Survivor UK Production Notes

IIJIONSGÆIE
Presents
suRvrvoR
Directed by:
James McTeigue
Starring:
Milla Jovovich
Pierce Brosnan
Dylan McDermott
Angela Bassett
Robert Forster
James DtArcy
For fu¡ther information please contact:
Aimee l{all - [email protected]
For further publicity materials please go to:
www. lgukpublicity.co.uk
INDEX
2.
SURVIVOR Quotes
3.
lnformation On The Film
4.
TheStory
5.
Locations
6.
Cast List
7.
Cast Biographies
8.
Key Crew
9.
Crew Biographies
10.
Features:
list
James McTeigue
"Ci n em atic a nd speci a l"
lrwin Winkler
"An undercurrent of dromotic possibility"
Charles Winkler
"A visual feost for the eyes"
Milla Jovovich
"Once the oction storts, it never stops"
Pierce Brosnan
" lt ¡s t¡me to play the boddie"
Dylan McDermott
"An oction movie with o broin"
James D'Arcy
"Once in o life time opportunity"
Angela Bassett
"l have to crack the whip"
Robert Forster
"Poying a moral price
"
QUOTES FROM THE FIIM
"l'm not a murderer!"
Kqte Abbott
"Why couldn't you have just left things alone, Kate? Now I have no choice."
BillTolbot
"This isn't an act of terror or a bold political statement...
Nash
ifs just about making money."
INFORMATION ON THE FILM
SURVIVOR began principal photography in London, England, on January 2:=Ì 2014.
Produced for Millennium Films and Winkler Films by lrwin Winkler (GOODFELLAS, ROCKY
films, RAGING BULL), Charles Winkler (DE-LOVELY, ROCKY BALBOA), and Matt O'Toole
(THE EXPENDIBLES films, TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D). James McTeigue (V FOR VENDETTA, THE
RAVEN) directs from a screenplay by Philip Shelby ("The Cassandra Compact".)
Newly posted to the Amerícon Embossy in London, State Depørtment high flyer, Kate
Abbott (lovovich) finds herself ot the centre of an internotional scandal when she norrowly
escapes o bomb ottock and is fromed for the body count. Discredited ond olone, Kote must
keep one step ahead of the authorities ond the men trying to kill her, on a mission to cleor
her nome whilst preventing a mojor terrorist attack planned for New Yeors Eve in Time
Square.
Filmed on location in the UK and Bulgaria, and at the Nu Boyana Studios in Sofia,
SURVIVOR is a fast paced, contemporary thriller. The all-star cast is lead by Milla Jovovich
(RESIDENT EVIL franchise, THE FIFTH ELEMENT) as Kate Abbott, an American State security
officer turned fugitive, and Pierce Brosnan (JAMES BOND films, TAYLOR OF PANAMA,
THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR) as Nash, the hit man hired to take her down. Dylan McDermott
(OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALL FLOWER) plays Sam Parker, D¡rector
at The Bureau of Diplomatic Security. James D'Arcy (CLOUD ATLAS, JUPITER ASENDING)
takes the role of lnspector Paul Anderson from Special Branch, and Oscar nominee Angela
Bassett (WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH lT, MALCOM X) is Maureen Crane, the steely US
Ambassador for Great Britain. Academy Award nominee, Robert Forster (JACKIE BROWN,
MULHOLLAND DRIVE) struggles with divided loyalties as the visa crew supervisor, Bill
Talbot.
McTeigue's talented creative team includes cinematographer Danny Ruhlmann (LITTLE
FISH, THE RAVEN), production designer Max Gottlieb (SHOOTING FISH, THE FULt MONTY,
Büf4, costume clesigner Stephanie Coiiie (LOCK STOCK AND TWO SMOK¡NG BARRELS,
LAYER CAKE, MEAN MACHINE), and casting director Elaine Graínger. Executive producers
are Avi Lerner, Mark Gill, Trevor Short, John Thompson, Les Weldon and Jason Bloom.
Alex O'Neal is co-producer.
Millennium Fílms is one of the largest and longest-running independent film companies in
the world. The firm develops, finances, produces and distributes approximately 8-L0 films
per year and is best known for THE EXPENDABLES series and OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN,
THE STORYTINE
*'.*NOT FOR PUBTICATION
***
State security high flyer, Kate Abbott ís posted to the American Embassy in London to do
what she does best - preventing terrorists from slipping through the net and entering the
USA.
for her razor sharp instincts, Kate's antenna is pricked when a
Maltese national, attempting to enter the States with a fake passport, is killed in what
appears to be a "dummy run". Kate finds a link to four scientists, all specialising in
combustible gas munitions, all applying for passports to enter America over the busy
Respected in Washington
holiday season.
Strangely, her investigation meets resistance from within the Embassy and, when she
discovers anomalies in the passport approvals system, her suspicions deepen. Something
doesn't add up.
Before she can ask too many questions, Kate's life is thrown into turmoíl when a bomb
explodes in a restaurant killing several of her colleagues. She narrowly escapes with her
life, but as she emerges from the smoke and rubble, a mysterious man we come to know
as Nash aka "The Watchmaker", attempts to gun her down with a silenced automatic.
Kate soon discovers she can trust no one. The world's most wanted assassin is at her
heels, whilst the US Ambassador and the Metropolitan Police are holding her responsible
for the bomb blast that annihilated the Embassy visa crew. The order is to shoot Kate
Abbott on sight.
Keeping one step ahead of the authorities and the men trying to kill her, Kate goes on the
run following the terrorist trail to New York, where she discovers the bomb target is Time
Square on New Years Eve. Now the subject of an in international man-hunt, Kate must
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whilst saving the lives of thousands of innocent Americans gathered to celebrate the
beginning of a New Year.
LOCATIONS
filmed in and around central London in the UK before the production
relocated to Bulgaria to shoot both on location and at Boyana Studios in Sofia.
SURVIVOR was
UNITED KINGDOM
INSITUTE OF EDUCATION, LONDON, doubled as
the exterior of the American Embassy in
London. This is where we first see Kate Abbott arriving on her motorbike and are
introduced to the ill-fated visa crew,
The lnstitute of Education was founded in October 1902 as the London Day Training
College (LDTC) under the joint auspices of the University of London and of the London
County Council. ln 1932, it became the University's largest central activity as the lnstitute
of Education. From 1949 it acquired a dual role at the centre of a wider lnstitute of some
30 associated colleges and departments of education. During this period it was
responsible for the education and training of one in four new teachers in England and
Wales. Following the demise of the Area Training Organizations (ATOs) in the 1"970s, the
lnstitute reverted to its previous role. ln L987 the award of a royal charter set the seal
upon its status as an independent college and school of the University of London.
ín Hounslow, Middlesex, was the location
Abbott
takes to New York. The flight training
Kate
interior
of
the
airplane
used for the
centre houses both full motion and fixed base símulators which allow students to practice
a full range of realistic scenarios in cabin and flight deck environments.
BRITISH AIRWAYS FIIGHT TRAINING CENTRE
The rooftop of the notorious HEYGATE ESTATE in South London was used forthe scenes in
which Nash, Balan and Pavlou discuss their plan to bomb Time Square on New Years Eve.
The Heygate Estate is a large housing estate in Eiephant anci eastie, Southwark, South
London. Built in 1975, the concept was to link all the areas of the estate via concrete
bridges, so there was no need for residents to walk on pavements or along roads. The
estate was once a popular place to live, housing over 3,000 people, but it later developed
a reputation for crime, poverty and dilapidation. Despite currently being demolished as
part of the regeneration of Elephant and Castle, the Heygate Estate is regularly used for
filming and can be seen in such films as HARRY BROWN, WORLD WAR Z and Madonna's
music video "Hung Up", amongst many others.
Over looking Tower Bridge and the river Thames, SUGAR QUAY in London EC3 was the
shooting location of Sam Parker's office, where Kate is reprimanded for blocking Balan's
passport request. lt was also the location of the Embassy Bubble, where Sally tracks Kate
progress when she goes on the run.
The now derelict Sugar Quay was once the office head quarters of sugar manufacturer,
Tate & Lyle. The British sugar maker's roots go back to 1859 when Henry Tate started
refining. Tate altered " tea-time" forever when he introduced the sugar cube to Britain in
7875.
The film crew worked through the night at London's iconic ST PANCRAS STATION, filming
the scenes in which Kate meets her friend to pick up clothes and money, narrowly
avoiding Nash and the American Embassy officials hot on her trail.
St Pancras railway station is a Grade I listed building on the Euston Road in the
London Borough of Camden. lt is a structure widely known for its Victorian
architecture. After escaping planned demolition in the 1960s, the complex was
renovated and expanded during the 2000s at a cost of over f800 million with an
opening ceremony attended by Queen Elizabeth ll.
HEATHROW AIRPORT TERMINAL 5 was the location used
New York.
Terminal
for Kate Abbott's departure to
5 was opened in 2008; the main building in the complex is the largest
freestanding structure in the United Kingdom.
Designed to handle 35 million passengers avear, the terminal building cost f4 billion to
build and took L9 years from conception to completion, including the longest pubic
inquiry in British history.
CIW OF WESTMINSTER COLTEGE was the location used for several of the Embassy rooms
and offices, specifically; the Embassy Conference Room where Parker addresses the visa
crew and introduces Kate Abbott as their go-to woman for all suspicious vísa applications;
the visa bullpen where Kate interrogates Balan; Ambassador Crane's office, and Kate
Abbott's office wíth a crucial view over the bull pen.
Of lJestminster College can be traced back to L903, v"'hen
Paddington Technical lnstitute opened. The first of íts kind in London, key subjects
The
histoi"'¡r
of the
Cit'y
included physics, chemistry, engineering, building, domestic economy, and dressmaking.
After World War L the College grew to accommodate the swelling ranks of young people
looking for post-school education and qualifications. By the 1930s there were nearly
1,000 students.
The College grew over the years to accommodate more than 7,000 students
-
becoming
in the London Borough of Westminster. lt
became known as City of Westminster College after the abolition of the lnner London
Education Authority in L990. Three years later it became an incorporated and self-
the largest provider of
govern ing organ isation.
post-1-6 education
BULGARIA:
After five weeks on location in London, the cast and key crew flew to Bulgaria to complete
filming.
Production utilized both the exterior spaces at the NU-BOYANA STUDIOS in Sofia and
several of its stages for the set builds: London's Shepherds Market was replicated on the
Back Lot - this is where the Embassy's visa crew are killed in a bomb blast but, to Nash's
frustration, Kate Abbott survives.
The dank and grimy tunnels of underground London were built on Stage L for the scenes
where Nash chases Kate through the catacombs. Kate's apartment was built on Stage 5
for one day's filming before it was struck and rebuilt into Pavlou's Landmark Penthouse
office. Stage 6 was used for the set build of the Watchmaker's shop, a testament to time,
where Pavlou visits Nash to alert him of Kate Abbott's existence. lt was then transformed
into Bill Talbot's apartment where Kate and Parker discover a vital piece of the missing
puzzle.
The climax of the movie was shot over two days on Stage 2, filming the desperate fight
between Nash and Kate on a New York rooftop as the New Year Count Down begins.
the largest film production services studio in Eastern Europe. lt is
the successor of the former Bulgarian State-owned Boyana Film Studios, established in
1962 as the main feature film and television production facility in the country. lt is
Nu-Boyana Studios is
currently owned by Nu- lmage and Millennium Films.
The SURVIVOR crew also filmed on location whilst in Bulgaria. Production found a
warehouse in lhtiman to film the scenes in which Kate Abbott discovers the dead bodies
of four scientists working for Balan at a secret location ín New York.
lhtiman is a town located in the lhtimanska Sredna Gora mountains and lies in a valley
approximately 50 km outside of Sofia. Formally a Roman defensive station, guarding the
important roads that run alongside it, lht¡man was then called Stipon. Following the
Ottoman domination in the L4th century, the town's name became lhtiman, which is
thought to be of Ottoman Turkish origin.
The opening sequence of the film is set in war torn Afghanístan and the production team
utilized a vast, disused metal factory in Sofia. Kremikovtzi was once Bulgaria's largest
metalworking company. The factory took three years to build and was first put into
operation in 1963, producing cast iron and coke, and employing just under 7,000 people.
Having once been a thriving company; exporting to Europe, the USA and China, the
company fell into severe debt and by 2006, investors were nervous for the factory's
future. ln 2008, when Kremikovtzi's owner withdrew from the company, the socialist
government attempted to keep the plant afloat whilst looking for a new investor but was
unable to save it. Kremikovtzi is now completely non-functíoníng as a metal working
factory but has found a niche as a diverse and dramatic film location.
KEY CAST IIST
KATE
ABBOTT
NASH
SAM
MAUREEN
PARKER
Milla Jovovich
Pierce Brosnan
Dylan McDermott
CRANEPAUT
Angela Bassett
TALBOT
Robert Forster
BltL
PAUI
ANDERSON
DR. EMIL
BATAN
tlSA
CARR
James D'Arcy
Roger Reese
Genevieve O'Reilly
SATLY Frances De La Tour
HETEN
NAOMI
Sonya Cassidy
ROSENBAUM Antonia Thomas
ALV¡N
MURDOCK
PURVELL
ROBERT
JOYCE
SU
Sean Teale
Rege-Jean Page
Jing Lusi
ZAFER
PAVTOU
Benno Furmann
JOHNNY
TATBOT
Paddy Wallace
RAY
Parker Sawyers
MITLAJOVOVICH
Milla Jovovich has successfully established herself as a highly regarded, international
model and actress. Jovovich, (pronounced "mee-luh" "yo-vo-vitch") has transitioned
effortlessly to a full time actress, starring in over two dozen fílms.
Star of the RESIDENT EVIL franchise, Jovovích will reprise her role as 'Alice' in the síxth
instalment of the film for Sony Screen Gems, written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.
Jovovich was seen in independent movies; FACES lN THE CROWD, a psychological thriller
centering on a woman (Jovovich) who barely survives an attack by a serial killer and wakes
up in hospital with a head injury that leaves her "face-blind" (prosopagnosia). No longer
able to recognize faces, she must navigate a world in which facial features change each
time she loses sight of them. All the while the killer is closing in, determined to eliminate
the potential witness, and DIRTY GIRL, starring alongside William H. Macy and Juno
Temple. The film is a comedic story of the search for identity and the redemptive power
of unexpected friendshíp. Danielle (Temple) is the dirty girl of Norman High School.
When Danielle's misbehavior gets her banished to special ed, she teams up with an
innocent closet-case and together they head out on a road trip to discover each other and
themselves through a funny and serendipitous friendship.
ln2OLT,Jovovich portrayed Milady De Winter in Paul W. S. Anderson's adaptation of THE
THREE MUSKETEERS in 3D, a swashbuckling adventure also starring Orlando Bloom and
Logan Lerman. She went on to take the lead ín BRINGING UP BOBBY, the directorial debut
of actress Famke Janssen. The film is the story of a European con-artist (Jovovich) and her
son Bobby, who find themselves in Oklahoma in an effort to escape her past and build a
better future. Olive and Bobby blithely charm their way from one adventure to another
until Olive's criminal past catches up with her. Consequently, she must make a choice:
continue with a life of crime or leave the person she loves most in an effort to give Bobby
a proper chance in life.
ln 201-0, Jovovich was seen starring aiongside ncaciemy Awarci winner Robert DeNiro anci
Academy Award nominee Edward Norton in STONE. ln the film, Jovovich portrays the
wife of a convicted arsonist (Edward Norton) who is deployed in a psychological game of
cat-and-mouse with his parole officer (Robert De Niro). The Overture film is directed by
John Curran.
At the age of eleven, Jovovich was spotted by photographer Richard Avedon,
who
featured her in Revlon's "Most Unforgettable Women in the World" advertisements. ln
October 1987, she was on the cover of the ltalian fashion magazine Lei, her first of many
covers. ln 1988, she signed her first professional modelling contract.
Jovovich was last seen starring alongside Academy Award winner Robert DeNiro and
Academy Award nominee Edward Norton in STONE. ln the film, Jovovich portrays the
wife of a convicted arsonist (Edward Norton) who is deployed in a psychological game of
cat-and-mouse with his parole officer (Robert De Niro). The Overture film is directed by
John Curran.
Jovovich has appeared in hundreds of magazines and on dozens of covers. She has been
featured ín ad campaigns for several brands, including Banana Republic, Christian Díor,
Damiani, Donna Karan, Gap, Versace, Mango, Etro. Milla has been an international
spokesmodel for L'Oréal cosmetics since 1998. ln addition to L'Oréal, Milla has been in
campaigns for lCB, Ann Taylor, and Mercedes-Benz.
Her early modelling led to acting roles, and in 1988 she appeared in her first film role in
the romance thriller TWO MOON JUNCTION. Her first leading role was in RETURN TO THE
BLUE LAGOON in 1991, for which she was nominated for the "Best Young Actress Starring
in a Motion Picture" in the L991" Young Artist Awards. She appeared on some TV shows
around this time and also in the films KUFFS (1992), CHAPLIN (1992), and DAZED AND
coNFUSED (1es3).
Jovovich's breakout role was as Leeloo, the perfect being in Luc Besson's THE FIFTH
ELEMENT (1997). She later starred in several other action movies besides the "RESIDENT
EVIL" trilogy such as ULTRAVIOLET (2006), A PERFECT GETAWAY (2009), and THE FOURTH
KrND (2ooe).
Jovovich has also been in several comedies and dramas, including Spike Lee's HE GOT
GAME (1998), THE MESSENGER: THE STORY OF JOAN OF ARC (1999), THE CLAIM (2000),
THE MtLL|ON DOLLAR HOTEL (2000), ZOOLANDER (2001), DUMMY (2003), NO GOOD DEED
(2003)and YOU STUPID MAN (2003).
ln
1994, Jovovich released her critically acclaimed folk album, The Divine Comedy.
lnspired by a love of "elves and magic trees", Milla wrote the lyrics at 15 and recorded the
album when she was just 16. Acoustic, folky, and hard to categorize, the eleven songs on
The Divine Comedy are laced with Slavic sadness and X-istential self-doubt. "ln a Glade" is
a beautiful traditional Ukrainian folk song that Milla sings in her native tongue.
iovovich ieci a banci caiieci Piastic Has Memory which piayeci about a ciozen shows in Los
Angeles and New York City in 1999. Although Plastic Has Memory never released a
record, they did contribute one song, "On the Hill", to Hollywood Goes Wild, a benefit CD
for The Wildlife Waystation.
Jovovich performed the song "Left and Right" at Fashion Rocks in London, England in
October 2003 (MP3). She has also had songs on several albums, including 2 cover versions
of Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love" on the The Million Dollar Hotel soundtrack (2000),
"Rocket Collecting" on the "Underworld" soundtrack (2003), and "Shein Vi Di L'Vone" &
"Mezinka" (Yiddish Klezmer songs) on the Dummy soundtrack (2003).
Jovovich has collaborated with Puscifer (Maynard James Keenan of Tool and A Perfect
Circle) several times. She sang on "Rev 22:2O" on the Underworld soundtrack (2003) and
also on the Renholder remix of The Cure's "Underneath The Stars" on the Underworld:
Rise of the Lycans soundtrack (2009). Milla also sings on "The Mission" and performed
live with Puscifer at The Pearl in Las Vegas on February 73,2009. Milla sang on "We Are
Family" (2001) (American Red Cross benefit CD), "Former Lover" from Deepak Chopra's
album, A Gift of Love ll: Oceans of Ecstasy (2002), and "l Know lt's You" by The Crystal
Method (2004).
Jovovich-Hawk was a fashion line founded by Milla and Carmen Hawk in 2003. JovovichHawk was a finalist in 2006 for the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)/Vogue
Fashion Fund initiative. The popular fashion chain Mango released a Jovovích-Hawk for
MNG collection in 2007. Jovovich-Hawk ended in 2008.
Milla Jovovich is an ambassador for amfAR (The Foundation for AIDS Research) and also
supports several other charities, including OCRF (Ovarian Cancer Research Fund), The Dian
Fossey Gorilla Fund, Wildlands Project, and UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
PIERCE BROSNAN
Two-time Golden Globe Award nominee Pierce Brosnan relishes working both in front of
the camera and behind-the-scenes as a producer.
Recently Brosnan has been very busy. He stars ín six soon-to-be-released films: Love Punch
with Emma Thompson, which premíered at the Toronto Film Festival last September and
willopen in theatres in May; A Long Way Down with Aaron Paul, ToniCollette and lmogen
Poots, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February and will open in theatres in
June; The Coup with Owen Wilson and Survivor with Milla Jovovich and Dylan McDermott
for dírector James McTeigue.
Brosnan also produced and starred in two films: How To Moke Love Like An Englishmon
with Salma Hayek, Jessica Alba and Malcolm McDowell for director Tom Vaughan and
November Mon for director Roger Donaldson which will open in theatres in August.
Currently Brosnan is on location in Australía shooting The Moon ond The Sun for director
Sean McNamara.
Most recently audiences saw Brosnan star in Love Is All You Need for Academy Award
winning Danish director Susanne Bier. The film, which premiered to critical acclaim at the
Venice Film Festival and Toronto lnternational Film Festival, opened in theatres last
spring. Brosnan also had a cameo in The World's End with Simon Pegg and Martin
Freeman.
Brosnan's film credits include I Don't Know How She Does /t alongside with Sarah Jessica
Parker and Greg Kínnear; Salvotion Boulevord (zOtI) with Greg Kinnear, Ed Harris and
Jennifer Connelly, Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (20L0) based upon
the best-selling novel by Richard Riordan; Roman Polanski's critically acclaimed filmThe
Ghost Writer (2010) with Ewan McGregor which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and
for which Brosnan received the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Feature Film
from the lrish Film and Television Awards; Remember Me (2OLO) with Robert Pattinson
and The Greotest (2010) with Susan Sarandon and Carey Mulligan which premiered to
rave rev¡ews at the Sundance Film Festival, the worldwide blockbuster film adaptation of
the Broadway hit Mammo Mia!(2003) opposite Meryl Streep, Married Life (2OO7l in
which he starred with Rachel McAdams, Patricia Clarkson and Chris Cooper for director lra
Sachs, the Civil War drama Seraphim Folls (2007) in which he starred opposite Liam
Neeson, The Matador (2005) for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination for
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture and a nomination for Best Actor in a
Lead Role from the lrish Film & Television Academy, John Boorman's critically acclaimed
film from the novel by John LeCarre, The Toilor of Ponoma (2001), Sir Richard
Attenborough's Grey Owl(7999), Donte's Peak (19971, Mars Attacks (1996), The Mirror
Has Two Foces (7996) alongside Barbra Streisand, Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) with Robin
Williams, The Lawnmower Mon (L992) and Bruce Beresford's Mr. Johnson (1990).
ln the 1990s, Brosnan reinvigorated the popularity of the Bond legacy in box-office
blockbusters Goldeneye (L995), Tomorrow Never Dies (19971, The World ls Not Enough
(1999) and Die Another Doy (2OO2l. Brosnan's first three Bond films earned over a billion
dollars at the international box-office and Die Another Day alone garnered almost a half-
billion dollars worldwide.
ln addition to his work in front of the camera, Brosnan has always had a passion for the
art of filmmakíng. Having achieved international stardom as an actor, Brosnan expanded
the range of his film work by launching his own production company, lrish DreamTime in
1996, along with producing partner Beau St. Clair.
lrish DreamTíme has produced 10 films to date including November Man which brings
Brosnan back ínto the world of espionage, How to Make Love Like on Englishmon, The
Greatest (2010), Shottered (2007), The Matador (2005), Laws of Attroction (2O041, Evelyn
(2OO2), The Thomas Crown (7998), The Match (1999), and The Nephew (1998), The
company's first studio project, The Thomas Crown Affoir, was a critical and box-office
success and one of the best-reviewed and híghest-grossing romantic thrillers in years.
Evelyn, directed by Bruce Beresford, opened to critical acclaim at the Toronto and Chicago
Film Festivals and also garnered rave reviews.
Some of Brosnan's many accoiacies inciucie the 2007 Goiciene Kamera Awarci for his
environmental work, a Lifetime Achíevement Award at the Chicago Film Festival, the
lnternational Star of the Year at the Cinema Expo in Amsterdam, an Honorary Doctorate
of Arts from the Dublin lnstitute of Technology, an Honorary Doctorate from the
Universíty College Cork and an Order of the British Empire bestowed by Her Majesty the
Queen.
Brosnan was born ín County Meath, lreland and moved to London at age L1. At 20, he
enrolled in The Oval House and continued his studies at The Drama Center in
London. After graduation, Brosnan performed in several West End stage productions
including Franco Zeffirelli's Fulimena and Tennessee Wílliams' The Red Devil Battery Sign
at the York Theater Royal. Brosnan relocated to Los Angeles in 1982 and immediately
landed the role of private investigator Remington Steele on the popular NBC television
series of the same name.
DYLAN MCDERMOTT
A Golden Globe-winner and Emmy nominee, Dylan McDermott has proven his talent in
film, television, and theater.
McDermott can currently be seen in Jerry Bruckheimer's "Hostages" on CBS. He stars
opposite Toni Collette as Duncan Carlisle, a rogue FBI Agent who takes a surgeon's family
hostage and orders her to assassinate the president during surgery.
Earlier this year, McDermott appeared in Antoine Fuqua's OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN
alongside Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, and Aaron Eckhart. The film follows a former
Secret Service agent who becomes America's only hope when the President is taken
hostage by terrorists.
Upcoming, McDermott will be seen on the big screen in MERCY from PARANORMAL
ACTIVITY producer Jason Blum, and Millennium Pícture's AUTOMATA alongside Antonio
Banderas.
ln 2O72, McDermott appeared in the critically acclaimed indie drama THE PERKS OF BEING
A WALLFLOWER alongside Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Paul Rudd, and Ezra Miller. He
was also seen in Jay Roach's comedy THE CAMPAIGN opposite Will Ferrell and Zach
Galifianakis.
On the small screen, McDermott was recently seen in seasons one and two of Ryan
Murphy and Brad Falchuk's FX drama "American Horror Story" alongside Jessica Lange,
Connie Britton, and Zachary Quinto. He played a psychiatrist and serial killer.
Additional film credits include lN THE LINE OF FIRE, WONDERLAND, HOME FOR THE
HOLIDAYS directed by Jodi Foster, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, MIRACLE ON 34rH STREET, and
HAMBURGER HILL.
McDermott's other television credits include the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced TNT drama
"Dark Blue", TNT's dramatic limited series "The Gríd" opposite Julianna Margulies, and
Davici E. Keiiey's EmmyAwarci-winníng series'The Practice', which earneci him an Emmy
nomination, two Golden Globe nominations, and a Golden Globe award.
ln 2008, McDermott starred in
Nicky Silver's Three Chonges
at
Playwrights
Horizons. Additionally, in September 2006, McDermott was on stage in Eve Ensler's The
Treotment for which he was nominated for a Drama League Award. He was also seen in
Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues and Golden Bo¿ directed by Joanne Woodward at the
Williamstown Theatre Festival.
JAMES D'ARCY
British actor, James D'Arcy boasts a successful career spanning film and television. His
passion for acting began with school plays and a stint at the National Youth Music
Theatre, He spent his gap year teaching drama in Australia and applied to the London
Academy of Dramatic Art as soon as he returned to London.
Following drama school, D'Arcy took several roles in British television series' such as;
"silent Witness" and "Dalziel and Pascoe", followed by more substantial parts in TV films
including Ruth Rendell's "Bribery and Corruption", and "The Canterville Ghost". ln 2001,
he starred in the title role of "Nicholas Nickleby", and played the young Sherlock Holmes
in "sherlock: Case Of Evil". Recent television appearances include; "Mansfield Park",
"secret Diary Of A Call Girl" for Tiger Aspect, ITV'S "Making Of A Lady" and "Those Who
Kill", in which he plays the series lead "Thomas".
Hls many notable feature fílm credits include; Peter Weir's MASTER AND COMMANDER,
the Wachowski/Tom Tykwer's CLOUD ATLAS, HITCHCOCK for Sacha Gervasi, Madonna's
W.E., and Warner Bros' upcoming JUPITER ASCENDING directed by the Wachowskís.
ANGELA BASSEfi
Alluring audiences with emotionally tinged performances has been the signature of
Angela Bassett, who personifies a sense of dignity and pride whenever she appears on
screen. Her talent and abilities as an actress and executive producer in both televisíon
and film have time and again earned respect and acclaim from her peers and fans, proving
her to be one of the industry's premier leadíng ladies.
Bassett can be seen with the impressive cast of the third season of hit FX series "American
Horror Story: Coven" as Marie Laveau, the historical voodoo queen and leader of the
Coven's most powerful rivals in the Dark Arts. She will also be seen in season four.
will be seen in the upcoming Sundance lndi WHITE BIRD lN A BLIZZARD, directed by
Gregg Araki. Angela will be seen as Dr. Thaler, a pivotal role opposite Shailene Woodley.
She
Angela was recently seen as Coretta Scott King in the Lifetime movie BETW AND CORETTA
for which she has received a SAG Award Nomination.
Bassett was seen as Lynne Jacobs, the head of the secret service in OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN
for FilmDistrict opposite Morgan Freeman, Gerard Butler, and Aaron Eckhart for director
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Bassett recently returned to the musical front in Fox Searchlight's BLACK NATIVITY
opposite Forest Whitaker for director Kasi Lemmons. She starred opposite Samuel L.
Jackson in the Broadway premiere of Katori Hall's Olivier Award winning play,
Mountaintop. The play was a gripping reimagining of events the night before the
assassination of the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Bassett also starred in Columbia Píctures' weddíng themed comedy JUMPING THE
BROOM, alongside Paula Patton. The hilarious and touching JUMPING THE BROOM
revolves around the clash of two African-American familíes from oppostie ends of the
socíoeconomic spectrum meeting for the first time during a weekend wedding in Martha's
Vineyard. Bassett played "Cladine Watson", heiress to the Watson family fortune and a
píllar of the Washington D.C. Elite.
Perhaps best known for her intense portrayal of Tina Turner in the biopic WHAT'S LOVE
GOT TO DO WITH lT opposite Laurence Fishburne, Bassett earned the Golden Globe for
Best Actress in a Musical, a NAACP lmage Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion
Picture, and an Academy Award nomination for her powerful performance.
Bassett fírst made the successful crossover to the silver screen when she appeared in a
small but rich role as the ambitious single mother who sends her son to live with his father
in John Singleton's BOYZ lN THE HOOD. Other memorable roles include, Terry McMillian's
WAITING TO EXHALE, co-starring Whitney Houston, Kathryn Bígelow's futuristic STRANGE
DAYS with Ralph Fiennes, VAMPIRE lN BROOKLYN opposite Eddie Murphy, and
SUPERNOVA with James Spader. She also starred as Violetta Wallace, mother of slain
rapper, Christopher "Notorious B.l.G" in NOTORIOUS.
Bassett received an NAACP lmage Award for performances in films such as HOW STELLA
GOT HER GROOVE BACK opposite Whoopi Goldberg and Taye Diggs, THE SCORE opposite
Robert DeNiro, Edward Norton and Marlon Brando, MUSIC OF THE HEART with Meryl
Streep, MALCOLM X opposite Denzel Washingon, CONTACT opposite Jodie Foster, and
BOESMAN AND LENA with Danny Glover. She was also recognised for her leading role in
the television movie RUBY'S BUCKET OF BLOOD, bringing her total number of image
awards to nine. Bassett received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for her
performance in RUBY'S BUCKET OF BLOOD and an Emmy nomination for Best Actress in a
television movie for her work in THE ROSA PARKS STORY.
For the ABC mini-series "The Jacksons: An American Dream", Bassett received critical
raves for her touchíng performance as Katheríne Jackson; an Emmy nomination for "Uncle
Jed's Barbershop" episode of PBS' "storytime"; and critical nods for narrating the
miniseries, "Africans ln America", also for PBS. Bassett other notable television roles have
included the final season of NBC's hit primetime series "E.R." as Dr. Cate Banfield and a
recurring role in ABC's hit drama series "Alias".
Nominations and awards aside, one of the most gratifying moments of her career was the
opportunity to merge faith and talent when she gave voice to various characters in the all
time best seiiing auciiobook, THE BiBLE EXPER|ENCE.
Beginning her career on stage and continuing to this day, this Yale School of Drama
graduate completed several productions on and off Broadway, which include Mø Roiney's
Black Bottom, Coloured People's Time, Henry lV Port l, Joe Turner's Come And Gone,
Antigone, Pericles, and Block 6irl. She returned to the stage in 1998 to star opposite Alec
Baldwin in Mocbeth at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre in New York, in 2005 she starred
with her husband, Courtney B. Vance, in the North American Premier production of John
Guare's stage adaptation of His Girl Fridoy and The Front Poge at the historic Guthrie
Theater; and recently receíved rave reviews for her work with Fishburne in August
Wilson's classic play Fences as the Pasadena Playhouse.
Angela and her husband, actor Courtney B. Vance co-wrote the book, FRIENDS: A LOVE
STORY. The inspirational book is the real-life love story of Bassett and Vance, who were
fríends
for many years before marrying. They
have also formed Bassett Vance
productíons and theír first venture, BOOK OF THE YEAR, marks Bassett's directorial debut.
Based on the novel, "Erasure" by Percival Everett and adapted by Dwayne JohnsonCochran, the dramatic comedy follows Monk Ellison, a prominent black literary figure.
Ellison writes a faux biography from the perspective of a barely l¡terate hoodlum to decry
what is wrong with the glorification of "ghetto" culture but when the book is lauded as a
possible contender for the Natíonal Book Award, he must choose between príde and
fame.
ROGER REES
Roger Rees'project, Peter and the Storcatcher, written by Rick Elice and co-directed with
Alex Timbers, recently won 5 TONY awards; this prequel to Peter Pan continues to delight
audiences.
Mr Rees won the Olivier Award in London, the Tony Award in New York, plus an Emmy
nomination for Best Actor, playing Nicholas in "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas
Nickleby".
Mr. Rees is an Associate Artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company
ln 2010 Mr. Rees returned to London to play Vladimir opposite lan McKellen's Estragon in
the critically acclaimed hit production of Woiting for Godot at The Theatre Royal
Haymarket. The production went on to tour Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
On and off-Broadway, Mr Rees starred in lndiscretions, with Kathleen Turner, Eileen
Atkins, Cynthia Nixon and Jude Law, (Tony, Drama Desk nominations); John Robin Baitz'
The End of the Day (Obie Award); Uncle Vonya, with Derek Jacobi and Laura Linney
(Brooks Atkinson); The lJneasy Chair (Playwrights Horizons); Ihe Reheorsol(Roundabout);
The Misonthrope, opposite Uma Thurman (CSC), and A Man of No lmportance, with Faith
Prince (Lincoln Centre Theatre), the premiere of the Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens and
Stephen Flaherty's musical; and, most recently, playíng Gomez opposite the Morticia's of
both Bebe Neuwirth and Brooke Shields, The Addoms Fomily (Lunt Fontanne).
ln London, Roger created the starring roles of Henry and Kerner, both opposite Felicity
Kendal, in Tom Stoppard's The Reol Thing and Hopgood, and played opposite Jane
Lapotaire in his own thriller, Double Double, co-authored with JERSEY BOYS author Rick
Elice.
Some of Mr Rees' movies are: THE EBONY TOWER (opposite Laurence Olivier), Mel
Brooks' ROBIN HOOD: MEN lN TIGHTS, Bob Fosse's STAR 80, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S
DREAM, Julie Taymour's FRIDA, THE PRESTIGE, THE SCORPION KING, THE PINK PANTHER,
Peter Greenaway's A LIFE lN SUITCASES, CRAZY LIKE A FOX, GOING UNDER, THE INVASION
(with Nicole Kidman), THE NARROWS and ALMOST PERFECT.
Known to TV audiences as Lord John Marbury on NBC's "The West Wing" and Robin
Colcord on NBC's "Cheers", he recently played Dr Colin Marlow, on ABC's "Grey's
Anatomy"; and appeared in "07" , "My So-Called Life", "MANTIS", "Warehouse i.3" and TV
movies "The Crossing", "Double Platinum", "Titanic" and "Liberty".
Mr. Rees was the former Associate Artistic Director of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre, UK,
where he directed, among others, Julius Caesar, Turkey Time and John Bull.
ln Ameríca he directed Red Memories (NYSF); Mud, River Stone (Playwrights Horizons);
The Merry Wives of Windsor, Love's Labour's lost (Old Globe); Arms and the Man
(Roundabout), and, an episode of HBO's "O7" .
Roger, for three very happy years, was the Artistic Dírector of the Williamstown Theatre
Festival, where he directed The Rivals, The Film Society, Simon Grey's The Late Middle
Closses, Anything Goes, Herringbone, starring BD Wong, Double Double and played
Petruchio while directingThe Taming of the Shrew, opposite Bebe Neuwirth.
With the much-loved Collegiate Chorale
in New York he directed Scott Joplin's
Treemonishø Philip Glass' Juniper Tree, Gershwin's White House Contata and Kurt Weill's
Firebrond of Florence. He conceíved and directed Here Lies Jenny, starring Bebe Neuwirth,
choreography by Ann Reinking, at the Zipper Theatre, New York, and in San Francisco.
He continues
to tour America and Europe with his acclaimed one-man show, What
Will, premiered at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre,
You
DC.
ROBERT FORSTER
Academy Award@ Nominee Robert Forster is known for his outstanding work in films and
television. Robert's Oscar-nominated role of 'Max Cherry' in Quentin Tarantino's JACKIE
BROWN marked the beginning of what he calls the 'third act' of his career, now spanning
over five decades.
Recently, Robert has appeared in the film AUTOMATA, OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN and has
guest starred in Vince Gilligan's "Breaking Bad". Other recent projects include JJ Abrams'
television show " Alcatraz"
for the Fox Network-and
Alexander Payne's
THE
DESCENDANTS opposite George Clooney.
Forster has appeared in over 100 films. The old ones, starting in 1966, include
IN A GOLDEN EYE, MEDIUM COOL, THE STALKING MOON, ALLIGATOR,
(the
VIGILANTE
Blu-Ray release of which earned him the moniker "Grindhouse Giant"),
THE BLACK HOLE and STUNTS, and the TV series "Banyon".
REFLECTIONS
Then for 13 years he played villains-startíng with DELTA FORCE (1985), ending with one
of his all-time favorites, AMERICAN PERFEKT (79971.
Since JACKIE BROWN (19971 his films include MIDDLE MEN; GHOSTS OF GIRLFRIENDS
PAST; THICK AS THIEVES; LIKE MIKE; ME, MYSELF & IRENE; FIREWALL; LAKEBOAT and
DIAMOND MEN; and TV series "HEROES"; "HUtFl"; "KAREN SISCO" and "FASTLANE".
ln addition to his work in film, televísion, and theater, Robert records audio
books,
including the best seller "Hit Man" and Elmore Leonard's "Mr. Paradise," and delivers his
speaking program, INTERACTING, to a variety of groups-from acting classes to graduating
classes; baggage handlers to CEOs; and once (he's pleased to report) to a group of white-
collar criminals in a detention facility. He developed this program during the self-termed
"sliding second act" of his career. INTERACTING is like a stand-up act with a "menu" of
posítive stories instead of jokes... and a few jokes too. The stories are the lessons of his
life and outline several guiding principles-respect, responsibility, parenting (even without
children), excellence, and raising any job to the level of an art form.
KEY CREW
DIRECTOR
James McTeigue
SCREENPTAY
Philip Shelby
PRODUCERS
lrwin Winkler
Charles Winkler
Matthew O'Toole
Ies Weldon
Executive Producers
Producer
Co
Editor
Avi Lerner
Trevor Short
Jason Bloom
Alex O'Neal
Kate Baird
Director Of Photography Danny Ruhlmann
Production
Designer
Max Gottlieb
Costume
Designer
Stephanie Collie
Make Up and Hair
Designer
Peter King
Sound
Recordist
Location Manager
Stunt
SFX
UK
Coordinator
Supervisor
Financial
UK
Controller
Casting
Director
Music
by
Chris Munro
Ben Piltz
Rowley lrlam
Terry Glass
Jason Potter
Elaine Grainger
llan Eshkeri
CREW BIOGRAPHIES
- Director
Australian film director, James McTeigue began his career as an assistant director. He
worked on numerous home-grown projects as first assistant director, leading to work on
American productions, shooting in Australia, such as NO ESCAPE starring Ray Liotta, and
PARADISE ROAD starring Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett and Frances McDormand.
JAMES McTEIGUE
ln 1998 he was first assistant director on the ground-breaking film THE MATRIX, written
and directed by the Wachowskis, and starring Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne.
He went on
EPISODE II
-
to work on
MATRIX RELOADED and REVOLUTIONS, as well as STAR WARS
ATTACK OF THE CLONES.
McTeigue made his directorial feature debut in 2006 wíth V FOR VENDETTA, produced by
the Wachowskis' and starring Natalie Portman. ln 2009, he helmed NINJA ASSASSIN, again
for the Wachowskis', which was followed by THE RAVEN in 2OL2, a thriller starring John
Cusack and Luke Evans.
IRWIN WINKtER
-
Producer
lrwin Winkler's career as a producer, director and writer encompasses popular
and
influential movies that have impacted contemporary culture. With a passion for big, bold,
meaningful stories, his films include an array of true screen classics, garnering 12 Academy
Awards and 45 Oscar nominations. Among them are four Best Picture nominations, each
ROCKY, which forged one of
RAGING BULL, which
in
history;
most globally recognizable movie characters and themes
turned the biopic into a gritty, lyrical work of art; the history-capturing look at the U,S,
space program, THE RIGHT STUFF; and the iconic gangster tale, GOODFELLAS. Wínkler is
the only producer honored with three films on the American Film lnstitute's list of the
,rT^^ I nn Íil|ó^ ,,
ruPruu¡ilrrr).
for a pioneering film; the tale of underdog sports triumph,
For Winkler, success has come from simultaneous ínstincts for emotional storytelling and
hard-hitting relevance. He has been drawn to fresh, current, even controversial subjects
and visionary talents - and, as a storyteller, has been fascinated by both the dangers of
corruption and the beauty of courage and compassion.
Winkler first made a resounding impact producing a series of raw, edgy human drams that
helped to define the gritty landscape of 70s and 80s cinema. The fíercely original THEY
SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY?, directed by Sydney Pollack, about the desperate
contenders in a depression-era dance contest, starring Jane Fonda and Michael Sarrazin,
would seal Winkler's reputation with 9 Academy Award nominations and status as a
Hollywood classic.
Other highlights from his Gotham period, during which he established a collaboration with
director Martin Scorsese that would span decades, include NEW YORK, NEW YORK,
starring Liza Minnelli and Robert DeNiro, which produced one of the most recognizable
songs in pop culture; the enduring masterpiece, RAGING BULL, considered by many to be
among the great cinematic works of the 20th Century and highlighted by DeNiro's Oscar
winning performance; and GOOD FELLAS, which was honored with numerous critics'
awards and has become etched in filmgoers' consciousness's as the paragon of the
American crime drama.
ln that era, Winkler also produced the mafia comedy, THE GANG THAT COULDN'T SHOOT
the timely comedy UP THE SANDBOX starring Barbara Streísand; THE GAMBER a
penetrating look at gambling addiction, starring James Caan; the stirring modern Western,
COMES A HORSEMAN teaming Caan with Jane Fonda; the atmospheric period mystery,
STRIGHT;
the searing drama BETRAYED
which portrayed Debra Winger as a conflicted FBI agent battling terror in the American
heartland directed by Costa Gavras, who Winkler would collaborate with again when
TRUE CONFESSIONS starring DeNiro and Robert Duvall;
Gavras directed the critically-acclaimed suspense thriller about a woman who discovers
her father is an accused Nazi war criminal, MUSIC BOX, which earned an Oscar nomination
for starJessica Lange; and the home to the Jazz era, ROUND MIDNIGHT.
ln 1989, Winkler made an auspicious directorial debut from his own potent screenplay,
GUILTY BY SUSPICION, which brought to the fore a fictional tale about Hollywood's all-too-
real blacklisting era. Starring Robert DeNiro as a prominent director asked to "name
names" and Annette Bening as his wife, the film presaged a writing and directing career
that would, like Winkler's producing career, be focused on taut human drama and
politically-charged themes.
Winkler's next directorial outing reunited hím with both Robert DeNiro and Jessica Lange
in a stylish update of the noir cinema crime drama, NIGHT AND THE CITY, which would
close the prestigious New York Film Festivalin2002 and become a rousing critical success.
He went on to dírect and produce AT FIRST SIGHT, a romantic drama based on a true story
by Dr. Oliver Sacks, starring Val Kilmer, Mira Sorvino, Nathan Lane, Steven Weber and
Kelly McGillis; and the prescient cyber-crime thriller THE NET, starring Sandra Bullock, one
of the big box-office hits of 1995.
Winkler's directorial career would continue to take intriguing turns. He broached the
thought-provoking question of what happens when a man suddenly faces his own
mortality in the poignantly complex LIFE AS A HOUSE, featuríng a landmark performance
by Kevin Kline and cast that included Kristín Scott Thomas, Mary Steenburgen, as well as
rising young stars Hayden Christensen and Jena Malone.
of his most distinctive features, an
musical
biography
of the legendary composter Cole
stylish
and
elegantly
enchanting
Porter: DE-LOVELY. Featuring colorful, Golden Globe nominated performances from Kevin
Kline and Ashley Judd, as well as knock-out performances from some of today's hottest
pop and rock music talents, including Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Elvis Costello,
Robbie Williams, Natalie Cole and Diana Krall, all performing Porter's classic songs, the
film was selected as the closing night gala event at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.
Radically switching gears, Winkler next directed one
Winkler became one of the very first American filmmakers to turn his camera on an issue
currently of vital significance - the return of the US veterans from the war ín lraq - when
he directed and produced the provocative drama, HOME OF THE BRAVE, starríng Samuel
L. Jackson, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Jessica Biel and Brian Presley.
Winkler's motion picture producing career began in the late 1960s when he left his
successful management company behind. He made his first film, the Elvis Presley movie
DOUBLE TROUBLE, with renowned director Norman Taurog. Soon after, he entered ínto a
legendary partnership with Robert Chartoff, producing such films as the classic revenge
thriller POINT BLANK. ln 1970, an eclectic trio of Winkler/Chartoff films each made a
splash at the Cannes Film Festival: LEO THE LAST won the Best Director Prize, the counterculture cult film, THE STRAWBERRY STATEMENT received the Jury Award, and THE SHOOT
HORSES DON'T THEY? garnered the closing night honors.
For his enormous contribution to popular culture, Winkler has been the proud recipient of
numerous American and international honors, including the Commandeur des Arts et
Lettres, the French government's highest decoration for contribution to the arts. ln 1989,
the British Fílm lnstitute saluted him with a retrospective of his work and, in L995, Winkler
became the first producer to be honored with a showcase screening of ten of his films at
the Deauville Film Festival. He has also received a Lifetime Achievement award from the
Chicago Film Festival, a star on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk Of Fame and retrospectives
at he Museum of Modern Art in New York and at the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art,
which had not honored a producer sínce their tribute to David O. Selznick in 1980. Most
recently, Winkler received the National Board of Review's highest honor for Career
Achievement in Producing, which Kevin Kline presented to him at the annual gala in
January 2008 in New York.
Winkler most recently produced, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, directed by Martin Scorsese
and starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The success of the film illustrates his continual presence
as one of Hollywood's most prolific producers makíng an índelible impact with his ability
to showcase emotional storytellíng with hard hitting relevance.
Winkler is currently producing a remake of his 1974 drama THE GAMBLER for Paramount
Pictures with a script by William Monahan. He is also producing THE SIGMA PROTOCOL
for Universalstudios based on the Robert Ludlum novel of the same name.
Continuing his legendary collaboration with Martin Scorsese, Winkler will produce
SILENCE wrítten by Scorsese and Jack Cocks and based on the book by Shasaku Endo,
Scorsese will direct with production slated to beg¡n in May 2014.
CHARLES WINKLER
-
Producer
the son of producer/director lrwin Winkler. He was raised in
Angeles and from an early age expressed a desire to be a filmmaker.
CHARLES WINKLER is
Los
Charles spent many years working in low-level assistant positions on such films as RAGING
BULL, ROCKY ll, and NEW YORK, NEW YORK, learning the craft of movie making. After
making a series of short narrative films and documentaries in his early 20's, Charles wrote
and directed his first feature film, YOU TALKIN'TO ME?, for United Artists in 1987. Two
years later he co-wrote and directed the feature DISTURBED starring Malcolm McDowell.
From then on Charles alternated writing and directing features and MOW's with episodic
television directing assignments, including work
on such shows as
"Beggars and
Choosers", "Baywatch", "The Chris lsaak Show", "The Outer Limits", and many others.
ln 1996, Charles wrote and directed the AIDS action-comedy RED RIBBON BLUES with
RuPaul, Lypsynka, and Deb Mazar, which was invited to over 40 film festivals around the
world. ln 1998 he co- wrote and dírected the award winning television docudrama "Rocky
Marciano", starring Jon Favreau and George C. Scott in one of his last roles. ln 2000
Charles directed the musical MOW At Any Cost for VHL. During 2003 he produced and
directed the second-unit for lrwin's Cole Porter biopic DE-LOVELY, starring Kevin Kline and
Ashley Judd.
Charles then directed the award-winning "Shackles" in 2004. This highly stylized and
award- wínning hígh school in prison drama starring D.L. Hughley (in his first dramatic
role) has been utilized in various Safe Streets and youth diversion programs around the
country.
ln 2005 Charles travelled to lstanbul, Turkey to dírect THE NET 2.0, which was the first
American movie to be shot completely in country with an all-Turkish crew. 2006 saw the
revival of ROCKY BALBOA, starring Sylvester Stallone on which Charles was a producer and
the second unít director. Charles also preformed the same duties for the lraq war drama
HOME OF THE BRAVE, starring Sam Jackson, Curtis "50-Cent" Jackson, and Jessica Biel.
Charles directed and produced the gritty New Orleans police drama "Streets of Blood" in
2009 starring Val Kilmer and Sharon Stone.
Charles currently lives in Los Angeles
with his wife, the actress Sandra Nelson, and their
two children.
MATTHEW O'TOOLE
-
Producer
Matthew O'Toole's work as a producer ís seen in blockbuster franchise hits like IHE
EXPENDABLÊS 7,2 AND 3, RAMBO iV anci TEXAS CäAiñ¡SAW 30. His exiensive work with
Millennium Films productions has included CONAN THE BARBARIAN (2011), Brian De
Palma's THE BLACK DAHLIA and countless more. O'Toole began working in the film
industry at the eager young age of L4. His first job was as a production runner on Tim
Burton's Batman, which was shooting near his home in England at the legendary
Pinewood Studios. Since then, his work has taken him across the globe and back on big
budget epic productions that include three films with acclaimed director Ridley Scott:
Academy Award@ Winner GLADIATOR, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN and BLACK HAWK DOWN as
well as EVITA, BILLY ELLIOTT, TROY, MARY SHELLEY'S FRANKENSTEIN, THE SECRET
GARDEN, JUDGE DREDD, OTHELLO, THE AVENGERS, and the Emmy@ Award-winning
Steven Spielberg/Tom Hanks HBO mini-series "Band of Brothers".
Forthcoming releases on O'Toole's filmography include: BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP starring
Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman; GOOD PEOPLE staring James Franco, Kate Hudson and
Academy Award'-nominee Tom Wilkinson; and LONDON HAS FALLEN, the follow-up to the
box-office hit OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN, starr¡ng Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Aaron
Eckhart, Rhada Mitchell and Angela Bassett.
AVI TERNER - Executive Producer
Avi Lerner is the Chairman and founder of Nu lmage, lnc., Millennium Films and all related
companies. With more than 370 films to his credit, he is one of the most experienced,
prolific and successful independent producers of our time.
Born and raised in Haifa, lsrael, Lerner began as manager of lsrael's first drive-in cinema.
1979, Lerner anticipated the explosion of home video rental, which led to his
pioneering the largest specialized video distribution company in lsrael, and becoming a
partner in the country's largest theatrical distribution company.
ln
ln 1984, he executive produced the remake of KING SOLOMON'S MINES. He then sold his
lsraeli company and relocated to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he founded the Nu
Metro Entertainment Group. The company's interests grew to include owned and
operated theaters; a video distribution division representing top studios and índependent
companies; and a production arm that made over 60 features distributed worldwide by
major studios. Lerner eventually sold Nu Metro.
ln 1992, he moved to Los Angeles and opened Nu lmage, lnc., focusing on production and
distributíon for the home entertainment market. ln 1996, he launched Millennium Films,
which produces theatrical motion pictures.
Under the Millennium Films label, Lerner has produced such films as EXPENDABLES L, 2 &
3, RAMBO lV, RIGHTEOUS KILL, BROOKLYN'S FINEST, THE MECHANIC and the 2013 box-
office hit, OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN.
in 2014 include BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP, starring Colin Firth and Nicole
Kidman; ELIZA GRAVES with Kate Beckinsale, Jim Sturgess, Ben Kingsley and Michael
Caine; THE EXPENDABLES 3 starring Sylvester Stallone, iason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph
Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews ancj Arnoici Schwarzenegger returning to their
roles. Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford join the all-star
cast along with Kellan Lutz, MMA star Ronda Rousey, welterweight boxing champion
Films released
Victor Ortiz and Glen Powell.
ln various stages of production throughoul 2O'J,4 are SEPTEMBERS OF SHIRAZ starring
Salma Hayek, Adrien Brody and Shohreh Aghdashloo; MECHANIC 2 starring Jason
Statham; LONDON HAS FALLEN, the follow-up to box-offíce hit OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN,
with the returning cast of Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman; and EXPENDABELLES, the
lethally feminine follow-up to THE EXPENDABLES franchise.
TREVOR SHORT - Executive Producer
Trevor Short oversees legal, finance and administrative operations for Nu lmage, lnc.,
Millennium Films and all related companies.
Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Short obtained a Bachelor of Law from the University of
the University of Cape Town where he was awarded the Gold
Medal. ln 1980, Short entered the world of banking and commerce, joining Standard
Chartered Merchant Bank in Harare as head of Corporate Finance, responsible for
takeovers, mergers and IPO's. He then moved to Hill Samuel Merchant Bank in
Johannesburg in L984 as head of its Corporate Finance Division and subsequently to
lnvestec Bank where he was responsible for eight lPOs on the Johannesburg Stock
Exchange, as well as numerous mergers and acquisitíons
Rhodesia and an MBA at
Short's finance background led him to develop a tax based fínancing formula to produce
motion pictures in South Africa. He succeeded in procuring over 5200 million from private
investors to fund the production of international films made in South Africa. Much of the
financing he secured was for films produced by Avi Lerner's Nu Metro group for
international film companies. He also became a consultant to the Government of South
Africa regarding film incentive legislation.
ln 1989, Short left the banking sector to join Lerner as a shareholder ín and
Chief
Executive of Nu Metro Entertainment Group in Johannesburg. He continued to arrange
financíng for Nu Metro's film production and was directly involved in its expanding its
theater chain. ln 1991, Lerner and Short used proceeds from the sale of Nu Metro
Entertaínment Group to start a new studio in Calífornia. Nu lmage, lnc. opened its doors
in Los Angeles in 1992.
Short's expertise; in fínance, law, investments, tax legíslation, subsidies, ínternational and
domestic banking has been applied to the many foreign co-productions undertaken by the
Nu lmage group over the years. This includes the development of Nu Boyana Studios in
Bulgaria and Millennium Studios in Louisiana, both of which are full service production
facilities available to the film industry and often used by Millennium Films.
Short has served as producer or executive producer on nearly all Nu lmage and
Millennium Films productions since the beginning.
Upcoming reieases tbr Short anci the indepencient studio are: BEFORE i GO TO SLEEP
starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman; ELIZA GRAVES with Kate Beckinsale, Jim Sturgess,
Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine; and THE EXPENDABLES 3 opening in August 2014, stars
Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews and
Arnold Schwarzenegger returning to their roles in the first two films. Wesley Snipes,
Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford join the all-star cast along with Kellan
Lutz, MMA star Ronda Rousey, welterweight boxing champion Victor Ortiz and Glen
Powell.
Additíonal forthcomíng releases include: GOOD PEOPLE staring James Franco, Kate
Hudson and Academy Award"-nominee Tom Wilkinson; and LONDON HAS FALLEN, the
follow-up to the box-office hit OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN, starring Gerard Butler, Morgan
Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, Rhada Mitchell and Angela Bassett.
- Executive Producer
Jason Bloom is an award-winning director of film and television. A graduate of Yale
University and the University of Southern California School of Cinema Television, his work
includes BIODOME with Pauly Shore and Stephen Baldwin, OVERNIGHT DELIVERY with
Paul Rudd and Reese Witherspoon, DEAD SIMPLE with Daniel Stern, James Caan, and
Patricia Richardson, as well as multiple epísodes of "Veronica Mars" with Kristen Bell.
JASON BTOOM
- Producer
is
Les Weldon
a writer/producer whose diverse portfolio includes action films, thrillers,
comedies, sci-fi, fantasy, and family movies.
LES
WELDON
writing and producing credits include more than 40 films starring such actors as Robert
DeNiro, Harrison Ford, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenneger, Mel Gibson, Bruce
Willis, John Travolta, Jason Statham, Chuck Norris, Sir Ben Kingsley, Morgan Freeman,
John Cusack, Antonio Banderas, Dolph Lundgren, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Jet Li
among others.
His
Born and raised in Brazil, Les came to America when he was fífteen and graduated from
Laguna Beach High School in Southern California.
Les attended the University of Southern California where he majored
Administration, with electives in Film.
in
Business
titles including the StOO million box-office hit, THE
with Stallone, Statham, Jet Li and Mickey Rourke as well as the hit sequel
Les has recently produced multiple
EXPENDABLES
THE EXPENDABLES 2 which also included Willis, Schwarzenneger, and Chuck Norris. His
other credits include CONAN THE BARBARIAN, THE CODE starring Morgan Freeman and
Antonio Banderas; and WAR, lNC. with John Cusack, Sir Ben Kingsley, and Marisa Tomei.
Les recenuy wrappeo prooucUon on AUtutvtÉ\¡A 5tdlilf
lF ¡ --f
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ilu ñ--i---Ddilutrtd5, T¡tnE
^lñ
which, in addition to the cast of
--r^.-:-
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^ rLUf
rB,
OF HERCULES, and the third instalment of EXPENDABLES
EXPENDABLES 2, included Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, and Wesley snipes.
PHltlP SHELBY - Screenplay
Philip Shelby ís the author of numerous bestselling international thrillers, His works including Doys of Drums, Gotekeeper, and Last Rights - have been translated into twenty
languages. Days of Drums was bought by Tristar for a feature film, and an earlier work This Far From Poradise - was made into a miniseries by German television. He also coauthored The Cassondra Compact with Robert Ludlum.
Since turning more to film, Shelby has sold projects to Columbia, MGM, CBS Films,
Millennium and others. SURVIVOR is his first produced picture. He has also delivered a
rewrite for Millennium's MECHANIC 2.
DANNY RUHLMANN ACS - Director of Photography
Australian DOP, Danny Ruhlmann studied Cinematography at the American Film lnstitute
in Los Angeles before becoming a freelance camera assistant and documentary/television
cameraman. Today he is a multi-award winning director of photography for commercials
and feature films.
His film credits include Rowan Woods' LITTLE FISH, THE NIGHT WE CALLED lT A DAY for
director Paul Goldman, and THE NUGGET and lN A SAVAGE LAND for Bill Bennett. He also
lit short films TULIP, directed by Rachel Griffiths, APRIL lN JULY forJoel Pront and 3 FATES
directed by Alan Moore.
SURVIVOR is Ruhlmann's third collaboration with director James McTeigue having served
as DOP on CASCETRA PALACE DREAMING (short) and THE RAVEN, a thriller starring John
Cusack and Luke Evans.
MAX GOTTIEIB - Production Designer
Production Designer, Max Gottlieb was born in London to Dr Sydney Gottlieb, an eminent
psychiatrist, and Gay Gottlieb, a counsellor and distinguished breeder of German Viszla
dogs.
He began his career working on music videos and soon found his creative energies were
drawn to production design. Earning his stripes through music videos and short films,
Gottlieb landed his first feature film in 1993 on Paul W. Anderson's SHOPPING, starring
Jude Law and Sade Frost.
Today, his many feature film credits include; Stafan Schwartz's SHOOTING FISH, Peter
Cattaneo's multi-award winning THE FULL MONTY, Bernhard Rose's MR NICE, and BLITZ
directed by Elliott Lester.
Gottiieb pricies himseif on "getting it right" in terms of capturing the correct tone for any
project. He recently won the Golden Arrow award for his work on a technically complex
commercial for Heineken. He also sights his design on current television series "The
Tunnel" as exciting and particularly challenging in terms of its long format and consistent
tone.
- Sound Mixer
Multi-award winning sound mixer, Chris Munro has a career boasting over 70 films and
collaborations with some of the most successful filmmakers in recent history, including;
Ridley Scott, Guy Ritchie, Paul Greengrass, Ron Howard, and Alfonso Cuaron, to name a
few.
CHRIS MUNRO
Recently celebrated at the 2O14 awards, Munro took home both the Oscar and the BAFTA
for his work on the ground-breaking space adventure, GRAVITY. He was also nominated
at both ceremonies for hís work on CAPTAIN PHILIPS.
Other notable credits are; lan Softley's BLACKBEAT (BAFTA nominated), THE MUMMY
(Academy nominated), five James Bond movies (winning a BAFTA for CASINO ROYALE),
BLACK HAWK DOWN (winning an Oscar), TOMB RAIDER, UNITED 93 (BAFTA nominated),
and SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN. Films currently in post production include; Rob
Stromberg's MALEFICENT, Juan Pablo Buscarini's THE GAMES MAKER, and Ron Howard's
HEART OF THE SEA.
-
Costume Designer
Stephanie began her career as a Wardrobe Assistant, and amongst other projects worked
on MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, directed by Kenneth Branagh. Stephanie then worked
with Kenneth as a Costume Designer in her own right, on PETER'S FRIENDS and SWAN
SONG respectively.
STEPHANIE COLLIE
Stephanie went on to collaborate with numerous directors, including Guy Ritchie on LOCK
STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, starring Nick Moran and iason Flemyng and
produced by Matthew Vaughn. She later worked with Matthew again (as director) on
LAYER CAKE starring Daniel Craig and Sienna Miller.
Her credits further include FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TIME TRAVEL, a Sci-Fi
comedy by fírst time features director Gareth Carrivick; INCENDIARI based on Chris
Cleave's novel, directed by Sharon Maguire and starring Michelle Williams, Ewan
McGregor and Matthew Macfadyen; and TELSTAR, where Stephanie worked with Nick
Moran for a second t¡me (this time with Níck as director) and starring Kevin Spacey.
Most recently, Stephanie has worked with Michael Winterbottom on KING OF SOHO
about Paul Raymond set in the 1960s and 1920s gangster drama PEAKY BLINDERS directed
by Otto Bathurst starring Cíllian Murphy.
- Make Up And Hair Designer
Renowned makeup and hair designer, Peter King, began his career in L970 when he left
school and was involved in a variety of small theatre companies. He headed up an arts
centre for two years before realizing his path would be in Makeup and Hair.
PETER KING
King began work at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre in 1980 where he met Peter Owen who was
Head of Makeup. After following Mr. Owen to the Welsh National Opera, the two Peter's
worked together for five years before forming theír wig company, 'Owen, Kíng and Co.'
A major highlight of Peter's career was designing the original theatre production of Phontom
of the Opero, now playing all over the world. From that point, Peter has focused on a
successful career in film with his forte in wig design and period work. He received the
highest of honors winning both the Oscar and BAFTA for his exceptional work on the LORD
OF THE RINGS trilogy, distinguishing himself as a master of his craft.
King has designed the looks for such notable films including; YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTH on
which he collaborated with esteemed director Francis Ford Coppola, KING KONG, NANNY
MCPHEE, BEYOND THE SEA, HIS DARK MATERIALS: THE GOLDEN COMPASS, and HOW TO
LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE. ln 2OO7 Peter collaborated once again with famed
director Peter Jackson on DreamWorks' THE LOVELY BONES. 2009 proved to be a very busy
year. King designed Rob Marshall's star studded film NINE which íncluded a cast full of Oscar
winners including; Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Dame
Judi Dench, and Sophia Loren. The film brought a seventh BAFTA nomination. He
collaborated again with Emma Thompson on the next Nanny McPhee installment, NANNY
MCPHEE AND THE BIG BANG. King designed Anne Hathaway's makeup on Ed Zwick's LOVE
AND OTHER DRUGS, and again teamed with Rob Marshall on PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN:
ON STRANGER TIDES.
Last year, King completed work on the Hobbit trilogy which has earned him another Oscar
and BAFTA nomination for the first film in the series, THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED
JOURNEY. Most recently, designed the hair and make up for Disney's fantasy musical INTO
THE WOODS, directed by Robert Marshall and starring Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp.
FEATURES
JAMES McTEIGUE - "Cinematic and speciol"
"l really have a love of the paranoid thriller movies released in the lg70s" says director
James McTeígue about what sparked his interest in his latest action thriller project,
SURVIVOR. He goes on to mention, 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR, MARATHON MAN and THE
CONVERSATION as all contributing to the stencil of the film and to essentially being its
driving force. "SURVIVOR is a thriller act¡on piece and baríng in mind that most films of this
kind are gíven over to male leads, I thought it was great to have a female lead at the centre
of the story."
McTeigue has great admiratíon for producer, lrwin Winkler; "lrwin is a professional; he's
been producing movies for a long time and he knows what he's doing. As a creative person,
lrwin knows how to nurture you because he's always on the filmmaker's side. You can tell
by the calibre of people he's worked with that he has a great approach. He's made some
incredible films íncluding the ROCKY franchise and the Scorsese movies but also other really
interesting choices like POINT BLANK and THE RIGHT STUFF."
McTeigue explains how his years spent workíng as a First Assistant Director benefited him as
a director. "Hitchcock and John Woo were AD's and for me it felt like an easy transition as
the job of an assistant director is partly creative and partly methodical. l'm often amazed
that writers become directors because suddenly going from a lonely room to a film set with
120 people looking to you for direction, must be really daunting. l'm lucky enough to have
worked on an array of films, so I feel at ease on set. Ultimately, I know what is going on
behind me and I feel confident everyone is doing their job. lf something isn't right amongst
the crew, I can usually feel it."
SURVIVOR was shot on location in London and at the Nu Boyana Studio in Bulgaría.
McTeigue explains, "There is something very cinematic and special about London and I was
determined that we wouldn't take the tour¡st approach to the locations. We fílmed all over
the city, going as far west as Kensington Gardens and then as far east as Tower Hamlets. lt
was important for me to feel like the characters were placed here and I think there's a
texture and history that surges off London's streets that you just don't get an'ywhere else".
Although London is one of his favourite cities, McTegiue admíts that shooting there, in the
proverbially bleak mid-winter was a bit of a challenge. "Beforehand, you can judiciously
prepare for the notion that you'll be shooting at night and ít'll be cold and (as much as I hate
the British weather cliché) it'll probably be raining. However, nothing quite prepares you for
the reality of standing on set, in the middle of the bitter night, trying and failing to stamp
the feeling back into your toes, while attempting to manipulate a scene under a piece of
20x2O plastic, as it borderline Biblically pisses it down... Luckily, I have a great DP, who
understands my process which makes my life much easier."
McTeigue's DOP on SURVIVOR is fellow Australian, Danny Ruhlmann. "Danny has a great eye
for finding shots" says McTeigue, "and aside from knowing how to light something, his
genius is that he also knows when he doesn't have to líght. l've worked with many DP's in
the past who feel they have to completely overtake the environment but Danny walks into a
location, uses the milieu, maybe brings a little light in here and there but importantly makes
ít look just as good as someone who's been lighting for hours. I think the shorthand you get
from working with someone for a long time is invaluable; Danny knows I want it to look
great, but also that I need to get through the schedule. He's great at both things and it's a
hard combination to get right."
McTeigue also hand-picked his sterling cast. "Milla lovovichl has done a lot of great work, in
a variety of roles from as far back as THE FIFTH ELEMENT. Working with her has been a joy
because she understands the process insíde out. I can give Milla complicated notes and she
understands them effortlessly. She's a really great actress, l've been very impressed by her.
"Pierce's [Brosnan] career speaks for itself. What l've loved about working with Pierce is
that he's been really up for the challenge. He is playing against type in this film, he's the bad
guy, so I was interested in him changing his look. We went though several ideas and have
come up with something subtle but effective. When it comes to performance, Pierce is
great. I call ít "eye acting"; some people are just really good at it and Pierce is one of those
guys. He can do a miniscule movement but when it's later large on a movie screen, it's very
effectíve. He understands what l'm doing as a filmmaker; you tell him where the cameras
are and what lenses we're on, and he's got ¡t."
"Dylan [McDermott] is extremely confident and can manipulate his performance any way
you like. He plays Parker, Kate's immediate boss who's compromised as they're also having
an affair. Dylan has the requisite masculinity that's needed for the part and he pulls it off
with aplomb.
James [D'Arcy] takes the role of Anderson. "He came highly recommended and has really
embodied the role and made it his own. He plays the posh English cop, in pursuit of Kate,
who's trying to work out if she's a suspect or not. James is finding the truth in the middle
ground and playing the role with real complexity."
"Robert Forster is great in the role of Bill, the person who ultimately sets the train in motion.
His character ís morally multifaceted and Robert really embodies that whilst simultaneously
bringing a vital warmth to the role.
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challenging because her screen time isn't huge, yet she has a pivotal role in embodying the
Embassy's point of view. lt's really difficult because she has to come in and really hit it
whilst staying quite cool. lt's tricky but she's been great."
When filming completed in London, the crew moved into the studio. "There's an explosion
in the script that takes place on a London street. Of course, you would never be able to lock
down a location in central London for long enough to dress it, blow it up, de-dress it and
then clean up. lnstead, we built a London street on the back lot in Sofia which we could
have complete control over. There are a couple of other pieces that made more sense to
shoot in Bulgaria; the opening of the film is a fire fight sequence at night with helicopters, so
we filmed that in an amazing dísused steel works factory just outside Sofia."
IRWIN Wf NKIER
-
"An undercurrent of dramatic possibility"
Legendary producer, lrwin Winkler commíssioned the script for SURVIVOR. He talks about
his original concept for the film. "Around eight or nine years ago I met Phil Shelby [writer].
Phil had written some really interestíng novels concerning spies and intrigue, but they were
very novelistic.
lt is hard sometimes for a novelist to convert their style and write
screenplays because they need much more of a through line than most novels.
"Regardless, we started talking about a thriller that I was anxious to make, concerning a
woman on the run. I have always been intrigued by what happens when a woman, who on
the surface seems vulnerable, has to draw upon her resources and find a way to not only
save her own life but the lives of others. I was particularly interested in making the film with
a female lead.
"Phil wrote SURVIVOR on spec and díd a wonderfuljob. ln fact, we have hired him to write
the screenplays for more upcoming projects."
Milla Jovovích plays the female lead, Kate Abbott, and Winkler could not be more thrilled
with the casting choice. "Milla is a wonderful actíon star but in this fílm she goes beyond
that. Watching her at work, she looks really great, she is strong and she has a really great
quality about her. We're very lucky to have her in this role."
Winkler was also ímpressed with rest of the cast. He continued, "Pierce Brosnan is a great
choice to play Nash. He is just a wonderful actor and really sets the bar at a high level for
this film. Dylan McDermott is great and so is Angela Bassett, who I have known for many
years and have tried to work with in the past, so we have a really nice cast."
James McTeigue directs, Winkler explains. "James is proving himself a really fine director.
His work on THE RAVEN and V FOR VENDETTA, really shows what he can do when working
actors on a more an intricate concept. When we met him, we liked him a lot, so James has
been with the project for about a year and a half. Not as much as Charles and l, but still
quite a long time."
Filming on location in London contributed to the drama of the story, Winkler explains. "The
fact that we have been able to use London as the back drop for this film is really a great
advantage. lt is an interesting locale but also, having an American woman on the run in
London, without a lot of resources to count on, makes her even more vulnerable. There is
an undercurrent of dramatic possibility."
CHARTES WINKIER
- "A visual feast for the eyes"
to screen, "This
gestatíon
process;
years
movie has had a very long
it's taken us nine
since we first
commissioned Phil Shelby to write the script. Since that time, there have been many,
many incarnations, with different actors involved, then not involved, many studios and
finance companies involved and then not involved. Ultimately we found a home with Nu
lmage and Milla Jovovich and here we are in London actually making it.
Charles Winkler talks about the process of taking SURVIVOR from script
"Phil Shelby is a novelist. This is hís first produced screen play, but he's written perhaps
72 or 15 screen plays for us over the past 10 years. He's one of those writers that has to
write, whether it's novels or screen plays. I believe that the complexity of the characters
in SURVIVOR stem from the fact that PhilShelby is a novelist at heart.
"lnterestingly enough, the themes of this film have become more and more relevant. Phil
wrote this long before Edward Snowdon and the NSA scandals were all over the front
pages of the newspapers. ln a way Phil knew what was going on long before the rest of
the world had heard about it. lt turns out the government has its nose in our business
more than we would like to think."
Talking of the stellar cast starring ín SURVIOR, he said, "Milla and Dylan are probablytwo
of the best looking people on the planet; if the end of days is upon us and we need a man
and a woman as templates for a future population, I don't know that you could do any
better than putting up Milla and Dylan. They are an extraordinary looking couple, they are
also both terrific actors, artists without attitude, they get along famously and I think theír
chemistry shows up on screen.
"lt is wonderful to have Pierce Brosnan play the bad guy. Pierce is also one of the easiest
people to work with imaginable. The man has such a vast back catalogue of work, you
can't ask him to say or do anything that he doesn't have some kind of experience of doing
in the past. The other day, we were shooting a scene where he has this giant Mag-Fed
gun that is literally as tall as he is - he pulled the trigger and the building shook. Pierce just
picked it up and carried on. He is extraordinary, and we are very lucky to have him in our
movie."
Filming on location gives the film a wonderfully cinematic backdrop, Winkler explains,
"We have an international terrorist plot with a woman on the run and what better city to
film it in than London. The fact that we're doing it in the dead of winter means the days
are a little short, but the look is quite extraordinary. There are these beautiful Christmas
decorations up, we have the stunning wet streets, great old buildings next to
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James McTeigue helms and Charles Winkler could not be happier. "James is the perfect
director for this project. lt is an immensely complicated shoot - with 353 scenes, almost
twice as many as the average movie. lt calls for a fílmmaker with extraordinary
production skills as well as an ability with actors. James has extensive production
experience which coupled with his terrific feature career as a director makes him the
perfect guy to lead the troops here."
of what he believes the cínema audience should expect when they go to see
are so many great elements to this movie; there's
great
incredible locations, there's
action, there's intrigue, suspense, there's drama,
Talking
SURVIVOR, Winkler said, "There
romance, but most of all it is a really great ride."
MILtA JOVOVICH - "Once the action starts, it never stops"
Milla Jovovich stars in SURVIVOR as Kate Abbott. She talks about how she became involved
in the project. "First of all, I love James [McTeigue], he's a wonderful director, and I
thought the script was good and really fun, Another thing that attracted me to this role was
the fact that Kate is a modern girl in a suit. I haven't had the chance to play that many
contemporary characters before, especially ones that are grounded in a professional
environment. I have really enjoyed it because it's showing another side to who I am and has
given me the opportunity to play the type of character that a lot of people haven't seen me
do on screen before."
Jovovich introduces her character, "Kate Abbott has a military background; she's done her
tours in Afghanistan and has definitely seen a lot of action. She was brought to London to
work in visa security as a reward but she's a little confused as to why she's here, especially
when she tries to do her job and it feels like everybody's making it really difficult for her.
ln any event, Kate gets suspicious and that's how she gets on the ta¡l of the bad guys."
Talking of what makes Kate Abbott a "Survivor", Jovovich said. "The fact that Kate has a
military background is really important. When she goes on the run it's like all of her
training kicks in and she does things without thinking about them too much; she's just
pushing forward on instinct and adrenaline.
"Kate is able to defend herself in situations that become rough or physical but much of
her abilíty to survive is simply down to the fact that she's smart. Kate has a very
methodical mind."
Jovovich was delighted to work w¡th her fellow actors and talks about the warmth and
camaraderie on set. "l feel like we are so lucky to have such amazing actors on this
project. When you start a film and you get a bunch of actors together, especially when
they're famous and successful, you wonder who's going to be funny and who's going to be
cool. I have to say that between Pierce, Dylan and Angela Bassett, we've been super
lucky. Everyone has been very sweet, we laugh and joke on set - it is really nice and
everybody has been very supportive. l've never had the chance to meet a lot of these
people before so to be abie to work with them is a cjream come true."
Already a fan, Jovovich felt safe under the direction of James McTeigue. "James couldn't
be a lovelier guy. The thing that I love about him is that he's working so hard, yet he's
always calm and pleasant. There is a saying: "tread softly but carry a big stick", and I think
James is one of those people; he is very light mannered, not over bearing, not loud, but
people listen to him. He never has to raise his voice. We're all trying really hard to make
James happy and his manner gives everyone a quiet confidence. lt makes it a lot easier
for us to do our jobs and feel really good about what we're doing, even under the
toughest circumsta nces.
"The way James is shooting this film is breathtakingly beautiful and very mysterious. At
the same time, there's a gritty feel to it. We're using a lot of available light so that's giving
it a very specific look."
Summarizing what she hopes the audience will experience when they go to see SURIVIOR
in the movie theatre, Jovovich said; "lt is going to be a lot of fun. I think it's very
interesting to be on the other side of the bullet-proof glass, with the people who are in
charge of who is and isn't getting into our country. James has built an incredibly
immersive world where all the actors get the chance to have a great time and make the
characters really in-depth and interesting. Once the action starts, it never stops! I hope
people are goíng to have a great time and are kept wondering what is going to happen
next."
- "lt is time to ploy the bdddie"
Pierce Brosnan takes the role of hit man, Nash aka The Watchmaker. "My character is
PIERCE BROSNAN
nasty piece of work. You don't get to know very much about him other than he is
watchmaker and a ruthless assassin. He takes both jobs extremely seriously."
a
a
Brosnan talks about the joys of portrayíng the bad guy. "When I was offered the role of
Nash, I felt it was meant to be. lt is time to play the baddie. When I played James Bond, I
was working opposite all these great actors that would eat up the furniture as Bond's
nemesis - they always had a great old time of it. ln my career, I have had many different
roles but baddies are always the most colourful."
Commenting on the physical aspect of developing the character, Brosnan continued. "Nash
is a watchmaker, working alone in a dark room most of the time, so James [McTeigue] and I
felt he should be almost anaemíc looking with bags under the eyes. As well as the make up,
I have a beautiful handmade suit - Nash is a perfectionist, so he needs to look sharp. A great
deal of this work comes down the presence of the actor. You must have the confidence to
stand there, do nothing, and yet have something going on. That is the task."
Talking of working on location ín London, Brosnan said, "The logistics of filming ín London
are tough but cinematically you have a wonderful city. James [McTeigue] has a fantastic
crew made up of a cross-pollínation of Bulgarians, Brits, ltalians and lrish that are somehow
making it work anci i think the fiim is going to iook beautifui and magniiicent."
Brosnan relished working with the Australían director. "l'ma big fan of James. He is a fine
filmmaker. I loved V FOR VENDETTA and THE RAVEN, and all the other work he is associated
with. He really knows how to tell a story; good precision, good ear for the timing of a line.
He is fast, confident, self assured and he has done his homework. I have enjoyed working
with him enormously."
broin"
Dylan McDermott plays Sam Parker, he explains. "Sam is a government official, a diplomatic
security officer with a badge and a gun. A lot of his time is concerned with running the
Embassy, security for diplomats, visas, passports, that whole arena." Sam Parker is also Kate
Abbotts direct boss, he continues, "When Kate Abbott goes on the run, Sam really trusts her
and goes out on a límb for her. lf she crashes and burns, so will Sam Parker. Sam and Kate
DYTAN McDERMOTT - "An action movie with a
also have an int¡mate relationship, so that complícates things. Ultimately, l'm risking my job
because of my emotions."
Milla Jovovich takes the lead role as Kate Abbott, Dylan describes why she perfect for the
role. "l have known Milla over the years and have always been impressed by her. She is
multi-talented; she sings, she was a model, she is an actress and a mother. She is able to
juggle many things and be very successful at them. I give her so much credit because Milla
is an international action star. When you think of how many women are in cinema today,
there aren't that many. She is very impressive."
McDermott was also thrilled to be working with Pierce Brosnan, he explains. "l've known
Pierce for a long time but l've never worked with him before. He is just the coolest guy on
the planet, he epitomizes cool. That's why he was James Bond for so long! He is suave,
debonair, he's got he right clothes, the right watch, the right house... I actually look up to
him. The role of 'Nash' is a great choice for Pierce because we haven't seen him play the
víllain before. lt's exciting for him."
Working with Academy Award nominee Angela Bassett is also a treat. "This is our second
film together and she is incredible. ln WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH lT, she gave one of
the great performances of all time. l'm a big fan of Angela, she is a tremendous talent and I
love working with her."
McDermott talks about the director James McTeigue. "This is a political thriller, so there is
an intelligence as well as the action in this movie. James knows exactly how much to push
and pull - his is a very smart guy. lt is a great story and James' style of directing is setting
the mood of the film, it really reminds me of those great action movies of the 70s."
Talking of his hopes for the cinema audience going to see SURVIVOR, McDermott saíd, "This
movie is going to surprise the viewer on many levels; the filmmaking, the acting and the
intelligence of the script. They won't be able to put it together so quickly. lt is an action
movie with a brain, that makes it a fun ride."
- "Onee ín a life time opportunity"
James D'Arcy plays lnspector Paul Anderson, he talks about where his character fits into
Kate Abbott's story. "Paul Anderson heads up the counter terrorism unit for the police. lt is
very clear that he is high up in the organisation and has strong political connections. The
other thing that is very clear is that he does not like Kate Abbott at all. What starts out as a
feeling, turns into all out distrust and, for Kate, the stakes get higher and higher. My
JAMES D'ARCY
character certainly sows the seeds
of
certainty that she is involved
in a
terrorist
organisation."
Filming in the centre of London is a rare treat and one that D'Arcy very much enjoyed. He
explains, "This is the first time I have worked in London in almost eight years. lt is really
extraordinary how little one films in London and
celebrates the cíty.
it
is great to be part of a film that
"We have managed to film in some really fun places; we shot on the train tracks in the
disused part of the Jubilee line, which is a once in a life time opportunity, At one point we
were filming where a few of the tracks merge and go into different tunnels, ít was all shut
down and perfectly safe but it felt incredible to be there. We also shot down an old
ventilation shaft, the production value is extraordinary. lt has been great to be filming in
London,"
Although some of D'Arcy's scenes are intense, he has found the cast and crew delightful
team mates. "This is a really relaxed, fun shoot and these things always start at the top.
James McTeigue is just great. He knows what he wants, he is very calm and easy going.
Milla is a hoot, she's got such an infectious laugh. Dyan was the coolest guy l'd met in my
life. Then I met Pierce Brosnan, and Dylan became the second coolest person l'd met in my
life! Everyone is part of a team, there is no hierarchy, everyone is in ít together which is
lovely and really good fun."
-
"l hdve to crack the whip"
Angela Bassett plays Maurine Crane, the US ambassador to Great Britain. She talks of her
character's feelings toward Kate Abbott. "Kate Abbot has been brought into the Embassy
because she's excellent at her job. Kate is a simple woman from middle America but she
has great instincts in terms of what she does. She is very good at assessing people, she's
just one of those individuals with a high degree of discernment and she has been
rewarded and been brought to London."
ANGELA BASSETT
"My character has a plumb assignment as ambassador for Great Britain. Of course, I want
my crew and all those that I work with to be top notch. l've clímbed the ladder and l've
worked very hard, so I have very high standards for those who work with me. l've been
supportive of Kate but if things are going askew then l've got to be proactive and diligent
to put things right. l've had Kate's back, but when it seems she's not to be trusted, I have
to crack the whip."
Bassett's experience of working wíth her co-stars was a pleasant one, she explains, "lt has
been very rainy and very cold, but Milla, Dylan and James, have brought a great deal of
warmth to the set and to the crew. Miila has a very contagious laugh, she's joyfui and a
very sweet indívidual. I have worked with Dylan on another project so it's great to
reconnect with him; he's very easy going, so ít's been great. I feel very fortunate to be
among this cast."
Filming in London was a unique experience, Bassett said "l have never worked in London
before so I was very excited about that. London has it's own atmosphere at this time of
the year so lthink it's going give it a lot of flavor, excitement, and a beautiful backdrop to
the story."
Bassett talks about what particularly interested her in SURVIVOR. "Usually in these type
of movies, the hero, the one we are following and rooting for is a male. ln this case it's a
woman. lt's Kate, played by Milla, and she's phenomenal. l'm really looking forward to
seeing her in a role that's usually male driven. That is what I feel most excited about and
why not!"
ROBERT FORSTER
- "Poyìng a mordl price "
Legendary actor, Robert Forster takes the role of Bill Talbot, a man conflicted by his
loyaltíes. He describes the character, "Bill Talbot works for the American government at
their embassy in London. He is a bureaucrat, a good guy, ordinarily willing to go the
distance for his country. However, he has been pushed ínto an awful act and is paying a
moral price for it."
Forster talks about what enticed him to take the part of Bill Talbot. "Ordinarily the role of
the hero is male. ln this movie, Milla Jovovich is the tough guy and will save the day. I can
promise you she's up to it; I already had one fight with her, we fought all day in the cold.
She is a strong tough girl."
Bill Talbot is a lovíng father that gets caught up in terrorist events, Forster explains. "My
son has been captured by the Taliban. When they realize he is the son of a man in the
diplomatic service, they put pressure on me to help them. The terrorists want new year's
eve in times square to be a horrendous event, the way 9-LL was. This is their 9-11, and I
become a small cog ín that wheel. My motives are only to protect my son, but it turns out
that I betray my co-workers."
Highly complementary of Milla Jovovich, Forster said, "Milla is very good. She's not only a
fine actress and an action star but she's also a great mother. l've seen her on the set wíth
her little girl, you know she has to juggle a lot of balls. She does a wonderful job."
Forster also enjoyed working under the direction of James McTeigue. "He's specific and
very clear. Movie making is complex. A little help from the director can make a shot
that's worth putting on the big screen. "
Summarising the essence of SURVIVOR, Forster said, "This is an action picture with a
beautiful strong woman, an action movie of strength and determination."
*** END***