The sun is shining, the stars have made their way down the red carpet and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ (BAFTA) Television Awards is underway at the Royal Festival Hall in London, U.K.
The event – the first time it has taken place in person in three years due to the Covid pandemic – is being hosted by comedian and director Richard Ayoade (“The It Crowd”).
Among those nominated for a gong tonight are songstress “An Audience With Adele,” for best entertainment program, Rose Matafeo is nominated for best female performance in a comedy for “Starstruck” while Olly Alexander is nominated for leading actor for “It’s A Sin.”
Meanwhile the contenders for best international series will be one of the most fraught with some of the past year’s most talked-about series – including “Call My Agent,” “Mare of Easttown,” “Squid Games” and “Succession – up for an award.
Ncuti Gatwa...
The event – the first time it has taken place in person in three years due to the Covid pandemic – is being hosted by comedian and director Richard Ayoade (“The It Crowd”).
Among those nominated for a gong tonight are songstress “An Audience With Adele,” for best entertainment program, Rose Matafeo is nominated for best female performance in a comedy for “Starstruck” while Olly Alexander is nominated for leading actor for “It’s A Sin.”
Meanwhile the contenders for best international series will be one of the most fraught with some of the past year’s most talked-about series – including “Call My Agent,” “Mare of Easttown,” “Squid Games” and “Succession – up for an award.
Ncuti Gatwa...
- 5/8/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
‘Landscapers’ earned seven nominations, whilst Help and ’Time’ received six.
Russel T Davies’ It’s A Sin leads the nominations for this year’s Bafta Television and Bafta Craft awards.
The drama, produced by Red Production Company for UK broadcaster Channel 4, earned 11 nominations, including mini-series, leading actor for Olly Alexander, actress for Lydia West, director: fiction for Peter Hoar, writer: drama for Davies and three supporting actor nods for Callum Scott Howells, David Carlyle and Omari Douglas.
Drama Landscapers, produced by Sister for Sky Atlantic, earned seven nominations including mini-series and leading actor for David Thewlis.
Jack Thorne’s...
Russel T Davies’ It’s A Sin leads the nominations for this year’s Bafta Television and Bafta Craft awards.
The drama, produced by Red Production Company for UK broadcaster Channel 4, earned 11 nominations, including mini-series, leading actor for Olly Alexander, actress for Lydia West, director: fiction for Peter Hoar, writer: drama for Davies and three supporting actor nods for Callum Scott Howells, David Carlyle and Omari Douglas.
Drama Landscapers, produced by Sister for Sky Atlantic, earned seven nominations including mini-series and leading actor for David Thewlis.
Jack Thorne’s...
- 3/30/2022
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
‘Landscapers’ earned seven nominations, whilst Help and ’Time’ received six.
Russel T Davies’ It’s A Sin leads the nominations for this year’s Bafta Television and Bafta Craft awards.
The drama, produced by Red Production Company for UK broadcaster Channel 4, earned 11 nominations, including mini-series, leading actor for Olly Alexander, actress for Lydia West, director: fiction for Peter Hoar, writer: drama for Davies and three supporting actor nods for Callum Scott Howells, David Carlyle and Omari Douglas.
Drama Landscapers, produced by Sister for Sky Atlantic, earned seven nominations including mini-series and leading actor for David Thewlis.
Jack Thorne’s...
Russel T Davies’ It’s A Sin leads the nominations for this year’s Bafta Television and Bafta Craft awards.
The drama, produced by Red Production Company for UK broadcaster Channel 4, earned 11 nominations, including mini-series, leading actor for Olly Alexander, actress for Lydia West, director: fiction for Peter Hoar, writer: drama for Davies and three supporting actor nods for Callum Scott Howells, David Carlyle and Omari Douglas.
Drama Landscapers, produced by Sister for Sky Atlantic, earned seven nominations including mini-series and leading actor for David Thewlis.
Jack Thorne’s...
- 3/30/2022
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
With a number of remakes and a movie in the pipeline, “Call My Agent!,” the International Emmy Award-winning series set at a Parisian talent agency, has become one of the most powerful television shows to emerge from France.
The series’ producers, Mediawan-owned Mon Voisin Productions and Mother Production, are co-producing the highly anticipated U.K. remake with Headline Pictures and Bron Studios (“Joker”) for Amazon Prime Video and Sundance Now.
The producers are also in the process of developing a 90-minute film with Nicolas Mercier, one of the two showrunners behind “Call My Agent!” (Mercier took over as showrunner from Fanny Herrero.)
“It will open with Andrea [Camille Cottin] in New York and will then move to France — we will give an American point of view on filming in France and it promises to be quite colorful,” says Michel Feller at Mon Voisin Productions.
The TV movie is being co-developed by France Televisions.
The series’ producers, Mediawan-owned Mon Voisin Productions and Mother Production, are co-producing the highly anticipated U.K. remake with Headline Pictures and Bron Studios (“Joker”) for Amazon Prime Video and Sundance Now.
The producers are also in the process of developing a 90-minute film with Nicolas Mercier, one of the two showrunners behind “Call My Agent!” (Mercier took over as showrunner from Fanny Herrero.)
“It will open with Andrea [Camille Cottin] in New York and will then move to France — we will give an American point of view on filming in France and it promises to be quite colorful,” says Michel Feller at Mon Voisin Productions.
The TV movie is being co-developed by France Televisions.
- 1/25/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The French comedy Call My Agent and Israeli drama Tehran took the top prizes at the 49th annual International Emmys, which here handed out Monday night during an in-person ceremony in New York. See the full list of winners below.
The UK boasts both top acting honors David Tennant for crime thriller Des and Hayley Squires for porn drama Adult Material — as well as winning the Non-Scripted Entertainment prize for The Masked Singer.
Norway’s Atlantic Crossing went home with the Emmy for TV Movie/Miniseries, and Thailand’s Hope Frozen: A Quest to Live Twice won for Documentary. It was the country’s first International Emmy.
“We are delighted to be able to gather the global television community, in-person again, in New York to celebrate the world’s best television.” said International Academy President & CEO Bruce Paisner. “The diversity and geographic spread of tonight’s winners demonstrate once again...
The UK boasts both top acting honors David Tennant for crime thriller Des and Hayley Squires for porn drama Adult Material — as well as winning the Non-Scripted Entertainment prize for The Masked Singer.
Norway’s Atlantic Crossing went home with the Emmy for TV Movie/Miniseries, and Thailand’s Hope Frozen: A Quest to Live Twice won for Documentary. It was the country’s first International Emmy.
“We are delighted to be able to gather the global television community, in-person again, in New York to celebrate the world’s best television.” said International Academy President & CEO Bruce Paisner. “The diversity and geographic spread of tonight’s winners demonstrate once again...
- 11/23/2021
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
AMC Networks’ Sundance Now has garnered U.S. premiere rights to the British remake of original French comedy series “Call My Agent!”
BAFTA award winner John Morton is head writer, and directs the first two episodes of the series. Series regulars include recently added Chelsey Crisp, as well as stars Prasanna Puwanarajah, Maggie Steed, Jack Davenport, Lydia Leonard and Jim Broadbent. “Call My Agent!” will premiere on Sundance Now in the U.S. in 2022 after its U.K. world premiere on Amazon.
As in the French version of the show, well-known actors will play themselves. In the British remake of “Call My Agent!,” Dominic West, Phoebe Dynevor, Jessica Oyelowo and David Oyelowo will appear, with previously announced appearances by Kelly Macdonald, Helena Bonham Carter and Olivia Williams.
The original “Call My Agent!” follows the staff of a Parisian talent agency trying to keep their clients calm after the sudden death...
BAFTA award winner John Morton is head writer, and directs the first two episodes of the series. Series regulars include recently added Chelsey Crisp, as well as stars Prasanna Puwanarajah, Maggie Steed, Jack Davenport, Lydia Leonard and Jim Broadbent. “Call My Agent!” will premiere on Sundance Now in the U.S. in 2022 after its U.K. world premiere on Amazon.
As in the French version of the show, well-known actors will play themselves. In the British remake of “Call My Agent!,” Dominic West, Phoebe Dynevor, Jessica Oyelowo and David Oyelowo will appear, with previously announced appearances by Kelly Macdonald, Helena Bonham Carter and Olivia Williams.
The original “Call My Agent!” follows the staff of a Parisian talent agency trying to keep their clients calm after the sudden death...
- 7/20/2021
- by Jennifer Yuma
- Variety Film + TV
The UK remake of buzzy French comedy Call My Agent! will air on Sundance Now after the AMC Networks streaming service acquired the U.S. rights.
This comes after Amazon picked up the UK rights to the series, which comes from W1A’s John Morton, Bron Studios and Headline Pictures.
Joining the cast as a series regular is Fresh Off The Boat’s Chelsey Crisp. Crisp, who plays Honey in the ABC comedy, joins Jack Davenport, Lydia Leonard, Maggie Steed, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Hiftu Quasem, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Rebecca Humphries, Harry Trevaldwyn, Tim McInnerny, Natasha Little, Edward Bluemel, Eleonore Arnaud and Jim Broadbent in the series.
Dominic West, Phoebe Dynevor, Jessica Oyelowo and David Oyelowo will also be appearing in cameo roles alongside Kelly Macdonald, Helena Bonham Carter and Olivia Williams.
It will premiere on Sundance Now in the U.S. in 2022, shortly after its UK premiere.
The adaptation will retain...
This comes after Amazon picked up the UK rights to the series, which comes from W1A’s John Morton, Bron Studios and Headline Pictures.
Joining the cast as a series regular is Fresh Off The Boat’s Chelsey Crisp. Crisp, who plays Honey in the ABC comedy, joins Jack Davenport, Lydia Leonard, Maggie Steed, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Hiftu Quasem, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Rebecca Humphries, Harry Trevaldwyn, Tim McInnerny, Natasha Little, Edward Bluemel, Eleonore Arnaud and Jim Broadbent in the series.
Dominic West, Phoebe Dynevor, Jessica Oyelowo and David Oyelowo will also be appearing in cameo roles alongside Kelly Macdonald, Helena Bonham Carter and Olivia Williams.
It will premiere on Sundance Now in the U.S. in 2022, shortly after its UK premiere.
The adaptation will retain...
- 7/20/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Prime Video has locked UK and Ireland rights to the forthcoming British remake of hit French series Call My Agent!
As Deadline revealed John Morton (W1A) is writing and directing the first two episodes and executive producing the series, which will star Jack Davenport, Lydia Leonard, Maggie Steed Prasanna Puwanarajah, Jim Broadbent, and more.
Today, Kelly Macdonald, Helena Bonham Carter and Olivia Williams have been confirmed as joining the cast for cameo appearances. Filming is now underway in London.
The original series, which was broadcast on French network France 2 and found global success on Netflix, chronicled how a Parisian talent agency’s employees must scramble to keep their star clients happy and their business afloat after the sudden death of their founder. The remake’s Anglicisations will include a greater focus on Transatlantic industry relationships, and include nods to Brit obsessions such as the class system.
“It’s...
As Deadline revealed John Morton (W1A) is writing and directing the first two episodes and executive producing the series, which will star Jack Davenport, Lydia Leonard, Maggie Steed Prasanna Puwanarajah, Jim Broadbent, and more.
Today, Kelly Macdonald, Helena Bonham Carter and Olivia Williams have been confirmed as joining the cast for cameo appearances. Filming is now underway in London.
The original series, which was broadcast on French network France 2 and found global success on Netflix, chronicled how a Parisian talent agency’s employees must scramble to keep their star clients happy and their business afloat after the sudden death of their founder. The remake’s Anglicisations will include a greater focus on Transatlantic industry relationships, and include nods to Brit obsessions such as the class system.
“It’s...
- 5/21/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: In recent weeks, intrigue has been building in the UK industry about the local remake of French hit Call My Agent! (Dix Pour Cent in France), but cast and plot details have been a tightly guarded secret.
Today, four days before the series gets underway in central London, we can reveal key intel about the Bron Studios and Headline Pictures adaptation, which heralds from BAFTA-winner John Morton (W1A).
Starring will be Tony-nominated actress Lydia Leonard (Absentia) as Rebecca, in a role loosely based on Camille Cottin’s character Andréa Martel; Jack Davenport (Pirates Of The Caribbean) will play Jonathan, in a role loosely based on character Mathias Barneville; Maggie Steed (Chewing Gum) will be Stella; Prasanna Puwanarajah (Patrick Melrose) plays Dan; and newcomers Harry Trevaldwyn (The King) will be Ollie and Hiftu Quasem (Killing Eve) will play Misha.
Also starring will be Fola Evans-Akingbola (Siren), Rebecca Humphries (Trigonometry...
Today, four days before the series gets underway in central London, we can reveal key intel about the Bron Studios and Headline Pictures adaptation, which heralds from BAFTA-winner John Morton (W1A).
Starring will be Tony-nominated actress Lydia Leonard (Absentia) as Rebecca, in a role loosely based on Camille Cottin’s character Andréa Martel; Jack Davenport (Pirates Of The Caribbean) will play Jonathan, in a role loosely based on character Mathias Barneville; Maggie Steed (Chewing Gum) will be Stella; Prasanna Puwanarajah (Patrick Melrose) plays Dan; and newcomers Harry Trevaldwyn (The King) will be Ollie and Hiftu Quasem (Killing Eve) will play Misha.
Also starring will be Fola Evans-Akingbola (Siren), Rebecca Humphries (Trigonometry...
- 5/6/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman and Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Bron Studios has boarded a remake of French comedy Call My Agent! and W1A creator John Morton will write, direct and exec produce.
The Tully studio will produce the series with Man In The High Castle producer Headline Pictures, which acquired the English-language rights back in 2017. At the time Veep writer Georgia Pritchett was attached to write.
The series, which was created by Fanny Herrero, takes place at a Parisian talent agency where agents scramble to keep their star clients happy and their business afloat after the sudden death of their founder. It aired on France 2 with Netflix showing it globally.
The Office casting director Rachel Freck is also on board. John Morton will set the adaptation at a London talent agency and it will start production in June 2020.
Executive Producers are Aaron L. Gilbert, David Davoli and Steven Thibault for Bron and Christian Baute for Headline Pictures, Call...
The Tully studio will produce the series with Man In The High Castle producer Headline Pictures, which acquired the English-language rights back in 2017. At the time Veep writer Georgia Pritchett was attached to write.
The series, which was created by Fanny Herrero, takes place at a Parisian talent agency where agents scramble to keep their star clients happy and their business afloat after the sudden death of their founder. It aired on France 2 with Netflix showing it globally.
The Office casting director Rachel Freck is also on board. John Morton will set the adaptation at a London talent agency and it will start production in June 2020.
Executive Producers are Aaron L. Gilbert, David Davoli and Steven Thibault for Bron and Christian Baute for Headline Pictures, Call...
- 10/10/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Series to feature A-list British and American cameos.
On the eve of Mipcom, Bron Studios and the UK’s Headline Pictures have secured English-language remake rights to hit French TV comedy Call My Agent! and set Bafta-winning John Morton to write, direct and serve as executive producer.
Morton, who created the BBC mockumentaries Twenty Twelve, W1A and People Like Us, will relocate the story to a London talent agency. Production is scheduled to start in and around London in June 2020 and the series will feature A-list British and American cameos.
Bron Studios, riding high following the record-setting global launch of Joker,...
On the eve of Mipcom, Bron Studios and the UK’s Headline Pictures have secured English-language remake rights to hit French TV comedy Call My Agent! and set Bafta-winning John Morton to write, direct and serve as executive producer.
Morton, who created the BBC mockumentaries Twenty Twelve, W1A and People Like Us, will relocate the story to a London talent agency. Production is scheduled to start in and around London in June 2020 and the series will feature A-list British and American cameos.
Bron Studios, riding high following the record-setting global launch of Joker,...
- 10/10/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Series to feature A-list British and American cameos.
On the eve of Mipcom, Bron Studios and the UK’s Headline Pictures have secured English-language remake rights to hit French TV comedy Call My Agent! and set Bafta-winning John Morton to write, direct and serve as executive producer.
Morton, who created the BBC mockumentaries Twenty Twelve, W1A and People Like Us, will relocate the story to a London talent agency. Production is scheduled to start in and around London in June 2020 and the series will feature A-list British and American cameos.
Bron Studios, riding high following the record-setting global launch of Joker,...
On the eve of Mipcom, Bron Studios and the UK’s Headline Pictures have secured English-language remake rights to hit French TV comedy Call My Agent! and set Bafta-winning John Morton to write, direct and serve as executive producer.
Morton, who created the BBC mockumentaries Twenty Twelve, W1A and People Like Us, will relocate the story to a London talent agency. Production is scheduled to start in and around London in June 2020 and the series will feature A-list British and American cameos.
Bron Studios, riding high following the record-setting global launch of Joker,...
- 10/10/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Mediawan says it also plans to acquire 60% stake in Mon Voison Productions.
Luc Besson
Burgeoning audiovisual content platform Mediawan has acquired three French production companies including Storia Television, the new outfit created to take over the activities of EuropaCorp TV excluding its Us series.
The Paris-based company – founded by French producer Pierre-Antoine Capton, telecom tycoon Xavier Nils and investment banker and venture capitalist Mathieu Pigasse in 2015 – announced the deal on Monday afternoon (January 15).
The platform also revealed it was in exclusive negotiations to buy a majority stake in Makever, an umbrella group comprising six independent production studios.
Their shows include Kaboul Kitchen; the International Emmy Award-winning telefilm Don’t Leave Me, about a mother’s struggle to de-radicalise her jihadi bride daughter; and Captain Sharif.
Mediawan said it was also planning to acquire a 60% stake in Mon Voison Productions (Mvp). The production house set up by former talent agent-turned-producer and actor Dominique Besnehard and producer Michel Feller is best known...
Luc Besson
Burgeoning audiovisual content platform Mediawan has acquired three French production companies including Storia Television, the new outfit created to take over the activities of EuropaCorp TV excluding its Us series.
The Paris-based company – founded by French producer Pierre-Antoine Capton, telecom tycoon Xavier Nils and investment banker and venture capitalist Mathieu Pigasse in 2015 – announced the deal on Monday afternoon (January 15).
The platform also revealed it was in exclusive negotiations to buy a majority stake in Makever, an umbrella group comprising six independent production studios.
Their shows include Kaboul Kitchen; the International Emmy Award-winning telefilm Don’t Leave Me, about a mother’s struggle to de-radicalise her jihadi bride daughter; and Captain Sharif.
Mediawan said it was also planning to acquire a 60% stake in Mon Voison Productions (Mvp). The production house set up by former talent agent-turned-producer and actor Dominique Besnehard and producer Michel Feller is best known...
- 1/15/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Jane Campion.s first TV series Top of the Lake and Australian-French co-production Two Mothers have been selected to screen at the Sundance Film Festival.
Both productions will screen as part of the Premieres program, which showcases a range of highly-anticipated dramatic world premieres.
The Top of the Lake series will be screened as a single six-hour film just once during the festival, marking the first time that Sundance has included a scripted long-form series. Top of the Lake follows a detective investigating the disappearance of a 12-year-old pregnant girl who is the daughter of a local drug lord and stars Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men), Holly Hunter (The Piano), Peter Mullan (War Horse) and David Wenham (Public Enemies).
In a Screen Australia statement anouncing the selections, executive producers Emile Sherman and Iain Canning said: .It.s such a thrill to be showing Top of the Lake, See-Saw Films. first foray into television.
Both productions will screen as part of the Premieres program, which showcases a range of highly-anticipated dramatic world premieres.
The Top of the Lake series will be screened as a single six-hour film just once during the festival, marking the first time that Sundance has included a scripted long-form series. Top of the Lake follows a detective investigating the disappearance of a 12-year-old pregnant girl who is the daughter of a local drug lord and stars Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men), Holly Hunter (The Piano), Peter Mullan (War Horse) and David Wenham (Public Enemies).
In a Screen Australia statement anouncing the selections, executive producers Emile Sherman and Iain Canning said: .It.s such a thrill to be showing Top of the Lake, See-Saw Films. first foray into television.
- 12/4/2012
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
Australian actors Ben Mendelsohn, Sophie Lowe and Gary Sweet.have joined the cast of Australian-French co-production The Grandmothers..
They join the principal cast of Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Xavier Samuel and James Frecheville in a tale about two lifelong friends who fall in love with each other's teenaged sons. Jessica Tovey (Underbelly, Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo) will also make her feature debut in the film.
The Grandmothers has been adapted for the screen by Academy Award-winning writer Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons, Atonement) from a story written by Nobel Prize for Literature winner Doris Lessing.
The eight-week shoot marks the English-language debut for director Anne Fontaine (Coco avant Chanel) and is due to begin on Monday (February 6) in Sydney.
The film is being produced by Hopscotch Productions' Andrew Mason; Fontaine's long-time collaborator Philippe Carcassonne; as well as French producers' Mon Voisin's Michel Feller and Dominique Besnehard. Hopscotch's Troy Lum...
They join the principal cast of Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Xavier Samuel and James Frecheville in a tale about two lifelong friends who fall in love with each other's teenaged sons. Jessica Tovey (Underbelly, Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo) will also make her feature debut in the film.
The Grandmothers has been adapted for the screen by Academy Award-winning writer Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons, Atonement) from a story written by Nobel Prize for Literature winner Doris Lessing.
The eight-week shoot marks the English-language debut for director Anne Fontaine (Coco avant Chanel) and is due to begin on Monday (February 6) in Sydney.
The film is being produced by Hopscotch Productions' Andrew Mason; Fontaine's long-time collaborator Philippe Carcassonne; as well as French producers' Mon Voisin's Michel Feller and Dominique Besnehard. Hopscotch's Troy Lum...
- 2/1/2012
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
Don’t worry: You aren’t so old that Jenny from Forrest Gump is now playing a grandmother, nor should you prepare yourself for some bizarre scenario in which Naomi Watts can precede two generations of family. Instead, THR informs us that both Robin Wright and the Australian will lead The Grandmothers, an “erotic tale of misguided love and a celebration of the enduring nature of female friendship” helmed by Anne Fontaine.
A Dangerous Method scribe Christopher Hampton has adapted Doris Lessing‘s original story, which focused on “two lifelong friends who fall in love with each other’s teenage sons.” More than a little creepy, yes — but it’d be silly to expect otherwise from “misguided love.” The only other casting development looks to be for those respective sons, as Animal Kingdom‘s James Frecheville and Twilight actor Xavier Samuel are also in the cast. (The latter may be 28 years old,...
A Dangerous Method scribe Christopher Hampton has adapted Doris Lessing‘s original story, which focused on “two lifelong friends who fall in love with each other’s teenage sons.” More than a little creepy, yes — but it’d be silly to expect otherwise from “misguided love.” The only other casting development looks to be for those respective sons, as Animal Kingdom‘s James Frecheville and Twilight actor Xavier Samuel are also in the cast. (The latter may be 28 years old,...
- 12/5/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Screen Australia has announced $17m investment across 14 projects including feature films and both adult and children’s television.
The investment is expected to trigger $97m in production.
The list of productions include: black comedy The Mule by co-writers/co-producers Leigh Whannell and Angus Sampson with direction from Tony Mahony about a drug mule caught by authorities and Antony I Ginnane’s remake of Patrick, directed by Not Quite Hollywood’s Mark Hartley.
Also on the list is The Grandmothers, written by Christopher Hampton (A Dangerous Method) and director Anne Fontaine (Coco Avant Chanel) and starring Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Xavier Samuel and James Frecheville in the adaptation of Doris Lessing’s novel.
For TV, the telemovie Underground by Matchbox Pictures, written and directed by Robert Connolly tells the story of a teenage Julian Assange hacking computer systems; and two TV productions by John Edwards Southern Star, a serialised version of...
The investment is expected to trigger $97m in production.
The list of productions include: black comedy The Mule by co-writers/co-producers Leigh Whannell and Angus Sampson with direction from Tony Mahony about a drug mule caught by authorities and Antony I Ginnane’s remake of Patrick, directed by Not Quite Hollywood’s Mark Hartley.
Also on the list is The Grandmothers, written by Christopher Hampton (A Dangerous Method) and director Anne Fontaine (Coco Avant Chanel) and starring Naomi Watts, Robin Wright, Xavier Samuel and James Frecheville in the adaptation of Doris Lessing’s novel.
For TV, the telemovie Underground by Matchbox Pictures, written and directed by Robert Connolly tells the story of a teenage Julian Assange hacking computer systems; and two TV productions by John Edwards Southern Star, a serialised version of...
- 12/5/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
Zeitgeist Films has acquired U.S. rights to Caroline Bottaro's "Queen to Play" (Jouese), which it plans to release theatrically early next year.
"Queen," a French-language drama set in Corsica, stars Sandrine Bonnaire and Kevin Kline as a working class wife and mother with a passion for chess and her American employer.
Produced by Dominique Besnehard and Michel Feller, the film premiered at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.
Zeitgeist co-president Emily Russo negotiated the deal with Studio Canal's Anna Marsh.
"Queen," a French-language drama set in Corsica, stars Sandrine Bonnaire and Kevin Kline as a working class wife and mother with a passion for chess and her American employer.
Produced by Dominique Besnehard and Michel Feller, the film premiered at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.
Zeitgeist co-president Emily Russo negotiated the deal with Studio Canal's Anna Marsh.
- 8/11/2010
- by By Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
NEW YORK -- In his first French-speaking role, Kevin Kline will star with Sandrine Bonnaire and Jennifer Beals in Caroline Bottaro's drama Joueuse (Queen to Play).
Bonnaire plays a hotel maid captivated by a romantic couple (Beals and Francis Renaud) playing chess while staying at the Mediterranean island hotel where she works. The doctor (Kline) whose house she cleans reluctantly becomes her mentor in the game, leading her to a chess tournament and initiating major transformations in her life.
Kline courted Meg Ryan as a Parisian in French Kiss, but this is his first role in a French production.
"He speaks good French, better than John Malkovich," said Michel Feller, who is producing the film with Dominique Besnehard for Mon Voisin Prods. and Blue Print Film's Amelie Latcha.
Joueuse is a France-Germany co-production with France 2 and Studio Canal, with the participation of Canal +, CNC, Eurimages, Cinecinema, Telemunchen-Concorde and the Collectivite Territoriale de Corse. Jean-Philippe Laroche is the executive producer.
Bonnaire plays a hotel maid captivated by a romantic couple (Beals and Francis Renaud) playing chess while staying at the Mediterranean island hotel where she works. The doctor (Kline) whose house she cleans reluctantly becomes her mentor in the game, leading her to a chess tournament and initiating major transformations in her life.
Kline courted Meg Ryan as a Parisian in French Kiss, but this is his first role in a French production.
"He speaks good French, better than John Malkovich," said Michel Feller, who is producing the film with Dominique Besnehard for Mon Voisin Prods. and Blue Print Film's Amelie Latcha.
Joueuse is a France-Germany co-production with France 2 and Studio Canal, with the participation of Canal +, CNC, Eurimages, Cinecinema, Telemunchen-Concorde and the Collectivite Territoriale de Corse. Jean-Philippe Laroche is the executive producer.
- 3/27/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Out of Competition
CANNES -- Talk about an identity crisis. "Fanfan la Tulipe", directed by Gerard Krawczyk and written by Jean Cosmos and Luc Besson, wants to be a charming satire of swashbuckling epics. But this lead-footed affair can never find its comic rhythms. Instead, it wanders sadly through routine action sequences, mixing slapstick with derring-do yet never generating any wit or romance. Despite having Vincent Perez and Penelope Cruz as its leads, "Fanfan" should win few fans in its native France. Indeed, moviegoers may resent this buffoonish remake of the classic 1951 movie starring Gerard Philippe and Gina Lollabrigida.
The film, a curiously lackluster choice to open the 56th Festival de Cannes, opens in France this week.
Fanfan is a beloved character of 18th century France, a brash soldier in the army of Louis XV who, despite a disrespect for authority and defiance of social conventions, wins the day and his lady love through his courage, fighting skill and saucy wit.
As Fanfan, Perez has the right idea in his lighthearted, athletic approach, but the script and direction fail him at every turn. He prances through the movie without ever becoming a part of it. He makes love to women and fights many a man but never connects with anyone.
Cruz as Adeline, the gorgeous daughter of the recruiting sergeant, stands on the sideline, cheering Fanfan on -- and occasionally firing a pistol to save his butt -- but even she fails to catch his eye for long. Why is her heart so set on him, you wonder?
The film's comic thrusts are third-rate Mel Brooks without the great jokes and one-liners. The characters are mostly goofs on movie roles in the swashbuckling films of old, so there are no surprises here. If a priest shows up, you know he will be a drunken reprobate. The king is incalculably stupid, the sergeant a coward and every officer an egotistical fool.
Krawczyk's direction may please children, like those who cheer on Fanfan in the movie, but everyone else will most likely be disheartened by the lame gags and misfired comedy. If you want to spoof swashbucklers, shouldn't the King of France (Didier Bourdon) be more than a glorified dress extra? Shouldn't the villain's (Gerald Leroche) treachery contain a degree of menace? Shouldn't Fier-a-Bras (Philippe Dormoy), so determined to destroy Fanfan, be a cunning fellow? And if you bring on the age's great mistress, Madame de Pompadour (Helene De Fougerolles), shouldn't she be more than an insipid supermodel?
The $15 million production makes decent use of a few of France's ancient chateaux, and its period costumes, while a tad too spick-and-span, are effective. The fights are tame by today's high standards, neither clever enough to create tension nor comic enough to inspire laughs.
The movie's most satiric moments come in chaotic battle sequences, where masses of soldiers slaughter one another without a clue why they are doing so. The film takes the view that war in that era was the sport of the royals, even if the king often can't tell which men are his. A rascal like Fanfan getting mixed up in such murderous foolishness might have sparked some dark comedy. Alas, the new "Fanfan" seems based less on the old movie than on children's puppet shows.
FANFAN LA TULIPE
A EuropaCorp production with Open Art Prods and FI1 Films Production in association with Canal Plus and CNC
Credits:
Director: Gerard Krawczyk
Screenwriters: Jean Cosmos, Luc Besson
Producers: Michel Feller, Luc Besson
Executive producer: Bernard Grenet
Director of photography: Gerard Simon
Production designer: Jacques Bufnoir
Costume designer: Olivier Beroit
Music: Alexandre Azaria
Editor: Nicolas Trembasiewicz
Cast:
Fanfan: Vincent Perez
Adeline: Penelope Cruz
King Louis XV: Didier Bourdon
Madame de Pompadour: Helene De Fougerolles
Tranche-Montagne: Michel Muller
Fier-a-Bras: Philippe Dormoy
La Franchise: Jacques Frantz
Corsini: Gerald Leroche
Running time -- 98 minutes
No MPAA rating...
CANNES -- Talk about an identity crisis. "Fanfan la Tulipe", directed by Gerard Krawczyk and written by Jean Cosmos and Luc Besson, wants to be a charming satire of swashbuckling epics. But this lead-footed affair can never find its comic rhythms. Instead, it wanders sadly through routine action sequences, mixing slapstick with derring-do yet never generating any wit or romance. Despite having Vincent Perez and Penelope Cruz as its leads, "Fanfan" should win few fans in its native France. Indeed, moviegoers may resent this buffoonish remake of the classic 1951 movie starring Gerard Philippe and Gina Lollabrigida.
The film, a curiously lackluster choice to open the 56th Festival de Cannes, opens in France this week.
Fanfan is a beloved character of 18th century France, a brash soldier in the army of Louis XV who, despite a disrespect for authority and defiance of social conventions, wins the day and his lady love through his courage, fighting skill and saucy wit.
As Fanfan, Perez has the right idea in his lighthearted, athletic approach, but the script and direction fail him at every turn. He prances through the movie without ever becoming a part of it. He makes love to women and fights many a man but never connects with anyone.
Cruz as Adeline, the gorgeous daughter of the recruiting sergeant, stands on the sideline, cheering Fanfan on -- and occasionally firing a pistol to save his butt -- but even she fails to catch his eye for long. Why is her heart so set on him, you wonder?
The film's comic thrusts are third-rate Mel Brooks without the great jokes and one-liners. The characters are mostly goofs on movie roles in the swashbuckling films of old, so there are no surprises here. If a priest shows up, you know he will be a drunken reprobate. The king is incalculably stupid, the sergeant a coward and every officer an egotistical fool.
Krawczyk's direction may please children, like those who cheer on Fanfan in the movie, but everyone else will most likely be disheartened by the lame gags and misfired comedy. If you want to spoof swashbucklers, shouldn't the King of France (Didier Bourdon) be more than a glorified dress extra? Shouldn't the villain's (Gerald Leroche) treachery contain a degree of menace? Shouldn't Fier-a-Bras (Philippe Dormoy), so determined to destroy Fanfan, be a cunning fellow? And if you bring on the age's great mistress, Madame de Pompadour (Helene De Fougerolles), shouldn't she be more than an insipid supermodel?
The $15 million production makes decent use of a few of France's ancient chateaux, and its period costumes, while a tad too spick-and-span, are effective. The fights are tame by today's high standards, neither clever enough to create tension nor comic enough to inspire laughs.
The movie's most satiric moments come in chaotic battle sequences, where masses of soldiers slaughter one another without a clue why they are doing so. The film takes the view that war in that era was the sport of the royals, even if the king often can't tell which men are his. A rascal like Fanfan getting mixed up in such murderous foolishness might have sparked some dark comedy. Alas, the new "Fanfan" seems based less on the old movie than on children's puppet shows.
FANFAN LA TULIPE
A EuropaCorp production with Open Art Prods and FI1 Films Production in association with Canal Plus and CNC
Credits:
Director: Gerard Krawczyk
Screenwriters: Jean Cosmos, Luc Besson
Producers: Michel Feller, Luc Besson
Executive producer: Bernard Grenet
Director of photography: Gerard Simon
Production designer: Jacques Bufnoir
Costume designer: Olivier Beroit
Music: Alexandre Azaria
Editor: Nicolas Trembasiewicz
Cast:
Fanfan: Vincent Perez
Adeline: Penelope Cruz
King Louis XV: Didier Bourdon
Madame de Pompadour: Helene De Fougerolles
Tranche-Montagne: Michel Muller
Fier-a-Bras: Philippe Dormoy
La Franchise: Jacques Frantz
Corsini: Gerald Leroche
Running time -- 98 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 5/15/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
PARIS -- Gerard Krawczyk's 2003 version of the French classic Fanfan la Tulipe will open this year's Festival de Cannes, organizers said Wednesday. The swashbuckling 18th-century romance features young French star Vincent Perez and Spanish-born Penelope Cruz in the title roles, which were played in the 1952 version by Gerard Philipe and Gina Lollobrigida. The story's title character joins the French army to escape an arranged marriage while trying to win the hand of the king's wife. The film will screen Out of Competition at the 56th edition of Cannes, which runs May 14-25. Big-budget French producer Luc Besson had a strong hand in the film, co-producing with Michel Feller, while his company, EuropaCorp, served as the production entity.
- 3/27/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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