Greater Oxford Area
An award-winning film producer and former senior exec of various major public companies including Pearson and Sony and Chairman or CEO of a number of large independent film and television drama production companies including Portman (Woman of Substance) and Zenith (Morse). His directors include Mike Leigh, Mike Newell, Michael Bogdanov and others named Mike. Actors in his productions include Judi Dench, Leo di Caprio, Hugh Grant, John Hurt, Harvey Keitel, Alan Rickman and Diana Rigg. Among his many writers are Bainbridge, Boyd, Bradbury and Beckett or Beryl, Will, Malcolm and er, Sam. He is currently working on film adaptations of novels by Graham Greene and Natasha Walter as well as plays by Shakespeare and Marlowe and with world class screenwriters including William Boyd. By using experiences and knowledge garnered from his work with the BBC (where he started his career), Sony (in film, games and music) and majors including Columbia and Fox, he has advised young producers on their projects. His autobiographical trilogy See Me, Sue Me, Sad Me! aka The Rage Quartet, may, pace the lawyers, appear in late 2021. The Telegraph commented that his work "has none of the glib rhythms Hollywood screenwriting imposes…and it distances itself from American story-telling traditions by putting triumphalism well and truly in its place." "a true multi-talented Renaissance Man!" Will Gompertz, BBC Arts Editor "immensely sad, bitterly funny" New York Times "delights in blowing colossal raspberries at the class system" Channel 4
Armadillo’s first feature is The Belle. Is Brexit getting you down? Here is the cure... “LOVE the script. Funny, tender, trés anglais and a GREAT ensemble piece. I would love to be involved. Thank you for sending to me." It is not well known that in the summer of 1545, during the reign of Henry VIII, he of the six wives, France attempted an invasion of England. While the English were greatly outnumbered, the French were repelled. Although the operation was an English success, they suffered heavily, including the loss of Henry’s flagship, the Mary Rose. Taking advantage of the attack, a few French pirates landed nearby and indulged in some classic Gallic chevauchée – pillaging, plundering etc. They also kidnapped some English women and took them home. Truth be told these charmants Normand (pace the garlic) knew how to romance a girl and let’s face it they were so much fitter and more tanned than their pale large-bellied ale-swilling menfolk at home. They did not protest too much at being whisked away. In fact, they did not protest at all. As a special trophy the pirates stole the bell from the tower of St. Aelfric’s Church and took it home. To Normandy in France. Where it hangs today in the tower of Sainte Exubérance. This is all true. Well mostly all true! Many years of bitterness ensued – into the Napoleonic period and well beyond. In fact in one ale-sodden corner of the empire, this bitterness survives. In the minds of the local people an open wound of nearly half a millennium still runs raw. So raw in fact that an unlikely band of brothers (and sisters), come up with a cunning plan to right old wrongs… They will steal the bell back! "This is fabulous. I laughed out loud at a lot of it, some wonderful lines as well as great characters."
Founded in 2015, the company re-unites key players from one of the most successful teams of the last 25 years working at the highest creative and managerial level in films, television and commercials. As Portman Entertainment Group between 1982 and 2002, the senior partners in the company were responsible for some of the most successful television output in the UK and worldwide. This includes the highest ever rating programme on Channel 4 at 13.84m viewers (a record that subsists to this day), the largest ever sale for a single title to ITV at US$32.4m, many dramas rating in excess of 10m viewers on both ITV and BBC and a plethora of awards and nominations including BAFTAs, EMMYs and the Prix Europa. Now with the assistance new blood and talent they are well placed to exploit the new world of media in all of its manifestations. In production is End of Term with Ronald Pickup and Nicola Posener. Other productions in prep include Grace & Beauty, also a co-production with Jempsa and Mad to be Normal co-producer Alan Latham of GSP Studios as well as Romeo and Rosaline and The Commodore's Wife.
I taught screen writing in primarily at undergraduate level for five years though now I am concentrating on postgraduate students specifically in the area of film and entertainment economics and business. From 2009 until 2015 I was also an examiner. I also give classes, tutorials and supervisions on courses at all levels both privately and at other institutions. In addition I have given lectures both within and without the University on the subjects of film aesthetics, film making, the representation of history in film and writing for the screen. I am also an Industry Adviser at the Said Business School at Oxford University. "Thanks for a wonderful tutorial yesterday, I really felt inspired." JT, Student "You have been an inspiring tutor - your suggestions were all transforming and enhancing. Thank you." SV, Student "Thank you so much for everything. Great course. I've LOVED doing the assignment!" CD, Student "I'm impressed, touched and amused by your solicitations on your students' behalf. Thank you for your exceptional commitment." JB, Course Director
Art meets horror in End of Term where history is repeating itself at the Ford Barrington Art School. A group of students are tormented by the lingering menace of Garth Stroman, an artist who had a disturbing vision fifty years prior. The pupils discover that true art can only be achieved through suffering and pain. With graduation fast approaching their celebrations turn into a twisted confrontation with medieval torture… all in the name of art. Wonderful cast includes David Bamber, Julie Graham, Ronald Pickup, Peter Davison, Ivan Kaye, Ben Lamb, Nicola Posener and Chelsea Edge. Written by John Paul Chapple and directed by Mark Murphy.