Post by Kev on Dec 24, 2004 17:17:53 GMT
Funding for film on Jimi's last days Dec 24 2004
Birmingham Post
A consortium involving Birmingham film maker Gary Smith could soon be making a film about the last days of rock legend Jimi Hendrix.
The group, which includes Interview with a Vampire producer Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen's Number 9 films, has been given a £1.2 million grant by the UK Film Council.
The money will be ploughed into developing scripts and optioning books for new films, said Mr Smith, who lives in Birmingham.
The other members of the consortium are Mr Smith's Intandem Films, Film Four, the Irish Film Board and Tartan Films.
The Film Council's money will be matched by a collective investment from the members of the consortium taking the total amount available over the three years to £2.4 million.
Intandem is currently working on an as yet untitled biographical picture about the late Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones, scheduled to be premiered at the Cannes Film Festival next May.
Mr Smith said after it was completed they were looking at making at film about Hendrix who died in 1970.
Mr Smith said the project was one of 25 films which will be developed through this slate which Number 9 Films will then produce.
Intandem Films will act as executive producers and international sales agents, while Metro Tartan will have first look for UK distribution and Film Four will acquire the television rights.
Mr Smith, chief executive of Intandem Films, said: "We are absolutely delighted and honoured to be part of such an exciting and talented group of film makers.
"It is very prestigious to get this grant, we were up against some very stiff competition.
"This development funding will secure our flow of films for the next five years."
As well as a possible Hendrix biopic, Intandem, which was formed in 2003 by Mr Smith, Andrew Brown and Denise Bridgeman, was looking at making horror and comedy films.
Mr Smith said: "Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen have been working on a script based on the last days of Jimi Hendrix.
"Following on from the Brian Jones film, we are developing quite an interest in music-based films.
"But also I would like to do more comedies and thrillers. There is a lot of comedy in Britain at the moment, while British comedy is very popular in America at the moment.
"We regard this prestigious award as a first step towards positive integration within the British Film Industry and are looking forward to playing a full role."
Birmingham Post
A consortium involving Birmingham film maker Gary Smith could soon be making a film about the last days of rock legend Jimi Hendrix.
The group, which includes Interview with a Vampire producer Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen's Number 9 films, has been given a £1.2 million grant by the UK Film Council.
The money will be ploughed into developing scripts and optioning books for new films, said Mr Smith, who lives in Birmingham.
The other members of the consortium are Mr Smith's Intandem Films, Film Four, the Irish Film Board and Tartan Films.
The Film Council's money will be matched by a collective investment from the members of the consortium taking the total amount available over the three years to £2.4 million.
Intandem is currently working on an as yet untitled biographical picture about the late Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones, scheduled to be premiered at the Cannes Film Festival next May.
Mr Smith said after it was completed they were looking at making at film about Hendrix who died in 1970.
Mr Smith said the project was one of 25 films which will be developed through this slate which Number 9 Films will then produce.
Intandem Films will act as executive producers and international sales agents, while Metro Tartan will have first look for UK distribution and Film Four will acquire the television rights.
Mr Smith, chief executive of Intandem Films, said: "We are absolutely delighted and honoured to be part of such an exciting and talented group of film makers.
"It is very prestigious to get this grant, we were up against some very stiff competition.
"This development funding will secure our flow of films for the next five years."
As well as a possible Hendrix biopic, Intandem, which was formed in 2003 by Mr Smith, Andrew Brown and Denise Bridgeman, was looking at making horror and comedy films.
Mr Smith said: "Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen have been working on a script based on the last days of Jimi Hendrix.
"Following on from the Brian Jones film, we are developing quite an interest in music-based films.
"But also I would like to do more comedies and thrillers. There is a lot of comedy in Britain at the moment, while British comedy is very popular in America at the moment.
"We regard this prestigious award as a first step towards positive integration within the British Film Industry and are looking forward to playing a full role."