Draft:Ben Grass
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Ben Grass | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 1971 (age 53) United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford INSEAD |
| Occupation | Co-founder of Pure Grass Films & producer |
Ben Grass is a British Film producer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of film and television production company Pure Grass Films.
Early life and education
[edit]Grass was educated at Dr Challoner's Grammar School; a selective grammar school for boys in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. He went on to study history at the University of Oxford in 1990. He received an MBA from INSEAD in 1997.
Career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Following INSEAD, and a number of years as a management consultant, Grass became an advisor on corporate strategy at the BBC, before becoming Director of Internet and Wireless in Europe for Sony Pictures.
Later career and Pure Grass films
[edit]Grass founded Pure Grass Films in May 2005 with his brother, Creative director Tom Grass.[1][2][3] It initially focused on Digital entertainment series with spin-off potential for Television, Feature films and Games.[4][5] Advisors to the company include the British Actor Damian Lewis, and chairman Christophe Charlier, the former Chairman of Renaissance Capital and the Brooklyn Nets (NBA Team).[6]
In March 2008, Endemol Shine UK announced its acquisition of a 40% stake in Pure Grass Films, with the aims of expanding their digital presence.[7][8]
Grass has produced a feature film, Twist, a modern re-imagining of Oliver Twist set in London. Raff Law, son of Jude Law was cast to play the titular Twist.[9][10][11] Michael Caine was cast as Fagin, with Lena Headey and Rita Ora cast as female renditions of Bill Sikes and Artful Dodger, respectively.[12][13][14] David Walliams, Franz Drameh and Sophie Simnett were also cast.[15][16] The film was scheduled for a late 2020 release.[17] Sky Cinema will distribute the film within the United Kingdom, with Saban Films distributing within North America.[18][19]
Grass is also developing a modern-day feature film version of the story of the Count of Monte Cristo, which he is producing with Bear Grylls, Delbert Schoopman and Christophe Charlier.[20][21]
Filmography
[edit]Grass's notable prior filmography credits include "Kirill" (which won a Webby and was nominated for a Digital Emmy) and "Beyond the Rave", which was Myspace’s first original series outside the US.[22][23][24] Beyond the Rave, was an 20 part Horror series financed by Hammer Films – their first production in 25 years.[25][26] The series starred Sadie Frost (Dracula), Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey), Nora-Jane Noone (The Descent) and Tamer Hassan (Eastern Promises).[27] Music was by Pete Tong. On 17 April 2008, the series was first released through MySpace TV, as their first international co-production, followed by a major international DVD release.[28]
Other credits include When Evil Calls – the world's first horror series for mobile phones, which starred Sean Pertwee (Dog Soldiers), Dominique Pinon (Amelie, Delicatessen), and Chris Barrie (Red Dwarf).[29]
| Year | Title | Acclaim |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Twist | |
| 2012 | Trigger Point | |
| 2009 | The Cell 2 | |
| 2009 | Kirill | Won a 2009 Webby for Best Drama Episode, and was also nominated for a Digital Emmy |
| 2008 | Beyond the Rave | |
| 2006 | When Evil Calls | Won the 2006 Telemedia Eureka Awards in Amsterdam. Finalist in the Broadcast Awards in the category of Best Use of Mobile TV. |
References
[edit]- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (2 November 2019). "Saban Films Lands Right To 'Twist' Starring Michael Caine & Lena Headey". Deadline. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Sky announces co-production of forthcoming original film Twist". WebWire. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "First look at Rita Ora's latest role in modern Oliver Twist adaptation". Evening Standard. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Endemol buys stake in digital production company Pure Grass Films". The Guardian. 1 March 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Fellner, Chris (3 July 2019). The Encyclopedia of Hammer Films. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-2659-2.
- ^ "ADDING and REPLACING Pure Grass Films Launches When Evil Calls – the World's First Made-for-Mobile Horror Series – on Amp'd Mobile". www.businesswire.com. 2 November 2006. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Endemol grows stake in Pure Grass". The Hollywood Reporter. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Grass is greener for Endemol U.K." Variety. 1 March 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "First look at Rita Ora's latest role in modern Oliver Twist adaptation". Evening Standard. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Jude Law's model son Rafferty lands lead role in Oliver Twist remake". Metro. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "See exclusive pictures of Jude Law's actor son Raff on the cover of Love magazine". British GQ. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Dams, Tim (1 October 2019). "Michael Caine, Lena Headey to Star in Modern-Day Version of 'Oliver Twist'". Variety. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Michael Caine to Play Fagin in New 'Oliver Twist' Adaptation". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (1 October 2019). "'Twist': Michael Caine, Lena Headey, Rita Ora & Raff Law Lead Cast In Sky Movie Update Of Charles Dickens Classic". Deadline. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Sir Michael Caine and Rita Ora join Sky's modern day Oliver Twist adaptation". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Michael Caine supported by walking stick on set of Oliver Twist remake". Metro. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Rosser, Michael. "Michael Caine to play Fagin in Sky day-and-date release 'Twist'". Screen. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Get the first look at Rita Ora and Michael Caine in new 'Oliver Twist' reboot". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Saban Films Acquires Charles Dickens Retelling 'Twist'". The Hollywood Reporter. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (1 June 2020). "Bear Grylls To Produce Modern Day 'Count Of Monte Cristo' Movie Set In Afghanistan". Deadline. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ "Bear Grylls To Produce Modern Day 'Count Of Monte Cristo' Movie Set In Afghanistan". PressFrom – CA. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
- ^ "Sky announces co-production of forthcoming original film Twist". WebWire. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Buckingham, Ed (2 January 2016). 7 Summits: 1 Cornishman climbing the highest mountains on each continent. Vertebrate Publishing. ISBN 978-1-909461-50-5.
- ^ Kiss, Jemima (3 October 2008). "MSN launches online TV drama Kirill with David Schofield". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "ELESPECTADOR.COM". ELESPECTADOR.COM (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Endemol harvests 40% stake in Pure Grass". The Hollywood Reporter. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Montgomery, Alice (1 January 2015). Jamie Dornan: Shades of Desire. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-0-7181-8089-8.
- ^ Lee, Marc (2 March 2008). "Hammer Horror: Beyond the Rave". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ Horsley, Jake (3 March 2007). "Films in narrow-screen". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2020.