. He’s known for dealing with socially conscious themes like suicide, blood donors, and domestic abuse.
You’ll most likely know Rapman for Blue Story, his critically-acclaimed 2019 film, told through the medium of rap, which starred Karla Simone-Spence (The Confessions of Frannie Langton) and Top Boy’s Michael Ward,...
- 3/10/2023
- by Lauravickersgreen
- Den of Geek
Sumotherhood, the upcoming British urban action-comedy that marks the much-anticipated return to filmmaking for BAFTA winner Adam Deacon, is set to hit cinemas later this year following a major worldwide deal with Paramount, The Hollywood Reporter can reveal.
Paramount Global Content Distribution and Paramount Pictures U.K. have acquired the feature, now in postproduction and coming from Piece of Pie Productions, Deaconstructed and Belstone Pictures. Paramount Pictures U.K. is planning a theatrical release in the U.K. and Ireland later in 2023.
Sumotherhood features an ensemble cast, including Deacon (Kidulthood, Rogue), Jazzie Zonzolo (Anuvahood), Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous), Danny Sapani (Black Panther), Ed Sheeran (Game Of Thrones), Leomie Anderson (Glow Up), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Mary Poppins Returns, Paddington 2), London Hughes (London Hughes: To Catch a D*ck), Peter Serafinowicz (The Tick), Richie Campbell (Top Boy, Blue Story), Ella VaDay (Ru Paul’s Drag Race) and Jaime Winstone (Kidulthood), alongside several cameos
Written by Deacon,...
Paramount Global Content Distribution and Paramount Pictures U.K. have acquired the feature, now in postproduction and coming from Piece of Pie Productions, Deaconstructed and Belstone Pictures. Paramount Pictures U.K. is planning a theatrical release in the U.K. and Ireland later in 2023.
Sumotherhood features an ensemble cast, including Deacon (Kidulthood, Rogue), Jazzie Zonzolo (Anuvahood), Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous), Danny Sapani (Black Panther), Ed Sheeran (Game Of Thrones), Leomie Anderson (Glow Up), Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Mary Poppins Returns, Paddington 2), London Hughes (London Hughes: To Catch a D*ck), Peter Serafinowicz (The Tick), Richie Campbell (Top Boy, Blue Story), Ella VaDay (Ru Paul’s Drag Race) and Jaime Winstone (Kidulthood), alongside several cameos
Written by Deacon,...
- 2/24/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The first group of confirmed judges also includes actor/producer Ray Panthaki and execs from BFI and Vue.
The first group of judges for The Big Screen Awards 2022, the relaunched version of the Screen Awards, has been announced ahead of the extended entry deadline on September 23.
Click here to enter
Now in their 11th year, the industry awards celebrate the ingenuity, skills and achievements of the people, teams and companies that connect films with the UK’s cinemagoing audiences.
Among the first group of judges confirmed for this year’s awards are Film4 chairman Daniel Battsek, Boiling Point actor/producer Ray Panthaki,...
The first group of judges for The Big Screen Awards 2022, the relaunched version of the Screen Awards, has been announced ahead of the extended entry deadline on September 23.
Click here to enter
Now in their 11th year, the industry awards celebrate the ingenuity, skills and achievements of the people, teams and companies that connect films with the UK’s cinemagoing audiences.
Among the first group of judges confirmed for this year’s awards are Film4 chairman Daniel Battsek, Boiling Point actor/producer Ray Panthaki,...
- 9/12/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
In the era when content is king, Sam Mendes still believes in moving pictures. “Empire of Light” is the proof. While the world was in lockdown these past couple years, Mendes let his imagination run to his happy place: a grand old English movie palace he dubbed the Empire Cinema. Thousands pass through its art deco doors seeking escapism, but Mendes is more interested in the employees — the projectionist, the ticket takers, the box office attendant and so forth — whose stories, he senses, are every bit as interesting as the ones they show. And so he put them up on-screen where they belong.
But “Empire of Light” is more than just Mendes’ homage to an endangered art form — in fact, it spends a lot less time valorizing the medium than you might imagine. The movies bind this ersatz family, but it’s the people that matter. To that end, Mendes assembled a terrific team,...
But “Empire of Light” is more than just Mendes’ homage to an endangered art form — in fact, it spends a lot less time valorizing the medium than you might imagine. The movies bind this ersatz family, but it’s the people that matter. To that end, Mendes assembled a terrific team,...
- 9/4/2022
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Eric Kofi-Abrefa, currently starring in Starz’s Bmf, has signed with APA. The actor stars as antagonist Lamar Silas on the series, produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
The London native is also known for roles in the crime drama Blue Story (2019), from director Andrew “Rapman” Onwubolu. Kofi-Abrefa reteams with Onwubolu for the upcoming Netflix sci-fi superhero series Supacell, which focuses on a group of ordinary citizens from South London who develop super powers despite having no clear connection between them, other than they are all Black.
The actor has also appeared in high profile features such as Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), the Brad Pitt World War II tank drama Fury (2014) and Oliver stone’s Snowden (2016).
Kofi-Abrefa is a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and is also known for theater work, appearing opposite Vanessa Kirby in the National...
Eric Kofi-Abrefa, currently starring in Starz’s Bmf, has signed with APA. The actor stars as antagonist Lamar Silas on the series, produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
The London native is also known for roles in the crime drama Blue Story (2019), from director Andrew “Rapman” Onwubolu. Kofi-Abrefa reteams with Onwubolu for the upcoming Netflix sci-fi superhero series Supacell, which focuses on a group of ordinary citizens from South London who develop super powers despite having no clear connection between them, other than they are all Black.
The actor has also appeared in high profile features such as Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), the Brad Pitt World War II tank drama Fury (2014) and Oliver stone’s Snowden (2016).
Kofi-Abrefa is a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and is also known for theater work, appearing opposite Vanessa Kirby in the National...
- 8/31/2022
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Searchlight Pictures has released the teaser trailer for the upcoming Sam Mendes film Empire of Light. The film will be in theaters on December 9, 2022.
Set in an English seaside town in the early 1980s, Empire of Light is a powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema, from Academy Award®-winning director Sam Mendes.
Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward in “Empire of Light.” Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.
Empire of Light features a stellar cast led by Academy Award® winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite and The Lost Daughter), BAFTA winner Michael Ward (Blue Story and Top Boy) and Academy Award® winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech and A Single Man). The film also reunites Mendes with Academy Award®-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins (1917 and Skyfall).
About The Film
Genre: Drama, Romance Cast: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, Colin Firth...
Set in an English seaside town in the early 1980s, Empire of Light is a powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema, from Academy Award®-winning director Sam Mendes.
Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward in “Empire of Light.” Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.
Empire of Light features a stellar cast led by Academy Award® winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite and The Lost Daughter), BAFTA winner Michael Ward (Blue Story and Top Boy) and Academy Award® winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech and A Single Man). The film also reunites Mendes with Academy Award®-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins (1917 and Skyfall).
About The Film
Genre: Drama, Romance Cast: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, Colin Firth...
- 8/24/2022
- by Editor
- CinemaNerdz
Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.
Searchlight Pictures has released the first trailer for Empire Of Light.
Set in an English seaside town in the early 1980s, Empire Of Light is a powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema, from Academy Award-winning director Sam Mendes.
Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, announced that Mendes will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award. The TIFF Tribute Awards presented by Bvlgari will return to an in-person gala fundraiser during the 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, September 11 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
TIFF will be presenting the Canadian Premiere of Mendes’ most recent work, which he wrote, directed, and produced. Mendes made his feature film debut at the Festival in 1999 with the World Premiere of American Beauty, a TIFF People’s Choice Award winner, for which he...
Searchlight Pictures has released the first trailer for Empire Of Light.
Set in an English seaside town in the early 1980s, Empire Of Light is a powerful and poignant story about human connection and the magic of cinema, from Academy Award-winning director Sam Mendes.
Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, announced that Mendes will receive the TIFF Ebert Director Award. The TIFF Tribute Awards presented by Bvlgari will return to an in-person gala fundraiser during the 47th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday, September 11 at Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
TIFF will be presenting the Canadian Premiere of Mendes’ most recent work, which he wrote, directed, and produced. Mendes made his feature film debut at the Festival in 1999 with the World Premiere of American Beauty, a TIFF People’s Choice Award winner, for which he...
- 8/24/2022
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The teaser trailer for the esteemed director Sam Mendes’ new movie, Empire of Light, has been released. The director also serves as screenwriter and producer for this TIFF-bound awards contender. This period piece features an ensemble composed of Academy Award winner Olivia Colman, BAFTA winner Micheal Ward, Toby Jones, and Academy Award winner Colin Firth. The movie comes courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures.
The film is about the events that take place in an English seaside town in the early 1980s. The trailer features interlinked stories of the ensemble cast that culminates in the screening of a film. The movie explores the relationship between human connection and human interaction and how it all relates to the power of cinema. This is Sam Mendes’ poignant and powerful love letter to the medium he clearly loves so much.
A film of this theme is interestingly relevant in the wake of events in recent years.
The film is about the events that take place in an English seaside town in the early 1980s. The trailer features interlinked stories of the ensemble cast that culminates in the screening of a film. The movie explores the relationship between human connection and human interaction and how it all relates to the power of cinema. This is Sam Mendes’ poignant and powerful love letter to the medium he clearly loves so much.
A film of this theme is interestingly relevant in the wake of events in recent years.
- 8/24/2022
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Netflix’s Rapman-created Supacell series, about a group of regular people who gain superpowers, is up, up and away with Tosin Cole (61st Street) signed on to play lead character Michael Lasaki. Filming begins in South London on Monday.
Speaking exclusively to Deadline, Blue Story creator Rapman Aka Andrew Onwabolu said Cole’s Michael is a “van driver, an everyday working man, who’s deep in love” with Dionne, played by Adelayo Adedayo (The Responder).
The cast also includes Nadine Mills (The Weekend), Eric Kofi Abrefa, Calvin Demba (The Rig), Josh Tedeku (Moonhaven), Rayxia Ojo (Call The Midwife) and Giacomo Mancini (Top Boy).
Commissioned in 2021, the six-part superhero show sees a certain number of Black people in South London develop superpowers. Rapman is showrunner and lead director and Sebastian Thiel (Dreaming Whilst Black) will direct three of the episodes.
Cole’s casting...
Speaking exclusively to Deadline, Blue Story creator Rapman Aka Andrew Onwabolu said Cole’s Michael is a “van driver, an everyday working man, who’s deep in love” with Dionne, played by Adelayo Adedayo (The Responder).
The cast also includes Nadine Mills (The Weekend), Eric Kofi Abrefa, Calvin Demba (The Rig), Josh Tedeku (Moonhaven), Rayxia Ojo (Call The Midwife) and Giacomo Mancini (Top Boy).
Commissioned in 2021, the six-part superhero show sees a certain number of Black people in South London develop superpowers. Rapman is showrunner and lead director and Sebastian Thiel (Dreaming Whilst Black) will direct three of the episodes.
Cole’s casting...
- 8/11/2022
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Amazon Studios has greenlit historical comedy series My Lady Jane for Prime Video with Emily Bader (Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin), Edward Bluemel (Killing Eve), and Jordan Peters (Blue Story) set to star.
Rising American actress Bader will take on the titular role of Lady Jane. Based on the 2016 YA historical fiction novels, the series will follow an irreverent young Tudor woman who dreads her arranged marriage, only to be surprised when it results in a steamy romance, her being crowned Queen, and a heroic mission to save the magical people persecuted by her political rivals. Taking short-lived British monarch Lady Jane Grey as its inspiration, the popular novel was penned by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows.
Bluemel will play Grey’s husband Lord Guildford Dudley and Peters will be King Edward. Parkes+ MacDonald, the production company run by Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, is producing the show.
Rising American actress Bader will take on the titular role of Lady Jane. Based on the 2016 YA historical fiction novels, the series will follow an irreverent young Tudor woman who dreads her arranged marriage, only to be surprised when it results in a steamy romance, her being crowned Queen, and a heroic mission to save the magical people persecuted by her political rivals. Taking short-lived British monarch Lady Jane Grey as its inspiration, the popular novel was penned by Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, and Jodi Meadows.
Bluemel will play Grey’s husband Lord Guildford Dudley and Peters will be King Edward. Parkes+ MacDonald, the production company run by Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, is producing the show.
- 8/2/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
The UK independent film sector is in a fight for its survival amid the streamer-fuelled production boom and a long-term decline in traditional revenues, according to a one-off economic review commissioned by the British Film Institute (BFI).
The study, conducted by Alma Economics on behalf of the BFI, found “high levels of fragility” across the sector, from the production stage through to distribution and exhibition, and suggested its “viability is inhibited to the point of market failure”.
“This review gives us important economic evidence and pinpoints measures as preliminary recommendations which can be unpacked and modelled with the industry in order to enable it to prosper and continue,” said BFI Chief Executive Ben Roberts.
The report found that while the UK production sector has ballooned in size over the last five years to reach record spending levels of 6.7b (£5.64b) in 2021, the benefits of this increased activity had not trickled...
The study, conducted by Alma Economics on behalf of the BFI, found “high levels of fragility” across the sector, from the production stage through to distribution and exhibition, and suggested its “viability is inhibited to the point of market failure”.
“This review gives us important economic evidence and pinpoints measures as preliminary recommendations which can be unpacked and modelled with the industry in order to enable it to prosper and continue,” said BFI Chief Executive Ben Roberts.
The report found that while the UK production sector has ballooned in size over the last five years to reach record spending levels of 6.7b (£5.64b) in 2021, the benefits of this increased activity had not trickled...
- 7/19/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Chris Sussman, Netflix’s Director of UK Scripted Series, is leaving the streamer, Deadline has learned.
The former BBC exec has resigned from Anne Mensah’s lean UK commissioning team to spend more time with his family, we understand. His final day is July 8.
During his two-and-a-half year spell, the well liked exec was behind the likes of Harlan Coben’s Stay Close, from It’s A Sin producer Red Production Company, and Man Vs Bee, the slapstick comedy launching next week in which Rowan Atkinson plays a man who destroys a luxury home while housesitting due to a troublesome bee.
As Deadline revealed in October 2019, he had joined Netflix from BBC Studios, where he had run the comedy division for three years. Prior to that, he was a commissioner at the BBC, most notably playing a key role in the commission and launch of influential BBC Three comedy-drama Fleabag.
The former BBC exec has resigned from Anne Mensah’s lean UK commissioning team to spend more time with his family, we understand. His final day is July 8.
During his two-and-a-half year spell, the well liked exec was behind the likes of Harlan Coben’s Stay Close, from It’s A Sin producer Red Production Company, and Man Vs Bee, the slapstick comedy launching next week in which Rowan Atkinson plays a man who destroys a luxury home while housesitting due to a troublesome bee.
As Deadline revealed in October 2019, he had joined Netflix from BBC Studios, where he had run the comedy division for three years. Prior to that, he was a commissioner at the BBC, most notably playing a key role in the commission and launch of influential BBC Three comedy-drama Fleabag.
- 6/17/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Key screen figures receive honours for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Actor Damian Lewis, actor-director Andrew Onwubolu, aka Rapman and Creative UK CEO Caroline Norbury are among the film and TV figures to receive honorary titles as part of the Queen’s birthday honours to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.
Lewis, whose credits include Homeland, received a Cbe for his services to film and charity. He is also co-founder of the Feed NHS campaign, created in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rapman created the YouTube series Shiro’s Story before directing his feature debut Blue Story in 2019. He has received an...
Actor Damian Lewis, actor-director Andrew Onwubolu, aka Rapman and Creative UK CEO Caroline Norbury are among the film and TV figures to receive honorary titles as part of the Queen’s birthday honours to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.
Lewis, whose credits include Homeland, received a Cbe for his services to film and charity. He is also co-founder of the Feed NHS campaign, created in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rapman created the YouTube series Shiro’s Story before directing his feature debut Blue Story in 2019. He has received an...
- 6/6/2022
- by Melissa Kasule
- ScreenDaily
“Billions” actor Damian Lewis, actor-director Rapman (“Blue Story”), writer Salman Rushdie (“Midnight’s Children”) and All3Media CEO Jane Turton are among those in the arts and entertainment field recognized in the annual Queen’s birthday honors.
Lewis has been recognized as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Cbe) for services to drama and charity. Also accorded a Cbe is filmmaker Isaac Julien, Berlin winner for “Derek.”
Rushdie has been accorded the Member of the Order of the Companions of Honor accolade for services to literature alongside illustrator and writer Quentin Blake (“Jackanory”), for services to illustration.
Director Andrew Onwubolu, also known as Rapman, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to drama and music. Veteran “Coronation Street” actor Helen Worth Dawson has also been accorded an MBE for services to drama.
Ian Rankin, whose crime novels, including the...
Lewis has been recognized as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Cbe) for services to drama and charity. Also accorded a Cbe is filmmaker Isaac Julien, Berlin winner for “Derek.”
Rushdie has been accorded the Member of the Order of the Companions of Honor accolade for services to literature alongside illustrator and writer Quentin Blake (“Jackanory”), for services to illustration.
Director Andrew Onwubolu, also known as Rapman, has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to drama and music. Veteran “Coronation Street” actor Helen Worth Dawson has also been accorded an MBE for services to drama.
Ian Rankin, whose crime novels, including the...
- 6/1/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Move Mountains Productions have released the official trailer for new film The Sun Also Rises, due for release in Summer. The Sun Also Rises is the directorial debut of a full-length film by Roland Manookian and is produced by Shane McCormick, Tom Gordon (Good Shout film collective founder), Josh Witcher and Franky Lankester (Ron Hopper’s Misfortune).
The film focuses on Raye (Gina Jones), a woman trapped in an abusive relationship. The film charts her struggle to survive, her journey to escape, and how the cycle of violence affects everyone who comes into contact with it.
The Sun Also Rises is a beautiful film with an ultimately positive message of redemption; it pays homage to the strength of the human spirit. The film draws inspiration from the Ernest Hemmingway book Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises, portraying Raye’s journey through the lens of a metaphorical bull run. Producer Shane McCormick...
The film focuses on Raye (Gina Jones), a woman trapped in an abusive relationship. The film charts her struggle to survive, her journey to escape, and how the cycle of violence affects everyone who comes into contact with it.
The Sun Also Rises is a beautiful film with an ultimately positive message of redemption; it pays homage to the strength of the human spirit. The film draws inspiration from the Ernest Hemmingway book Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises, portraying Raye’s journey through the lens of a metaphorical bull run. Producer Shane McCormick...
- 5/24/2022
- by Kevin Haldon
- Nerdly
Eva Yates has been appointed Director of BBC Film.
The assumed front-runner for the job, Yates will be responsible for the development and production of films backed by the broadcaster.
Yates, who replaces Rose Garnett who is leaving to join A24, will also oversee Storyville, the BBC’s documentary films strand led by Philippa Kowarsky.
Yates is currently Acting Director of BBC Film and joined the broadcaster in 2017. As a BBC commissioner and executive producer, she has commissioned more than 30 features, most recently Aleem Khan’s BAFTA winner After Love; Blue Story by Andrew Rapman Onwubolu; Remi Weekes’s BAFTA winner His House; and Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun which will premiere in Cannes Critics Week 2022.
Prior to joining the BBC, she worked for eight years as an executive at Film4, where she executive-produced movies including Rungano Nyoni’s BAFTA winner I Am Not A Witch, which premiered in Directors’ Fortnight and...
The assumed front-runner for the job, Yates will be responsible for the development and production of films backed by the broadcaster.
Yates, who replaces Rose Garnett who is leaving to join A24, will also oversee Storyville, the BBC’s documentary films strand led by Philippa Kowarsky.
Yates is currently Acting Director of BBC Film and joined the broadcaster in 2017. As a BBC commissioner and executive producer, she has commissioned more than 30 features, most recently Aleem Khan’s BAFTA winner After Love; Blue Story by Andrew Rapman Onwubolu; Remi Weekes’s BAFTA winner His House; and Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun which will premiere in Cannes Critics Week 2022.
Prior to joining the BBC, she worked for eight years as an executive at Film4, where she executive-produced movies including Rungano Nyoni’s BAFTA winner I Am Not A Witch, which premiered in Directors’ Fortnight and...
- 5/4/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Major role in UK film ecosystem is responsible for £11m yearly budget.
Eva Yates has been confirmed as the new director of BBC Film, taking on one of the major roles in the independent UK film ecosystem.
Yates has been acting director at the development and production body since the departure of Rose Garnett to join US firm A24, announced in early March this year. She will start immediately as director, and will be in Cannes.
Yates will oversee BBC Film’s £11m annual budget for development and production, which goes towards 12 to 15 films a year. Also under her remit is the Storyville documentary strand,...
Eva Yates has been confirmed as the new director of BBC Film, taking on one of the major roles in the independent UK film ecosystem.
Yates has been acting director at the development and production body since the departure of Rose Garnett to join US firm A24, announced in early March this year. She will start immediately as director, and will be in Cannes.
Yates will oversee BBC Film’s £11m annual budget for development and production, which goes towards 12 to 15 films a year. Also under her remit is the Storyville documentary strand,...
- 5/4/2022
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Gharoro-Akpojotor was a 2020 Screen Star of Tomorrow, and produced ‘Blue Story’ and ‘Boxing Day’.
Ringside Studios, the London-based outfit backed by European media company and distributor Newen Studios, has acquired a minority stake via its investment arm Ringside Media in UK production outfit Joi Productions.
Joi Productions was founded by 2020 Screen Star of Tomorrow Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, who also received a BFI Vision award in 2020. Her production credits include Rapman’s Blue Story and Aml Ameen’s Boxing Day. She is producing TV series Champion for the BBC, written by Queenie author Candice Carty-Williams.
Tom Hawkins, head of development at Wildgaze,...
Ringside Studios, the London-based outfit backed by European media company and distributor Newen Studios, has acquired a minority stake via its investment arm Ringside Media in UK production outfit Joi Productions.
Joi Productions was founded by 2020 Screen Star of Tomorrow Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, who also received a BFI Vision award in 2020. Her production credits include Rapman’s Blue Story and Aml Ameen’s Boxing Day. She is producing TV series Champion for the BBC, written by Queenie author Candice Carty-Williams.
Tom Hawkins, head of development at Wildgaze,...
- 4/7/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
5Ringside Media, the investment arm of Newen-backed indie Ringside Studios, has taken a minority stake in Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor’s Joi Productions.
Joi Productions was founded by Gharoro-Akpojotor, and in 2020 received a BFI Vision award. Gharoro-Akpojotor, a BAFTA Breakthrough nominee, has had breakout hits producing Rapman’s “Blue Story” and “Boxing Day.” She is currently producing the BBC’s “Champion,” written by “Queenie” author and screenwriter Candice Carty-Williams. Joi Productions focuses on Black, queer and female-led stories. Joining Joy is Wildgaze’s head of development, Tom Hawkins.
Ringside Media was established in 2020 as part of parent company Newen’s strategy to expand into the English-speaking scripted market and the U.K. The boutique investment fund is making bespoke investments and partnerships with companies looking for the benefits of a larger international and domestic network. The companies will work closely with Newen Connect, Newen’s distribution arm.
Ringside Media has also invested in Fictionhouse,...
Joi Productions was founded by Gharoro-Akpojotor, and in 2020 received a BFI Vision award. Gharoro-Akpojotor, a BAFTA Breakthrough nominee, has had breakout hits producing Rapman’s “Blue Story” and “Boxing Day.” She is currently producing the BBC’s “Champion,” written by “Queenie” author and screenwriter Candice Carty-Williams. Joi Productions focuses on Black, queer and female-led stories. Joining Joy is Wildgaze’s head of development, Tom Hawkins.
Ringside Media was established in 2020 as part of parent company Newen’s strategy to expand into the English-speaking scripted market and the U.K. The boutique investment fund is making bespoke investments and partnerships with companies looking for the benefits of a larger international and domestic network. The companies will work closely with Newen Connect, Newen’s distribution arm.
Ringside Media has also invested in Fictionhouse,...
- 4/7/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Ringside Studios, the outfit owned by European media company and distributor Newen, has closed its latest acquisition by taking a minority stake in UK company Joi Productions via its investment arm Ringside Media.
Set up by former BAFTA breakthrough nominee Joy Gharoro-Akpojoto, the company has credits including Rapman’s feature debut hit Blue Story, which was released by Paramount, and Aml Ameen’s Boxing Day, which was released by Warner Bros.
In 2020 Gharoro-Akpojoto received a BFI Vision Award to support growth and the company has now hired Tom Hawkins, formerly Wildgaze’s Head of Development. Joi Productions’ focus is on producing Black, queer and female-led stories. Next up it is producing Champion for the BBC, written by Candice Carty-Williams (Queenie).
Ringside was advised by the team at Lee & Thompson, and Joi by Grey Seal Media, for the deal.
Newen formed Ringside Studios with Gub Neal in 2020 in a...
Set up by former BAFTA breakthrough nominee Joy Gharoro-Akpojoto, the company has credits including Rapman’s feature debut hit Blue Story, which was released by Paramount, and Aml Ameen’s Boxing Day, which was released by Warner Bros.
In 2020 Gharoro-Akpojoto received a BFI Vision Award to support growth and the company has now hired Tom Hawkins, formerly Wildgaze’s Head of Development. Joi Productions’ focus is on producing Black, queer and female-led stories. Next up it is producing Champion for the BBC, written by Candice Carty-Williams (Queenie).
Ringside was advised by the team at Lee & Thompson, and Joi by Grey Seal Media, for the deal.
Newen formed Ringside Studios with Gub Neal in 2020 in a...
- 4/7/2022
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Streamer BritBox has extended its production partnership with the Agatha Christie estate.
BritBox, which is jointly owned by BBC Studios and ITV, has signed on for three more productions with Agatha Christie Limited and Mamoth Screen.
The trio have already collaborated on an adaptation of Christie’s novel “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?” (pictured above) starring Emma Thompson and Will Poulter, which will premiere on the platform in April.
BritBox have not yet confirmed which of the author’s prolific output they will be working on next but they have said each of the three adaptations will be “steered by a distinctive voice – a director, a writer or auteur – bringing an entirely new perspective and style to Agatha Christie’s novels.”
BritBox was set to make the announcement Wednesday during its portion of the Television Critics Association winter virtual press tour. As part of the announcement, Emily Powers, head of BritBox North America,...
BritBox, which is jointly owned by BBC Studios and ITV, has signed on for three more productions with Agatha Christie Limited and Mamoth Screen.
The trio have already collaborated on an adaptation of Christie’s novel “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?” (pictured above) starring Emma Thompson and Will Poulter, which will premiere on the platform in April.
BritBox have not yet confirmed which of the author’s prolific output they will be working on next but they have said each of the three adaptations will be “steered by a distinctive voice – a director, a writer or auteur – bringing an entirely new perspective and style to Agatha Christie’s novels.”
BritBox was set to make the announcement Wednesday during its portion of the Television Critics Association winter virtual press tour. As part of the announcement, Emily Powers, head of BritBox North America,...
- 2/9/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
To celebrate the release of A Violent Man – available now on Digital HD – we’re giving away a quad poster signed by the cast and director!
A Violent Man is Ross McCall’s directorial debut from his own script, and stars Craig Fairbrass, Stephen Odubola (Blue Story), Jason Flemyng and Zoe Tapper (Liar).
Bleak, brutal and brilliant, A Violent Man showcases a towering performance from Fairbrass, never better and riding high off acclaim from his recent string of well-reviewed thrillers including Villain and Muscle. The film sees Fairbrass teaming up again with the producers of Villain, who are also behind Boiling Point starring Stephen Graham.
The film features an impressive supporting cast including Jason Flemyng and Stephen Odubola, who is outstanding as Fairbrass’ troubled cellmate Marcus. A Violent Man is a gritty portrayal of the harsh realities of prison life, with a brooding score by two time BAFTA award-winning composer Austin Wintory.
A Violent Man is Ross McCall’s directorial debut from his own script, and stars Craig Fairbrass, Stephen Odubola (Blue Story), Jason Flemyng and Zoe Tapper (Liar).
Bleak, brutal and brilliant, A Violent Man showcases a towering performance from Fairbrass, never better and riding high off acclaim from his recent string of well-reviewed thrillers including Villain and Muscle. The film sees Fairbrass teaming up again with the producers of Villain, who are also behind Boiling Point starring Stephen Graham.
The film features an impressive supporting cast including Jason Flemyng and Stephen Odubola, who is outstanding as Fairbrass’ troubled cellmate Marcus. A Violent Man is a gritty portrayal of the harsh realities of prison life, with a brooding score by two time BAFTA award-winning composer Austin Wintory.
- 2/9/2022
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
In his latest podcast/interview, host and screenwriter Stuart Wright talks to director Ross McCall about his feature directorial debut A Violent Man, which is out now in selected cinemas and available on digital.
McCall became known in the U.S after playing Cpl. Joseph Liebgott in HBO’s Band of Brothers for Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. He just completed principal photography on the London/New York-based show, Suspicion, for Apple TV alongside Uma Thurman, and The Offer for Paramount Plus with Miles Teller and director Dexter Fletcher.
A Violent Man stars Craig Fairbrass, Stephen Odubola (Blue Story), Jason Flemyng and Zoe Tapper (Liar). You can check out our review of the film right here.
Powered by RedCircle...
McCall became known in the U.S after playing Cpl. Joseph Liebgott in HBO’s Band of Brothers for Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. He just completed principal photography on the London/New York-based show, Suspicion, for Apple TV alongside Uma Thurman, and The Offer for Paramount Plus with Miles Teller and director Dexter Fletcher.
A Violent Man stars Craig Fairbrass, Stephen Odubola (Blue Story), Jason Flemyng and Zoe Tapper (Liar). You can check out our review of the film right here.
Powered by RedCircle...
- 2/8/2022
- by Stuart Wright
- Nerdly
From the producers of Stephen Graham’s ‘Boiling Point,’ this week comes the release of the gritty prison drama ‘A Violent Man’, a bleak portrayal of the harsh realities of prison life starring everyone’s favourite hardman Craig Fairbrass and ‘Blue Story’ actor Stephen Odubola.
Steve Mackleson (Fairbrass) is a violent and dangerous prisoner, incarcerated for double murder in a maximum-security prison, and wracked with inner turmoil about his past sins and unquenchable need for carnage. When Marcus (Odubola) becomes his new cellmate, and a daughter he has never met finally requests a chance to meet her estranged father, Steve must reconsider his nihilistic outlook and brutal outbursts. When Marcus becomes the victim of a revenge attack, Steve steps in to save him and they both become marked men, their sentences set to be cut short, the hard way.
We spoke to both Fairbrass and Odubola on the making of the film,...
Steve Mackleson (Fairbrass) is a violent and dangerous prisoner, incarcerated for double murder in a maximum-security prison, and wracked with inner turmoil about his past sins and unquenchable need for carnage. When Marcus (Odubola) becomes his new cellmate, and a daughter he has never met finally requests a chance to meet her estranged father, Steve must reconsider his nihilistic outlook and brutal outbursts. When Marcus becomes the victim of a revenge attack, Steve steps in to save him and they both become marked men, their sentences set to be cut short, the hard way.
We spoke to both Fairbrass and Odubola on the making of the film,...
- 2/3/2022
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Further Christmas releases include ‘Silent Night’, ‘CBeebies Christmas Show’.
Aml Ameen’s romantic comedy Boxing Day heads the new titles at the UK-Ireland box office, as one of six Christmas-themed releases this weekend.
Released in 439 sites through Warner Bros, Boxing Day is inspired by Ameen’s own experiences, and follows a UK author who returns home from Los Angeles to introduce his US fiancée to his eccentric British-Caribbean family at Christmas.
The film is produced by Screen Star of Tomorrow 2020 Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, alongside Damian Jones of DJ Films, plus Ameen, Dominique Telson and Matthew G. Zamias; backing came from the BFI Film Fund and Film4.
Aml Ameen’s romantic comedy Boxing Day heads the new titles at the UK-Ireland box office, as one of six Christmas-themed releases this weekend.
Released in 439 sites through Warner Bros, Boxing Day is inspired by Ameen’s own experiences, and follows a UK author who returns home from Los Angeles to introduce his US fiancée to his eccentric British-Caribbean family at Christmas.
The film is produced by Screen Star of Tomorrow 2020 Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, alongside Damian Jones of DJ Films, plus Ameen, Dominique Telson and Matthew G. Zamias; backing came from the BFI Film Fund and Film4.
- 12/3/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Netflix Commissions Five UK Series: Rapman Superhero Show; ‘One Day’ Adaptation; Abi Morgan Thriller
Netflix has announced five new scripted series that it has commissioned out of the UK, all of which will shoot in the country in 2022.
On the list is Supacell, a superhero drama following a group of seemingly ordinary people from South London who unexpectedly develop super powers, with no connection between them aside from them all being Black. The six-part show is written by Rapman (aka Andrew Onwubolu), of Blue Story fame, who will also direct. Mouktar Mohammed and Henrietta Lee of New Wave are executive producer and associate producer respectively.
The streamer has also commissioned an adaptation of David Nicholls’s romance novel One Day. It will follow protagonists Em and Dex as they meet up on one particular day year after year. The show is a Drama Republic Production with Universal International Studios and Focus Features. One Day was previously made into a feature starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.
On the list is Supacell, a superhero drama following a group of seemingly ordinary people from South London who unexpectedly develop super powers, with no connection between them aside from them all being Black. The six-part show is written by Rapman (aka Andrew Onwubolu), of Blue Story fame, who will also direct. Mouktar Mohammed and Henrietta Lee of New Wave are executive producer and associate producer respectively.
The streamer has also commissioned an adaptation of David Nicholls’s romance novel One Day. It will follow protagonists Em and Dex as they meet up on one particular day year after year. The show is a Drama Republic Production with Universal International Studios and Focus Features. One Day was previously made into a feature starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.
- 11/30/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Sky Studios and Dbk Studios are partnering on a five-part short film series that will spotlight the UK’s emerging black and diverse talent, with filmmakers including an assistant on Rapman’s Blue Story and the lead actress from E4’s Russel T Davies show Banana.
The producers said Unearthed Narratives will share a common theme of hard-hitting yet relatable stories, set across different generations and on a wide range of subjects: care work, sickle cell anaemia, social media culture, ‘middle-class hobbies’ in the black community, racism in 1950’s England, and the culture within London housing estates.
The filmmakers, who were mentored through production, are: Edem Wornoo, a well-established music video director who has worked on Dave’s Black and most recently Clash (ft. Stormzy); Charlene Wango who worked assisting Rapman while he directed his debut feature Blue Story with Paramount Pictures and BBC Films; Teniola Zara King who...
The producers said Unearthed Narratives will share a common theme of hard-hitting yet relatable stories, set across different generations and on a wide range of subjects: care work, sickle cell anaemia, social media culture, ‘middle-class hobbies’ in the black community, racism in 1950’s England, and the culture within London housing estates.
The filmmakers, who were mentored through production, are: Edem Wornoo, a well-established music video director who has worked on Dave’s Black and most recently Clash (ft. Stormzy); Charlene Wango who worked assisting Rapman while he directed his debut feature Blue Story with Paramount Pictures and BBC Films; Teniola Zara King who...
- 10/13/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Picturehouse Entertainment has launched a teaser trailer for the upcoming feature film from Reggie Yates, ‘Pirates.’
Set in London at the turn of the millennium, Pirates will take audiences on a hilarious journey back to New Year’s Eve 1999, reviving memories from the 90’s garage scene and Moschino fashion for pure nostalgic cinematic joy.
Written and directed by Reggie Yates, the film stars relative newcomers Elliot Edusah, Jordan Peters and Reda Elazouar (Outside the Wire) in the leading roles as three best mates, Cappo, Two Tonne and Kidda, trying to break into the music scene through Pirate radio. The film follows the boys as they drive through London in their tiny Peugeot pumping a live garage set from the stereo and arguing about their Avirex jackets and Naf Naf imports. As the eighteen-year-olds step into adulthood, they know their lives and friendships are on the brink of change. Determined to...
Set in London at the turn of the millennium, Pirates will take audiences on a hilarious journey back to New Year’s Eve 1999, reviving memories from the 90’s garage scene and Moschino fashion for pure nostalgic cinematic joy.
Written and directed by Reggie Yates, the film stars relative newcomers Elliot Edusah, Jordan Peters and Reda Elazouar (Outside the Wire) in the leading roles as three best mates, Cappo, Two Tonne and Kidda, trying to break into the music scene through Pirate radio. The film follows the boys as they drive through London in their tiny Peugeot pumping a live garage set from the stereo and arguing about their Avirex jackets and Naf Naf imports. As the eighteen-year-olds step into adulthood, they know their lives and friendships are on the brink of change. Determined to...
- 8/18/2021
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Exclusive: ITV has set the cast for its upcoming adaptation of Sara Collins’ period drama The Confessions of Frannie Langton.
Karla-Simone Spence, who starred in Paramount Pictures’ feature Blue Story as well as BBC series Wannabe and Gold Digger, leads the cast as Frannie Langton.
Langton is the young protagonist born into a life of slavery who is fighting to tell her own story.
She is joined by Sophie Cookson, who has starred in Kingsman: The Secret Service and The Trial of Christine Keeler, and Patrick Martins, who has starred in Blasts From The Past and Redemption.
Cookson plays Madame Marguerite Benham and Martins stars as Laddie Lightning in the murder mystery. Stephen Campbell Moore (War of The Worlds) also features as renowned scientist and husband to Madame, George Benham, alongside Steven MacIntosh (Rocketman) as John Langton and Henry Pettigrew (The Danish Girl) as William Pettigrew.
The four-part British drama,...
Karla-Simone Spence, who starred in Paramount Pictures’ feature Blue Story as well as BBC series Wannabe and Gold Digger, leads the cast as Frannie Langton.
Langton is the young protagonist born into a life of slavery who is fighting to tell her own story.
She is joined by Sophie Cookson, who has starred in Kingsman: The Secret Service and The Trial of Christine Keeler, and Patrick Martins, who has starred in Blasts From The Past and Redemption.
Cookson plays Madame Marguerite Benham and Martins stars as Laddie Lightning in the murder mystery. Stephen Campbell Moore (War of The Worlds) also features as renowned scientist and husband to Madame, George Benham, alongside Steven MacIntosh (Rocketman) as John Langton and Henry Pettigrew (The Danish Girl) as William Pettigrew.
The four-part British drama,...
- 8/11/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Michael Ward, the breakout star of the UK series “Top Boy” and one of the actors seen in Steve McQueen’s “Small Axe” film “Lovers Rock,” has joined the cast of Sam Mendes’ next film, “Empire of Light.”
“Empire of Light” is set up at Searchlight Pictures and stars Olivia Colman. The film is aiming for a release in fall 2022.
Ward will play the male lead in the film, which is described as a love story set in and around a beautiful old cinema on the South Coast of England in the 1980s.
Mendes wrote the screenplay for “Empire of Light,” marking the first time he’s been credited on a script solo. He will also produce “Empire of Light” with Pippa Harris through his Neal Street Productions.
Mendes will reunite on the film with cinematographer Roger Deakins, who won his second Oscar for the continuous, unedited look of Mendes’ war film “1917.
“Empire of Light” is set up at Searchlight Pictures and stars Olivia Colman. The film is aiming for a release in fall 2022.
Ward will play the male lead in the film, which is described as a love story set in and around a beautiful old cinema on the South Coast of England in the 1980s.
Mendes wrote the screenplay for “Empire of Light,” marking the first time he’s been credited on a script solo. He will also produce “Empire of Light” with Pippa Harris through his Neal Street Productions.
Mendes will reunite on the film with cinematographer Roger Deakins, who won his second Oscar for the continuous, unedited look of Mendes’ war film “1917.
- 7/27/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, Helen Simmons and Rienkje Attoh were taking part in the Restart conference.
Film and TV productions should have lines in the budget for mental health services and childcare provision, according to a panel of emerging producers.
“On Boxing Day [Aml Ameen’s debut feature which shot in December 2020] we had a wellbeing practitioner,” said producer Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, who produced Rapman’s debut feature Blue Story in 2019. “This is somebody available who is independent from us – if you were struggling, you could book a session.
“We covered it – it was a little line in the budget, we could get 10-15 sessions out of it,...
Film and TV productions should have lines in the budget for mental health services and childcare provision, according to a panel of emerging producers.
“On Boxing Day [Aml Ameen’s debut feature which shot in December 2020] we had a wellbeing practitioner,” said producer Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor, who produced Rapman’s debut feature Blue Story in 2019. “This is somebody available who is independent from us – if you were struggling, you could book a session.
“We covered it – it was a little line in the budget, we could get 10-15 sessions out of it,...
- 5/21/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The projects join a new Shane Meadows series, announced earlier.
A project from I May Destroy You creator Michaela Coel and a series from Working Title are in the works from the BBC drama department, which set out details of six new commissions today.
The commissions were announced by Piers Wenger, BBC director of drama, and include Shane Meadows’ The Gallows Pole, announced earlier by Screen.
New BBC dramas include Working Title’s Everything I Know About Love, adapted by journalist Dolly Alderton from her memoir of the same name.
The series will follow Maggie and Birdy, two best friends...
A project from I May Destroy You creator Michaela Coel and a series from Working Title are in the works from the BBC drama department, which set out details of six new commissions today.
The commissions were announced by Piers Wenger, BBC director of drama, and include Shane Meadows’ The Gallows Pole, announced earlier by Screen.
New BBC dramas include Working Title’s Everything I Know About Love, adapted by journalist Dolly Alderton from her memoir of the same name.
The series will follow Maggie and Birdy, two best friends...
- 5/18/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Intermission Film also signs up to support the award, aimed at UK-based filmmakers with non-English scripts.
The Mother Tongues Award, a new development initiative backed by UK distributor Curzon and French sales agent Charades, has unveiled its inaugural shortlist and secured further support from creative agency Intermission Film.
The award, which is focused on feature film projects by UK-based filmmakers in which the dialogue is in a language other than English, has selected a shortlist of 10 projects from 112 entries that spanned 47 languages and dialects. All will attend a workshop and subsequently a panel interview for the development award of £10,000.
The...
The Mother Tongues Award, a new development initiative backed by UK distributor Curzon and French sales agent Charades, has unveiled its inaugural shortlist and secured further support from creative agency Intermission Film.
The award, which is focused on feature film projects by UK-based filmmakers in which the dialogue is in a language other than English, has selected a shortlist of 10 projects from 112 entries that spanned 47 languages and dialects. All will attend a workshop and subsequently a panel interview for the development award of £10,000.
The...
- 3/11/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Intermission Films also signs up to support the award, aimed at UK-based filmmakers with non-English scripts.
The Mother Tongues Award, a new development initiative backed by UK distributor Curzon and French sales agent Charades, has unveiled its inaugural shortlist - and secured further support from creative agency Intermission Films.
The award, which is focused on feature film projects by UK-based filmmakers in which the dialogue is in a language other than English, has selected a shortlist of 10 projects from 112 entries that spanned 47 languages and dialects. All will attend a workshop and subsequently a panel interview for the development award of...
The Mother Tongues Award, a new development initiative backed by UK distributor Curzon and French sales agent Charades, has unveiled its inaugural shortlist - and secured further support from creative agency Intermission Films.
The award, which is focused on feature film projects by UK-based filmmakers in which the dialogue is in a language other than English, has selected a shortlist of 10 projects from 112 entries that spanned 47 languages and dialects. All will attend a workshop and subsequently a panel interview for the development award of...
- 3/11/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Intermission Films also signs up to support the award, aimed at UK-based filmmakers with non-English scripts.
The Mother Tongues Award, a new development initiative backed by UK distributor Curzon and French sales agent Charades, has unveiled its inaugural shortlist - and secured further support from creative agency Intermission Films.
The award, which is focused on feature film projects by UK-based filmmakers in which the dialogue is in a language other than English, has selected a shortlist of 10 projects from 112 entries that spanned 47 languages and dialects. All will attend a workshop and subsequently a panel interview for the development award of...
The Mother Tongues Award, a new development initiative backed by UK distributor Curzon and French sales agent Charades, has unveiled its inaugural shortlist - and secured further support from creative agency Intermission Films.
The award, which is focused on feature film projects by UK-based filmmakers in which the dialogue is in a language other than English, has selected a shortlist of 10 projects from 112 entries that spanned 47 languages and dialects. All will attend a workshop and subsequently a panel interview for the development award of...
- 3/11/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Stars of ‘His House’, ‘Rocks’, ‘County Lines’ also selected.
Bafta has announced the five actors in the running for the 2021 Rising Star award:
They are:
Bukky Bakray Kingsley Ben-Adir Morfydd Clark Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù Conrad Khan
All five nominees are British, for the first time in the award’s 16-year history. The winner will be announced at the Bafta ceremony on April 11, the format for which has yet to be announced.
The full Bafta nominations will be announced on March 9.
The five actors are nominated in their own right as opposed to for a single role; but must have had a...
Bafta has announced the five actors in the running for the 2021 Rising Star award:
They are:
Bukky Bakray Kingsley Ben-Adir Morfydd Clark Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù Conrad Khan
All five nominees are British, for the first time in the award’s 16-year history. The winner will be announced at the Bafta ceremony on April 11, the format for which has yet to be announced.
The full Bafta nominations will be announced on March 9.
The five actors are nominated in their own right as opposed to for a single role; but must have had a...
- 3/3/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday revealed the 366 feature films that are eligible for consideration at the 93rd Oscars, which are set to air April 25 live on ABC.
The total number of films is up from last year’s 344 films in contention.
This year’s list was compiled based on tweaked eligibility rules implemented because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has pushed the ceremony to its latest date ever. For this year, feature films had to open by February 28 in a commercial motion picture theater for a seven-day qualifying run in at least one of six metro areas: Los Angeles County, New York City, the Bay Area, Chicago, Miami and Atlanta. Drive-in theaters open nightly were included as qualifying venues, as were films intended for theatrical release but because of the lockdown made available first via streaming, VOD service or other broadcast.
Today’s news comes...
The total number of films is up from last year’s 344 films in contention.
This year’s list was compiled based on tweaked eligibility rules implemented because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has pushed the ceremony to its latest date ever. For this year, feature films had to open by February 28 in a commercial motion picture theater for a seven-day qualifying run in at least one of six metro areas: Los Angeles County, New York City, the Bay Area, Chicago, Miami and Atlanta. Drive-in theaters open nightly were included as qualifying venues, as were films intended for theatrical release but because of the lockdown made available first via streaming, VOD service or other broadcast.
Today’s news comes...
- 2/25/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Screen Star of Tomorrow Isabella Odoffin cast ’Blue Story’.
Casting directors from Blue Story and The Personal History Of David Copperfield won the film prizes at the UK’s third Casting Directors’ Guild awards on Tuesday February 16.
2019 Screen UK & Ireland Star of Tomorrow Isabella Odoffin won best casting for an independent film for Rapman’s debut feature Blue Story, which grossed £4.5m in the UK through Paramount in November 2019.
Sarah Crowe won best casting in a film for Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History Of David Copperfield, which she cast with casting associate Xanthe Spencer-Davidson. It made £6.4m in the UK through Lionsgate,...
Casting directors from Blue Story and The Personal History Of David Copperfield won the film prizes at the UK’s third Casting Directors’ Guild awards on Tuesday February 16.
2019 Screen UK & Ireland Star of Tomorrow Isabella Odoffin won best casting for an independent film for Rapman’s debut feature Blue Story, which grossed £4.5m in the UK through Paramount in November 2019.
Sarah Crowe won best casting in a film for Armando Iannucci’s The Personal History Of David Copperfield, which she cast with casting associate Xanthe Spencer-Davidson. It made £6.4m in the UK through Lionsgate,...
- 2/17/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Michole Briana White (Songbird), Ajiona Alexus (Empire), Eric Kofi-Abrefa (Blue Story) and Myles Truitt (Kin) are set as series regulars opposite Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr. and Da’Vinchi in Starz’s drama series Black Mafia Family, from executive producer Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and writer/executive producer and Detroit native Randy Huggins. Black Mafia Family is produced through Jackson’s G-Unit Film and Television in association with Starz and Lionsgate Television. The series begins filming in Atlanta and Detroit this month.
Black Mafia Family is inspired by the true story of two brothers who rose from the decaying streets of southwest Detroit in the late 1980’s and gave birth to one of the most influential crime families in this country. Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory’s (Flenory Jr.) charismatic leadership, Terry “Southwest T” Flenory’s (Da’Vinchi) business acumen and the...
Black Mafia Family is inspired by the true story of two brothers who rose from the decaying streets of southwest Detroit in the late 1980’s and gave birth to one of the most influential crime families in this country. Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory’s (Flenory Jr.) charismatic leadership, Terry “Southwest T” Flenory’s (Da’Vinchi) business acumen and the...
- 1/15/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Jury members include ‘Animals’ producer Sarah Brocklehurst.
Wild Rose director Tom Harper and Animals producer Sarah Brocklehurst are among the jurors of this year’s British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).
Brocklehurst will preside over the main jury that includes The Last Tree actor Samuel Adewunmi; Daphne and Rialto director Peter Mackie Burns; writer and actor Mark O’Halloran; Blue Story producer Joy Gharoro Akpojotor; Only You filmmaker Harry Wootliff; writer-director Reggie Yates; Anthony Andrews, co-founder of exhibitor We Are Parable; and broadcaster Yinka Bokinni
The new talent jury will be chaired by film critic Amon Warmann and includes Harper, whose Wild Rose...
Wild Rose director Tom Harper and Animals producer Sarah Brocklehurst are among the jurors of this year’s British Independent Film Awards (BIFA).
Brocklehurst will preside over the main jury that includes The Last Tree actor Samuel Adewunmi; Daphne and Rialto director Peter Mackie Burns; writer and actor Mark O’Halloran; Blue Story producer Joy Gharoro Akpojotor; Only You filmmaker Harry Wootliff; writer-director Reggie Yates; Anthony Andrews, co-founder of exhibitor We Are Parable; and broadcaster Yinka Bokinni
The new talent jury will be chaired by film critic Amon Warmann and includes Harper, whose Wild Rose...
- 12/21/2020
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
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