Reagan docu in works with footage shot by late president – Brian Cox stars in Teplitzky’s ‘Churchill’
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LOS ANGELES, May 25, (RTRS): Patti Davis and Primary Wave Entertainment are producing a documentary centered around Super 8 film footage shot primarily by Ronald Reagan from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s.
Zak Knutson, best known for Film 4’s “Milius,” is directing. The private footage is in pristine condition and offers a never-before-seen look at Reagan’s family on vacations, ranch visits, backyard plays, birthday parties, visits to the beach and pool time that dominated the family’s Southern-California outdoor lifestyle.
Reagan served as president of the Screen Actors Guild between 1947 and 1952 and again in 1959-60, and was hired by General Electric in 1954 to host the weekly TV drama series “General Electric Theater.” He made his foray into politics in 1966 when he won the California governorship over incumbent Democrat Edmund G. Brown and was re-elected in 1970.
Enclave
Davis brands the period covered by the footage as “before the world moved in” when the Reagans lived in the suburban enclave of Pacific Palisades on Amalfi Drive and later San Onofre Drive. The footage includes Reagan’s wife Nancy and children Patti and Ron in private moments, as well as performing for the cameras in G.E.’s multitude of promotional vignettes for the “electric house” that G.E. built for the Reagans.
Davis is producing with Primary Wave’s Ben Press, Patrick Hughes and Bryan O’Connell. The producers plan to begin sales at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“This is an honest, loving and truly behind-the-scenes invitation into the Reagans’ lifestyle in a simpler time prior to their being cloistered by Secret Service and White House gates,” the producers said.
Knutson is represented by Primary Wave.
A separate Reagan movie was announced last month with Will Ferrell starring, but the actor left the project two days later after a public outcry, including from Davis and other Reagan family members, over the project’s intent to portray Reagan in his later years in a comic light as he battled dementia.
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LOS ANGELES: Jonathan Teplitzky’s “Churchill,” starring Brian Cox, has started principal photography, and the first image has been released.
Miranda Richardson, “Mad Men” star John Slattery and James Purefoy recently joined the cast. Richardson plays the British leader’s wife Clemmie, Slattery is General Eisenhower, Purefoy is King George VI, and rising-star Ella Purnell plays Churchill’s secretary.
Action is set on May 23, 1944, as tensions mount in the 48-hours preceding D-Day. Churchill must prepare a final attempt to crush Hitler’s encroaching army. With the war effort hinging on this decision, the stakes have never been higher. As the wartime leader clashes with his generals, tension builds with the Americans, and Churchill must wrestle his inner-demons in order to navigate the Allies to victory.
Pic is directed by Teplitzky (“The Railway Man,” “Marcella”), and written by British historian and author Alex von Tunzelmann.
The film, which was developed with the assistance of the BFI, is produced by Nick Taussig and Paul Van Carter of Salon Pictures, with Piers Tempest and Jo Bamford’s Tempo Productions, alongside Claudia Bluemhuber of Silver Reel. Embankment Films’ Tim Haslam and Hugo Grumbar are handling international sales, Silver Reel finance with Lipsync and Creative Scotland.
LOS ANGELES: Arrow Films has acquired the rights for UK and Ireland for Benjamin Ree’s chess documentary “Magnus,” which opened Tribeca.
Repped in international markets by TrustNordisk, “Magnus” turns on the life of Norwegian chess player Magnus Carlsen, who went from being bullied by his classmates to becoming World Chess Champion.
Tom Stewart, Arrow Films’ acquisitions topper, said the docu told an “amazing human triumph story that will truly fascinate both the millions who love the game and a whole new audience who will discover the incredible world of chess at the highest level.”
Arrow Films is plotting a UK/Irish release in late 2016 or early 2017.
At Cannes, “Magnus” was acquired by Pretty Pictures for France and by FilmRise for the US Previous sales include Germany and Austria (NFP), Hong Kong (EDKO Films Ltd), the former Yugoslav states (Discovery Film) and Benelux (September Film Rights), and TV rights to Israel (Yes DBS Satellite Service).
“Magnus” is produced by Sigurd Mikal Karoliussen for Moskus Film.
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