30 March 1999
Source: ITV
ITV UNVEILS NEW FILM INITIATIVE PROJECTS
Bob Hoskins, Sean Bean, Brenda Blethyn, Brooke Shields and John
Hurt are among the stars of a raft of new feature films already
completed, in production or in development for the ITV Film Initiative,
it was announced today.
The £100 million scheme was launched
jointly by the ITV companies in 1996 to inject vital funds into
the British film industry. To date, a total of seven films have
been completed, of which three have already had a theatrical release,
and three are to be released this summer. Two more are currently
in production and several are at the development stage. Part of
the funding for each film is provided by ITV Network Ltd in return
for premiere television transmission rights.
Supported by the largest ITV shareholders - Granada Media Group,
Carlton Television, United News & Media and Scottish Media
Group - the film initiative is designed to provide ITV with its
own movie premieres at a time when mainstream films are increasingly
being shown first on pay television.
Commenting on the new film projects, ITV's Chief Executive Richard
Eyre said, "We are enthusiastic about British film and keen
to play a part in its renaissance through this investment and
by providing big audiences for new talent. I believe this is a
constructive response to the DCMS's original challenge on behalf
of British creative arts."
ITV's Director of Programmes David Liddiment said, "Investing
in mainstream British films, to which we have the first transmission
rights, is now a key part of our programming strategy. It means
we can have our own world television premieres, and at the same
time get around the problems raised by the escalating price of
Hollywood film rights."
Granada Film, under Head of Film Pippa Cross, has completed three
new films for the ITV Film Initiative, which will be released
theatrically this summer and have their television premieres on
ITV in the year 2000. A fourth is in production, and the company
also has a substantial slate of projects in development.
Heart, written by Jimmy McGovern, stars Christopher Eccleston,
Saskia Reeves, Rhys Ifans and Kate Hardie. A mother who loses
her 19-year-old son in a tragic accident develops a sinister obsession
with the man who receives his heart by transplant. The director
is Charles McDougall, and the producer Nicola Schindler.
Captain Jack stars Bob Hoskins, Sadie Frost, Gemma Jones,
Anna Massey and Peter McDonald in Jack Rosenthal's story of a
sea captain who retraces the steps of his nautical hero by sailing
from Yorkshire to the Arctic with an eccentric, inexperienced
crew. It is directed by Robert Young and produced by John Goldschmidt.
The Misadventures Of Margaret features Parker Posey, Jeremy
Northam, Craig Chester, Elizabeth McGovern and Brooke Shields.
A novelist, growing increasingly restless with her marriage, re-discovers
her sexuality and zest for life through translating an 18th century
memoir of sexual manners. Written and directed by Brian Skeet,
it is produced by Ian Benson.
Essex Boys - written by Jeff Pope, who produces and Terry
Winsor, who directs - is currently in production. Sean Bean, Alex
Kingston, Charlie Creed-Miles and Tom Wilkinson star in this story
of a naïve young minicab driver who chauffeurs for a psychotic
ex-con and his ambitious wife, and finds himself caught in a deadly
web of intrigue and deceit.
Carlton, under its Director of Drama & Co-Production Jonathan
Powell, has one project in production for the ITV Film Initiative
and others in development.
Complicity, produced for Carlton by Talisman Films, stars
Jonny Lee Miller as an Edinburgh journalist investigating a series
of bizarre deaths, who suddenly finds himself the prime suspect.
Dramatised by Bryan Elsley from the book by Iain Banks, it also
features Keeley Hawes, Brian Cox and Bill Patterson. Gavin Millar
is the director and Richard Jackson the producer.
Chairman of United Productions Vernon Lawrence, the driving force
behind the company's involvement in the ITV Film Initiative, has
one project completed.
Night Train stars Brenda Blethyn and John Hurt in a story
about a loner who has done time for embezzlement who finds friendship
and love with the spinster daughter of his landlady. Produced
by Tristan Lynch for Subotica Films, it is written by Aodhan Madden
and directed by John Lynch.
Under the stewardship of Acting Managing Director Darrel James,
Scottish Television Enterprises has one project in development.
True North is a psychological thriller written by Taggart
creator Glenn Chandler. It centres on an outward bound course
for managers, which becomes a terrifying ordeal when a psychopathic
personality emerges within the group.
In addition, to these new projects, the first three films produced
as part of the ITV Film Initiative have already enjoyed theatrical
releases.
Girls' Night, produced by Granada Film, is the story of
two sisters-in-law, one dying of cancer, who fulfil a lifelong
dream of going to Las Vegas. Written by Kay Mellor, it stars Brenda
Blethyn, Julie Walters and Kris Kristoffersen, and was directed
by Nick Hurran and produced by Bill Boyes. Critically acclaimed
when it was released theatrically in 1998, Girls' Night has its
television premiere on ITV after Easter.
Waking Ned, produced by Tomboy Films and brought to ITV
by United Productions, stars Ian Bannen, David Kelly, James Nesbitt,
Susan Lynch and Fionnula Flanagan in a witty story written and
directed by Kirk Jones. A small rural community in Ireland goes
into overdrive when a villager wins the lottery and dies before
he can claim the money. The film, which was produced by Glynis
Murray and Richard Holmes, has already enjoyed great success at
the American box office, where it has grossed $23 million. It
had its British release a fortnight ago, and took nearly £1
million over its first weekend, making it one of the hits of 1999
to date. It transmits on ITV next year.
Up On The Roof, produced by Granada Film, features Billy
Carter, Clare Cathcart, Adrian Lester, Amy Robbins and Daniel
Ryan in the story of a group of students who performed together
in a college band. Written by Jane Prowse (producer) and Simon
Moore (director), it was released theatrically in the autumn of
1997 and transmits on ITV this summer.