Projects with status: Complete

Synopsis

Based on real-life events, Joel Hershman's Greenfingers is a triumph-over-adversity story, starring Helen Mirren, Clive Owen and Natasha Little, about a man serving a long-term prison sentence who unexpectedly discovers a love of gardening. His talent is recognised by a famous horticulturist and he goes on to compete in the world's biggest garden show, win the heart of the woman he loves and regain his will to live.



US producer Travis Swords first read the story in 1998 in a piece in the New York Times by Paula Deitz called Free To Grow Bluebells In England. Swords had been looking for the right feature to back following his 1992 film, Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, directed by Hershman.



Swords and Hershman then teamed up with BoneYard Entertainment's Daniel J Victor, who had previously helped to finance and executive produce such films as Sling Blade and Henry Fool. Victor set up an equity fund called Motion Pictures Partners to finance and produce two to three features a year, of which Greenfingers is the first. Trudie Styler's London-based Xingu Films then came on board as co-executive producer and the Los Angeles-based Overseas FilmGroup took worldwide sales rights.



Greenfingers shot on location in England in the summer of 1999. It will premiere either later this year or in 2001.

Synopsis

When one of four close friends has a terrible accident, they are forced to confront their lives and hopes for the future. Dealing directly and intimately with their emotions and motivations, Greenwich Mean Time has a rare quality of honesty and punch, that fearlessly charts their path to adulthood as life works its complex magic upon them.


Greenwich Mean Time is a strong, uncompromising journey into some dark emotions, but essentially an uplifting film that stands clearly as an endorsement of life and love. It's a tale of courage in the face of adversity.


This is a story for the millennial generation, it's a story about life.

Synopsis

An adult affair conducted by children. A fast-moving, visual, poetic piece about two people trying to be mature about something they're very cross about.

Synopsis

Guest House Paradiso is the much-anticipated feature debut of two popular UK comedians, Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson. The anarchic story of the world's worst hotel was written by the pair, directed by Edmondson and produced by Phil McIntyre, the music and live show promoter who had worked with Mayall and Edmondson on their live show. The trio had long wanted to make a feature together and funding came from Video Vision, a division of the then-PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, and now Universal Pictures International (UPI).

"With the opportunities available to Rik (Mayall) and Ade (Edmondson), it has been easier for them to take the course of least resistance and to write a book, do a TV series, or act in somebody else's film, that somebody else has financed, than actually to do their own thing," says McIntyre. "But things became easier so we made a film."

In addition to Mayall and Edmondson, the cast is populated by some of Europe's most dynamic acting talent including Vincent Cassel, Helene Mathieu and Bill Nighy.

"There's only one criterion in the whole film, which is that it's very funny," Mayall explains. "We find it's much better to build your own world, to make a fantasy and invite people into it. It's a world where the level of reality is such that you can do the kind of things we do, such as be swung around by meathooks through your nose without it seeming unreal."

Shooting took place in April 1999 at Ealing Studios and on location on the Isle of Wight. Universal International Pictures released the film in the UK in April 2000.

Synopsis

Richie and Eddie run Guesthouse Paradiso: possibly the worst hotel in the world. The drunken chef has eaten all the food and most of the guests have departed without paying. But things look up when the Nice family check in. Rummaging through the family's luggage, Richie finds exotic rubber underwear. Naturally he has to try them on. Interrupted, he hastily leaves his clothes in their bathroom and makes for the reception area.





There, beautiful actress Gina (having just jilted her fiancé Gino) wants to check in. Unsuitably dressed, Richie hides in the oven - but it ignites, fusing the underwear to his body. Eddie tries to remedy this with compressed air and a skewer - but the pants blow up, hurling Eddie onto the road. Still unconscious, a truck runs over his head, the jolt causing some fish to spill.





This, at least, eases the catering problem and Eddie incinerates the fishy windfall for dinner. Things take a turn for the worse when Mr Nice finds video evidence of Richie's panty-pilfering and threatens to sue. The guests also start to show signs of severe indigestion . . .

Synopsis

In 1997, the first Blue Plaque ever erected for a rock star went up in London. English Heritage placed it next to the plaque for George Fredrick Handel who used to live next door. This is the story of the Blue Plaque, and about how we want to be remembered.

Synopsis

Nine-year-old Jamie is playing cowboys and indians and sees a solitary man. It is time for a duel. Time freezes as both duellists contemplate death.

Synopsis

Jane goes to the hairdresser as a birthday treat. The change in appearance has consequences she could never have foreseen as a family secret is revealed.

Synopsis

A woman loses her hat and then finds it lying in the gutter. She must decide whether to pick it up again, a decision that plays on her mind during an unsettling day at the office.

Synopsis

A dark, atmospheric fantasy drama about a writer haunted by the death of his beloved wife and his subsequent regression into death.

Synopsis

A tale of love, hate and madness. The story of one man's struggle to come to terms with the loss of his lover.

Synopsis

Paul, a young Parisien, meets Tracey, a London girl, on the internet. They become cyber-friends and Paul decides to make a surprise visit, but very soon realises that he should have warned her before calling.