documentARY
Jim Wiseman’s Sky original documentary “Williams and Mansell: Red 5” is set for a debut on Sky documentaries and Now on July 8. Featuring some of the biggest names in F1, it follows Nigel Mansell and the Williams Racing team’s rise to fame told through the eyes of his team, family and drivers including Jenson Button, Damon Hill and Karun Chandhok.
Mansell grew up in England in the 1960s, dreaming of becoming a professional race car driver, despite not having the financial means for it, while Frank Williams was realizing his own dream at the company he founded, Williams Grand Prix Engineering. The two joined forces, and after years of trying to win together, Mansell left to join Ferrari and then ultimately retired from racing after years of ups and downs, without ever winning the Formula One Drivers’ Championship. But seemingly overnight, he came out of retirement and re-joined Williams Racing. And in 1992 Nigel and his FW14B Williams car became one of the most formidable combinations in sports history.
This documentary takes a deep look at both the driver and the car through the rebuild of the last FW14B, which has only ever been driven by Mansell.
Mansell said: “Celebrating the 30th year of my World Championship by reuniting with Williams Racing and the iconic FW14B was amazing. Having the opportunity to drive Red 5 at Goodwood and revisiting some of the special moments of my career through making this documentary has been an incredibly nostalgic journey for me. I am excited to share my memories with the viewers and fans who have been a huge part of my racing career.”
CASTING
Nadia Parkes (“The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself”) will play the lead role in the BBC‘s six-part series “Kidnapped” (working title), a factual drama based on the true story of Chloe Ayling, a British model who was abducted in Italy in 2017, having travelled there for a photo shoot.
Joining Parkes are Adrian Edmondson (“A Spy Among Friends”), Nigel Lindsay (“The Salisbury Poisonings”), Olive Gray (“Halo”), Eleanor Romandini (“The White Lotus”), Julian Swiezewski (“The Passing Bells”) and Christine Tremarco (“The Responder”).
Written by Georgia Lester (“Killing Eve”), the series is a 6×30’ BBC Studios production for BBC Three and BBC iPlayer. It is directed by Al Mackay (“Without Sin”) and produced by Clare Shepherd (“Viewpoint”). Executive producers are Priscilla Parish, Michael Parke and Andrew Morrissey for BBC Studios, with Lucy Richer executive producing for the BBC and Lester.
The series is being made in full cooperation with Chloe Ayling and is filming in Italy and the U.K. BBC Studios will distribute the series internationally.
DEVELOPMENT, APPOINTMENTS
Ascendant Fox, the production company behind the “Boiling Point” film and TV series, has struck a development deal with BBC Studios, which sees the latter invest in the former’s development slate and also gives BBC Studios a first look agreement on distribution rights on projects.
Ascendant Fox has also hired Hannah Perks, Netflix’s former head of film acquisitions and co-productions for the U.K. and EMEA ashead of development.While at Netflix, Perks commissioned hits such as“Bank of Dave”and“Inside Man,”co-commissioned and co-produced with BBC as well as acquiring “Boiling Point.”
Victoria Zalin joins Ascendant Fox as its new head of production. Zalin has extensive experience working in production including“Paddington 2,” “Morbius,” “My Cousin Rachel” and “Far From The Madding Crowd.”
PROMOTIONS
Studiocanal Germany has revealed promotions for key members of the management team. Kalle Friz has expanded his responsibilities to the oversight of Kinoswiat, Poland as part of his role as executive VP of international operations and is working with Kinoswiat’s CEO, Urszula Piasecka and her team on the integration and development of this new company whilst retaining his role as CEO of Studiocanal Germany.
Hooman Afshari and Lutz Rippe are promoted to co-managing directors of Studiocanal Germany, reporting to Friz. Sonia Glamazdine, executive VP finance and IT has been promoted to the position of CFO. All three will continue to report directly to Friz in their new roles.
DISTRIBUTION
Buffalo Dragon, in association with Munro Film, have set a Sept. 15 U.K. and Ireland theatrical release date for “Bolan’s Shoes,” which won the audience award and best drama feature at the 2023 Manchester Film Festival. Written and directed by Ian Puleston-Davies (“Moving On”), the film is set in Liverpool and draws inspiration from Marc Bolan‘s iconic 70s glam-rock band T. Rex, referencing their 1976 Manchester concert.
The film is a tumultuous journey through the height of T. Rex mania in 1970s Liverpool and follows the experiences of a group of excited kids from a local children’s home before a road accident changes their lives forever. Years later, and still clinging to the adoration of her childhood idol, survivor Penny takes best friend and fellow Marc Bolan fan, Steffan, to visit his shrine in London, but a chance encounter there catapults her back to the horror she had tried so hard to forget.
It is produced by Terri Dwyer (“The Stranger in Our Bed”) and Dean Fisher. The cast includes BAFTA-nominated actor Timothy Spall (“Secrets and Lies,” the Harry Potter Franchise), Leanne Best (“A Town Called Malice”), Mark Lewis Jones (“The Crown”) and Mathew Horne (“Bad Education”).
