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ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
OL PARKER (Writer and Director)
IMAGINE ME & YOU marks Ol Parker's directorial debut, though he has
already gained a reputation as a rising screenwriter. As a writer his
recent work includes the adaptation of Sebastian Faulkes' novel BIRDSONG
for Working Title Films, and CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC, a Jimi Hendrix biopic
to be directed by Paul Greengrass. He has also re-written ADIOS FOR LITTLE
BIRD (Thaddeus O'Sullivan to direct); and adapted Pat Barker's novel THE
EYE IN THE DOOR for Jonathan Demme.
The Sundance Festival '96 changed its ruling on made-for-TV films in order
to invite Ol's BBC film, LOVED UP, to participate. The film, directed
by Peter Cattaneo, about Ecstasy and youth culture was transmitted as
part of the Love Bites season. His second film, IN YOUR DREAMS, another
BBC commission, this time dealing with date rape, was broadcast in December
'97 starring Thandie Newton. His first feature, IT WAS AN ACCIDENT (freely
adapted from Jeremy Cameron's novel) was directed by Metin Huseyin and
starred Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
SOPHIE BALHETCHET (Producer)
Sophie Balhetchet's many production credits include the groundbreaking
TV drama series THE MANAGERESS, the WWII drama THE CAMOMILE LAWN and THE
PEACOCK SPRING. During the early years of Channel 4, Balhetchet produced
some of the channel's most original programming, including Peter Greenaway's
A TV DANTE and ABOUT TIME. For the "Film on Four" strand, Balhetchet
produced GIRO CITY and the ROAD HOME. In 1996 Balhetchet joined World
Productions where she executive produced BALLYKISSANGEL and drama series
for BBC1 and for Channel 4 including THE HEART SURGEON, ULTRAVIOLET and
ROUGH TREATMENT. She produced a clutch of short films for BBC2, and the
feature film TRANCE for Sky Pictures. Balhetchet also produced the controversial
TV drama MEN ONLY for Channel 4.
She co-founded Cougar Films in 2001 with renowned writer and producer
Lynda La Plante whose work includes the multi-award winning TV series
PRIME SUSPECT, WIDOWS and TRIAL & RETRIBUTION.
BARNABY THOMPSON (Producer)
Barnaby Thompson is Head of Studio at Ealing Studios. He is currently
producing FADE TO BLACK, a thriller set in 1940s Italy, directed by Oliver
Parker (THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, AN IDEAL HUSBAND) and starring
Danny Huston, Paz Vega, Diego Luna and Christopher Walken. Also in production
is ALIEN AUTOPSY, a British comedy starring television stars Ant and Dec,
directed by Jonny Campbell and written by Will Davies (JONNY ENGLISH,
TWINS).
He also executive produced VALIANT; a $40 million CGI feature, which is
the story of a lowly pigeon who overcomes the odds to fight for his country
in World War II. It features the voices of Ewan McGregor, Ricky Gervais,
Tim Curry, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Laurie, John Cleese, John Hurt and Olivia
Williams. Produced with John Williams, who produced the SHREK movies,
it is the first animated production of it's kind to come out of the UK.
In 2002 Thompson released Oscar Wilde's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST.
Directed by Oliver Parker, it stars Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Frances
O'Connor, Reese Witherspoon and Judi Dench and was released in the US
by Miramax. HOPE SPRINGS, a romantic comedy directed by Mark Herman (LITTLE
VOICE, BRASSED OFF), starring Colin Firth, Heather Graham and Minnie Driver
was released by Disney in May 2003.
In 2000 he produced HIGH HEELS & LOW LIFES for Disney, directed by
Mel Smith and starring Minnie Driver, Mary McCormack and Michael Gambon.
The same year Thompson also produced LUCKY BREAK, directed by Peter Cattaneo
(THE FULL MONTY), starring James Nesbitt, Olivia Williams, Christopher
Plummer, Timothy Spall, Bill Nighy and Lennie James. Barnaby also produced
the Golden Globe and BAFTA nominated AN IDEAL HUSBAND (1998), directed
by Oliver Parker, starring Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver, Rupert Everett,
Julianne Moore and Jeremy Northam.
He was executive producer with Tiger Aspect on the UK hit comedy KEVIN
& PERRY GO LARGE starring Harry Enfield and Kathy Burke. His Fragile
Films' first feature was the international box office hit SPICEWORLD (1997)
starring the Spice Girls, Richard E Grant, Alan Cummings and featuring
cameos from Roger Moore and George Wendt. It was an international box
office hit, grossing $90 million worldwide.
Thompson is part of a consortium including Uri Fruchtmann, Harry Handelsman
of the UK property company, Manhattan Loft Corporation, and U.S. based
John Kao which bought Ealing Studios in 2000. The famous studio is undergoing
redevelopment and has now acquired Fragile Films, the successful production
company Thompson set up in 1996 with Uri Fruchtmann.
Before that, Barnaby spent six years working with Lorne Michaels at Broadway
Pictures in New York and Los Angeles, during which time he co-produced
KIDS IN THE HALL: BRAIN CANDY, which was nominated for four Canadian Genies,
TOMMY BOY, starring Chris Farley and David Spade, WAYNE'S WORLD 2 with
Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, CONEHEADS starring Dan Ackroyd and Jane Curtin
and LASSIE, directed by Dan Petrie. He also served as associate producer
on WAYNE"S WORLD.
Prior to moving to America in 1990, Barnaby ran the UK-based, independent
production company, World's End Productions. There he produced and directed
many award-winning documentaries, including JIMI HENDRIX for the South
Bank Show, which won the Silver Plaque at the Chicago Film Festival, and
THE FORGOTTEN HOLOCAUST, which received the Silver Medal at the New York
Film Festival. He also produced DEAR ROSIE, a short film directed by Peter
Cattaneo, which was nominated for both Academy and BAFTA awards.
ANDRO STEINBORN (Producer)
Andro Steinborn began his entertainment career as an attorney at Studio
Babelsberg and for Alexander Kluge´s Development Company for Television
Programs (DCTP). In 1998, he became Head of Business and Legal Affairs
at X Filme Creative Pool, which was followed two years later by the same
role at the newly founded X Distribution. In this function he has overseen
the making of 20 films among them RUN LOLA RUN (1998), GIGANTIC (1999),
THE PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR (2000), HEAVEN (2002) and GOOD BYE, LENIN!
(2003).
Since 2004 Steinborn has overseen X Filme International, X´s division
for English language films and international coproductions. Under this
umbrella IMAGINE ME & YOU was made and the company's latest feature
film, LOVE LIFE, written and directed by Maria Schrader and based on the
best-selling novel from Zeruya Shalev, is currently shooting in Israel.
Steinborn is also co-producing GOODBYE BAFANA, written and directed by
Bille August,a German-France-Belgium-UK co-production to be shot in South
Africa in early 2006. THE CHAIN, a supernatural thriller set in New York,
written and to be directed by commercial producer and director Stuart
Culpepper, will start pre-production in January 2006.
BEN DAVIS (Director of Photography)
Ben Davis began his film career working on short films such as THE CERTAIN
SOMETHING starring Monica Belluci and Macbeth Starring Rhys Ifans. His
first foray into features was with MIRANDA, starring John Hurt, Christina
Ricci and John Simm. More recently, Davis worked alongside director Matthew
Vaughn on the gritty British gangster film LAYER CAKE. He also shot the
forthcoming DECAMERON, starring Mischa Barton and Hayden Christiansen
and YOUNG HANNIBAL.
Before moving into films, Davis forged his reputation with an accomplished
career as a Director of Photography in commercials, working for prestigious
brands such as Ford, Coca Cola, Audi and BMW.
EVE MAVRAKIS (Production Designer)
Eve started her career in commercials and music videos before moving on
to design for television. Her film work includes THE INNOCENT SLEEP, BANDIT
QUEEN and she was the art department associate on A LIFE LESS ORDINARY.
She then went on to co-design LOCK STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, after
which Eve designed TUBE TALES, WATCHMAN and TRANCE.
ALEX MACKIE, A.C.E. (Film Editor)
Alex Mackie's feature film editing credits include Stephen Fry's BRIGHT
YOUNG THINGS, Julian Fellowes' SEPARATE LIES, Danny Cannon's THE YOUNG
AMERICANS and JUDGE DREDD, Bob Mandel's THE SUBSTITUTE, and Thaddeus O'Sullivan's
THE HEART OF ME. She is currently completing COPYING BEETHOVEN, starring
Ed Harris and Diane Kruger, directed by Agnieszka Holland.
Mackie received Emmy Award nominations for Best Editing for Ben Ross's
"RKO 281" and for "C.S.I - The Pilot episode." She
began her career cutting documentaries and pop promos, and was Terence
Davies' Sound Editor on DISTANT VOICES/STILL LIVES and THE LONG DAY CLOSES.
ALEX HEFFES (Music by)
Alex Heffes' work originally rose to prominence with his score for Academy
Award-winning ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER. His recent scores include acclaimed
BAFTA Award-winner TOUCHING THE VOID, Miramax Film's DEAR FRANKIE, Steve
Coogan's THE PAROLE OFFICER and the psychological thriller TRAUMA for
Warner Bros. starring Colin Firth and Mena Suvari.
In addition to IMAGINE ME & YOU, Heffes composed the score for Fox
Searchlight's THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND directed by Kevin Macdonald starring
Forest Whitaker, Gillian Anderson and James McAvoy. For the project, he
traveled to Uganda to work with local musicians and singers.
Heffes also collaborated on Elton John's movie score for WOMEN TALKING
DIRTY and with members of Blur. His concert music has been performed at
venues across the world including India's Sangat Music Festival, Symphony
Hall Birmingham, the London Jazz Festival and in Oman by the Royal Symphony
Orchestra.
CONSOLATA BOYLE (Costume Designer)
Consolata Boyle won an Emmy Award in 2004 for the design of costumes for
"The Lion in Winter" and an award for Best Technical Achievement
at the Irish Film Awards for her costume design for ANGELA'S ASHES. Boyle's
feature filmography includes costume design for Stephen Frears' THE QUEEN,
THE VAN, MARY REILLY, THE SNAPPER; David Mamet's CATASTROPHE and THE WINSLOW
BOY; ASYLUM, MOLL FLANDERS, THE ACTOR, A KNIGHT'S CASTLE, THE ABDUCTION
CLUB, ENDGAME, WHEN BRENDAN MET TRUDY, NORA, LOVE AND RAGE, THIS IS MY
FATHER, THE SERPENT'S KISS, TROJAN EDDIE, NOTHING PERSONAL, WIDOW'S PEAK,
THE SECRET OF ROAN INNISH, THE SECRET RAPTURE, INTO THE WEST, THE PLAY
BOYS, BROKEN SKIN, A GREEN JOURNEY, TROUBLES and DECEMBER BRIDE.
LIZ GALLACHER (Music Supervisor)
Liz Gallacher's work on projects such as THE FULL MONTY (winner of a Brit
Award for Best Soundtrack), RESIDENT EVIL (Grammy nomination for Best
Metal Performance), and 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE (shortlisted for Film Music
at 2003's NME Awards) has received acclaim from critics and audiences
alike. Her film credits also include the Oscar Award-winning documentary
ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER, Golden Globe-winner THE GATHERING STORM and feature
films such as WHERE THE TRUTH LIES, LAYER CAKE, BEING JULIA, CALENDAR
GIRLS and BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM.
Gallacher has worked with such acclaimed directors as Atom Egoyan, Simon
West, Michael Winterbottom, Shane Meadows, Marc Evans, Gurinder Chadha
and István Szabó.
BILL SHAPTER (Associate Producer)
Bill Shapter trained as a film editor, and worked through the 1970s for
the BBC at Ealing Studios. After winning the Prix Italia for editing Roland
Joffe's "The Spongers," he left the corporation to cut feature
films and work with Ken Loach and Tony Garnett.
In 1989, Shapter rejoined the BBC as a producer, making "The Laughter
of God" for Screen Two, followed by mini-series "Exchange of
Fire" for Channel 4. For the past 10 years he has produced a number
of projects for John Heyman's World Productions including the Clive Owen-starring
series "Sharman;" Film Four movie BEAUTIFUL THING; mini-series
"The Heart Surgeon;" "Ultraviolet" and "Rough
Treatment;" and also TRANCE, a movie for Sky Pictures.
©Fox Searchlight |
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