Left Bank Pictures

Infobox Company
name = Left Bank Pictures

type = Private limited
foundation = 2007
founder = Andy Harries
location_city = London
location_country = United Kingdom
key_people = Andy Harries
Jenny Borgars
Francis Hopkinson
Marigo Kehoe
industry = Film and television production

Left Bank Pictures is a British film and television production company formed in 2007 by Andy Harries, formerly controller of drama, comedy and film at Granada Productions. The company is the first British media company to receive investment from BBC Worldwide, the commercial venture of the BBC; BBC Worldwide took a 25% stake in Left Bank in exchange for first-look distribution rights on all television productions.

The company operates both television and film production departments. The television department was headed by Jenny Borgars (formerly of the UK Film Council) from 2007 to 2008. Francis Hopkinson (formerly senior commissioning editor of Channel 4 drama) previously headed the film department and is now executive producer of both departments. The head of production is Marigo Kehoe, who worked with Harries at Granada. Harries holds the position of chief executive. Helen Jackson from BBC Worldwide also sits on the company board. The company is based in London, England.

Key personnel

*Andy Harries, chief executive and majority shareholder.
*Francis Hopkinson, executive producer.
*Marigo Kehoe, managing director and head of production.
*Jenny Borgars, head of television productions (2007–2008).

Films in development

*"The Damned United", adapted by Peter Morgan from David Peace's bestselling novel, "The Damned Utd" is due to begin filming in May 2008.cite news|first= Adam|last= Dawtrey|title= Sony scores 'Damned United'|url= http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984541.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|work= Variety|date= 2008-04-24|accessdate= 2008-05-17]
*"Freedom from Fear", a biopic of Aung San Suu Kyi, to be written by Rebecca Frayn, adapted from Suu Kyi's works. [cite news|first= Liz|last= Thomas|title= Left Bank plans £5m Myanmar film|work= Broadcast|date= 2008-02-08]
*"The Special Relationship", the third part of Peter Morgan's "Blair trilogy", focusing on Tony Blair's relationship with U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Michael Sheen will reprise his role as Blair, which he originated in "The Deal" in 2003.cite video|people= Harries, Andy|title= Andy Harries, Coventry Conversations, 25th April|url= http://podcasting.services.coventry.ac.uk/podcasting/index.php?id=117|format= MP3|publisher= Coventry University Podcasting Service|date2= 2007-04-27|accessdate= 2008-05-17]
*"The Fattest Man", a comedy to be written by Caroline Aherne about the fattest man in Britain. [cite news|first=Dave|last=West|title= 'Royle' pair reuniting for comedy film|url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/a88935/royle-pair-reuniting-for-comedy-film.html|work= Digital Spy|date= 2008-02-08|accessdate= 2008-05-17]
*"Gaza", a drama to star Helen Mirren as a woman living in the Gaza Strip whose son is killed. [cite news|first=Ali|last=Jaafar|title= Helen Mirren to star in Gaza drama|url= http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117966034.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|work= Variety|date= 2007-05-31|accessdate= 2008-05-17]
*"Rafta Rafta", adapted by Ayub Khan-Din from his play of the same name. [cite news|first= Adam|last= Dawtrey|title= Optimum to remake 'Brighton Rock'|url= http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985727.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|work= Variety (magazine)|date= 2008-05-15|accessdate= 2008-05-24]

Television in development

*"Wallander", adapted from Henning Mankell's "Inspector Wallander" novels, three films were commissioned in 2007 for the BBC, with Kenneth Branagh confirmed as Kurt Wallander. [cite news|first= Matthew|last= Hemley|title= Branagh to play Swedish detective Wallander|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/19509/branagh-to-play-swedish-detective-wallander|work= The Stage|date= 2008-01-10|accessdate= 2008-05-17]
*"Strike Back", a six-part series for Sky1 based on Chris Ryan's novel. [cite news|author= Holmwood, Leigh|title= Sky ploughs £10m into HD dramas|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/mar/19/bskyb.television|work= guardian.co.uk|date= 2008-03-19|accessdate= 2008-09-12]
*"School of Comedy". Originally a 2008 pilot broadcast during Channel 4's Comedy Lab season, "School of Comedy" has been commissioned for a six-part series for broadcast on E4 in 2009. [cite news|author= Parker, Robin|title= E4 opens School of Comedy|url= http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/commissioning/interview/2008/09/e4_opens_school_of_comedy.html|work= Broadcast|date= 2008-09-12|accessdate= 2008-09-12]

Ventures

In January 2008, Left Bank took a 15% stake in struggling production company Hardy & Sons, with a view to relaunching it as a drama and documentary production unit with BBC Worldwide. [cite press release|publisher= BBC Press Office|title= BBC Worldwide, Hardy & Sons and Left Bank Pictures unveil three-way venture|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2008/01_january/hardy_leftbank.shtml|date= 2008-01-21|accessdate= 2008-05-17]

Reaction

Left Bank was the first British production house to receive investment from BBC Worldwide and there was some concern that there was a conflict of interest for the publicly-funded BBC; in "The Guardian", Steve Hewlett wrote that the deal was a "back-door way of getting around the rules preventing the BBC producing programmes for its British rivals". Hewlett also commented that the investment might limit Left Bank's future prospects, as it was "tied to" the BBC. [cite news|first= Steve|last= Hewlett|title= Media FAQ|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/may/14/mondaymediasection3|work= The Guardian|date= 2007-05-14|accessdate= 2008-05-17]

References

*cite press release|publisher= BBC Press Office|title= Announcing LEFT BANK PICTURES a unique collaboration of film & television talent|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2007/05_may/left_bank.shtml|date= 2007-05-10|accessdate= 2008-05-17

External links

* [http://www.leftbankpictures.co.uk Left Bank Pictures website]