Titanic Series Nominated in National TV Awards

October 31, 2012

The critically acclaimed series Titanic with Len Goodman, has been nominated in the Best Factual Series category in the 18th National Television Awards.

The 3×30-minute show, commissioned by BBC One and BBC Northern Ireland. marked the centenary of the sinking of the famous liner and was presented by Strictly Come Dancing’s Len Goodman. Goodman had his own Titanic connection; before he was a ballroom dancer, he was a Woolwich welder at shipbuilders Harland and Wolff, the same company that built Titanic at their docks in Belfast 50 years earlier.

Titanic with Len Goodman was made by the Northern Ireland based Indie, 360Production. Executive producer John Farren says “I was delighted to see the story of a Northern Irish icon being made from our Irish base.

“It’s a great time to work in television in Northern Ireland as there is a real sense of gathering momentum in the country and I hope everyone in Northern Ireland will vote for the show so the profile of the country’s television industry is raised even more,” adds Farren

Voting in the National Television Awards is open to the public at http://www.nationaltvawards.com, until 11 October 2012. The awards ceremony will take place on 23rd January 2013.

Titanic with Len Goodman was also broadcast on the PBS channel in the US and proved to one of the channel’s highest rated factual shows.

Dragon Wars: Fire and Fury

September 4, 2012

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ON THE EVE OF DRAGON*CON, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL ANNOUNCES DRAGON WARS: FIRE AND FURY

New World Premiere Special Set to Air Later This Year in the U.S.; Globally in 2013

(Washington, D.C. — August 31, 2012) National Geographic Channel (NGC) announced today a new special by Impossible Pictures — Dragon Wars: Fire and Fury — which takes viewers inside the greatest battles between man and dragon in Western folklore. The announcement was made on the opening day of Dragon*con, the largest multimedia, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film (www.dragoncon.org), taking place this weekend in Atlanta, Ga.

Dragon Wars will premiere later this year on National Geographic Channel in the U.S. and globally in 2013, in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 38 languages.

“The protagonists in these tales were the original superheroes of their day — Batman has his high-tech gadgets and vehicles, Spiderman his superstrength and web spinners — but legends such as Sigurd or Beowulf had only their swords and wits to defeat what many believed to be a real opponent,” shared executive producer for NGC Kevin Mohs. “With the upcoming release of ‘The Hobbit,’ the fascination with the folklore of this time continues — in fact, many of these ancient Norse and Anglo-Saxon folktales were the inspiration for ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy.”

Told through stunning animated and live action sequences, Dragon Wars: Fire and Fury will explore the many influences that came together to create the sum of all medieval fears: the dragon. Centered around four historically documented dragon reports across centuries, reality and myth collide as accounts of the fire-breathing monsters once described by our ancestors are brought to life.

“Believe it or not, these creatures were once thought to be just as real as wolves, boars or deer,” commented Executive Vice President of Programming Michael Cascio. “This special will add a historical background to what most of us only know as fairy tales.”

By examining the mysterious landscapes where dragons were believed to have lived and died, weapons that were used to slay them and ancient documents that detail encounters with the beast, Dragon Wars: Fire and Fury goes inside the age of the dragon.

“The combination of CGI and live action used to illustrate dragon folklore adds a new intensity to familiar stories which have been passed down for centuries, some of which are still part of popular movies and games today,” said Executive Producer Steve Maher from Impossible Pictures.

Dragon Wars: Fire and Fury is produced for National Geographic Channel by Impossible Pictures. For Impossible Pictures, executive producers are Steve Maher and Paul Wooding. For the National Geographic Channel, executive producer is Kevin Mohs; executive vice president of programming is Michael Cascio.

# # #

About National Geographic Channels
Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Cable Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society’s commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD. In 2010, the wildlife and natural history cable channel Nat Geo WILD was launched, and in 2011, the Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation’s major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in 84 million U.S. homes. Globally, National Geographic Channel is available in 440 million homes in 171 countries and 38 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.

About Impossible Pictures
Impossible Pictures is a multiaward-winning independent television production company based in the UK and led by Tim Haines, best known as the creator of the groundbreaking “Walking With Dinosaurs”series, and the co-creator of the hugely popular “Primeval.” The Impossible Pictures group of companies includes Impossible Pictures Ireland (“Sinbad,”“World War II: The Last Heroes”), Impossible Kids (“Fleabag Monkeyface”) and 360Production (“Crusades”).For more information, visit www.impossiblepictures.co.uk or contact grant.bushby@impossiblepictures.co.uk.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dara Klatt, 202-912-6720, dklatt@natgeotv.com
Kristin Montalbano, 202-912-3244, kmontalbano@natgeotv.com

Sinbad Game Launched to Tie-In with TV Series

July 16, 2012

Fans of Sky 1 HD’s latest hit action-adventure series, Sinbad now have the opportunity to dive even deeper into the show’s mystical adventures with a free iPhone and iPad game that has been released in the same week as the start of the drama series on the channel. It is believed this is the first time an app game has been released almost day and date with the launch of a multi-episode drama series.

Available to download now from iTunes, the game is a gateway into a magical word inspired by the 12 x 1 hour Sinbad series, where players set sail aboard their very own ship that they can improve and customise with credit earned in each adventure. Players are catapulted into the fast-paced action of Sinbad’s world as they try to collect treasure and relics while fighting off fearsome enemies.

Sinbad himself and other members of his crew are on-hand to offer advice and help steer players along their very own journey across the oceans. Developed by Rebellion (Alien vs Predator, Sniper Elite), the game features simple one-button controls for players to combat enemies, and the fluid animation creates a fast- paced game that will immerse players of all ages.

As the series develops, new features linked to key episodes will unlock within the game – including new challenges and new villains.

Jason Kingsley, CEO of Rebellion, says: “Sinbad is a fantastic show and provided endless inspiration for this game. The opportunity to set sail on the high seas and have fun with a huge variety of challenges and adventures is something we’re thrilled to bring to fans of the series.”

Tim Haines, Executive Producer for Impossible Pictures, the production company behind Sinbad said, “Rebellion has done an amazing job bringing the spirit of adventure that’s at the heart of Sinbad to this game. We’re really proud to have been part of it and pleased that fans of the show can now have an epic adventure of their own – that only they control.”

Sinbad airs on Sky 1 HD on Sundays at 7pm with repeats on Sky 2 on Wednesday at 9pm and Sky 1 HD on Thursdays at 9pm.

Notes for Editors

About Impossible PicturesImpossible Pictures is a multi-award winning independent television production company based in the UK and led by Tim Haines, best known as the creator of the ground-breaking Walking with Dinosaurs and the co-creator of the hugely popular Primeval series. The Impossible Pictures group of companies also includes Firestep, trading as Impossible Kids (Fleabag Monkeyface, Buzz & Tell) and 360Production (War Hero in My Family, Titanic with Len Goodman).

For more information visit www.impossiblepictures.co.uk or contact grant.bushby@impossiblepictures.co.uk

About RebellionRebellion® is the studio behind worldwide number one hit games such as Sniper Elite V2 and Aliens vs. Predator. One of Europe’s leading independent video games developers and comic book publishers, Rebellion is privately owned company based in Oxford, United Kingdom, and prides itself on its unique and innovative approach to IP development and stewardship. It has been responsible for a diverse portfolio of publisher-owned and internally developed IPs, including Star Wars Battle Front, Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death, The Simpsons Game and Sniper Elite.

Rebellion’s publishing portfolio includes multi award-winning British science fiction comic 2000 AD, the 2000 AD Graphic Novel line, the internationally-acclaimed fantasy, science fiction and horror imprint Solaris Books, and shared-world pulp imprint Abaddon Books.

For more information please visit: www.rebellion.co.uk

Production Begins on PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD

March 8, 2012

Vancouver, BC (March 7, 2012) – SPACE announced today that production is underway on the original action series PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD. Set in Vancouver against the backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, the 13-episode, one-hour series is produced in association with Omni Film Productions (DEFYING GRAVITY, ARCTIC AIR). Also announced today is the stellar cast and crew for the new series, featuring top Canadian talent from hit SPACE programming such as SANCTUARY, STARGATE UNIVERSE, A TOWN CALLED EUREKA, SUPERNATURAL and SMALLVILLE.

A North American spin-off of the hit U.K. television series, PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD follows a specialized team of animal experts and scientists that investigates the appearance of temporal anomalies and battles both prehistoric and futuristic creatures. The cast features a bevy of established genre heavyweights such as Niall Matter (A TOWN CALLED EUREKA, 90210) as the enterprising inventor and visionary hero Evan Cross, and Sara Canning (SUPERNATURAL, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, SMALLVILLE) as Dylan Weir, predator attack expert and specialist in animal behavior. PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD will also star Miranda Frigon (HEARTLAND) as Ange Finch, Geoff Gustafson (Hot Tub Time Machine) as Ken Leeds, Danny Rahim (EASTENDERS) as Mac Rendell and guest starring Andrew-Lee Potts (PRIMEVAL) as Connor from the original series. Sci-fi queen Amanda Tapping (SANCTUARY), Andy Mikita (STARGATE UNIVERSE), Martin Wood (SANCTUARY) and Mike Rohl (SMALLVILE) are all set to direct.

“SPACE is delighted to begin production on an exceptional homegrown series that is a counterpart to one of our channel’s most successful shows,” said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. “We are thrilled to work with Omni Film and, with the support of Impossible Pictures, we know it will both capture the essence of the original U.K. series and bring a unique sensibility to the screen. Both existing fans of the PRIMEVAL brand and the SPACE audience alike are sure to be excited by the imminent crossover from the original series into the NEW WORLD.”

“This is the dream team for a series such as PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD,” said Gabriela Schonbach, EP and Partner, Omni Film Productions. “Vancouver is the creative hub of visual effects for television, and we are the beneficiaries of a huge pool of talent in every area of TV production. This will be a terrific expansion to the PRIMEVAL world.”

“Omni Film have done a phenomenal job in bringing this series to life and we’re thrilled that they’re producing the spin-off. The stories are fantastic and Atmosphere’s work on the CGI is going to astound audiences around the globe,” said Katie Newman, Executive Producer for Impossible Pictures.

Based on the original series from Impossible Pictures, PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD’s creative team is led by Executive Producers Martin Wood (SANCTUARY, STARGATE: ATLANTIS) and Gillian Horvath (SANCTUARY, HIGHLANDER). The spin-off was created by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens (STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE, SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE’S THE LOST WORLD) and will be written by Gillian Horvath, Peter Hume (CHARMED, FLASH GORDON), Jon Cooksey (THE COLLECTOR, THE OUTER LIMITS), Sarah Dodd (FLASHPOINT, ARCTIC AIR), Katherine Collins (ENDGAME), and Judith and Garfield Reeve-Stevens. The creatures will be created by three time Emmy® Award-nominated visual effects company Atmosphere (STARGATE, SMALLVILLE, PSYCH). Leading international entertainment company, Entertainment One, holds the international distribution rights. Rebecca DiPasquale is Production Executive for Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Catherine McLeod is Vice-President, Specialty Television, Bell Media. Sally Basmajian is Vice President & General Manager, Comedy and Drama, Bell Media. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD is produced by Omni Film Productions. The series is produced and developed in association with Bell Media, German free-to-air broadcaster ProSieben, and UKTV channel Watch, with the participation of the Canadian Media Fund, The Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC, The Canadian Film & Video Production Tax Credit Program, and British Columbia Film.

OMNI FILM PRODUCTIONS
Omni Film Productions is one of Canada’s most respected independent television producers, and has produced hundreds of hours of award-winning programming including drama, comedy, factual and lifestyle series, documentaries, and children’s programming, since opening its doors in 1979. Omni Film has recently launched ARCTIC AIR, CBC’s new one-hour flagship drama series. Previously, Omni co-ventured with Fox Television Studios on DEFYING GRAVITY, a 13-episode drama series produced for CTV and SPACE (Canada), ABC (USA), BBC2 (UK), and ProSieben (Germany). In addition, Omni is now producing season four of the ratings hit ICE PILOTS NWT for History Television, seen internationally in two dozen territories. Production is also underway on PYROS, a new one-hour unscripted series for Discovery Channel Canada, Discovery Channel UK and Discovery Europe. www.omnifilm.com

IMPOSSIBLE PICTURES
Impossible Pictures is a multi-award winning independent television production company based in the UK and led by Tim Haines, best known as the creator of the ground-breaking WALKING WITH DINOSAURS and the co-creator of the hugely popular PRIMEVAL series. Impossible Pictures recently completed production on SINBAD a 12-hour drama series for Sky1 and BBC Worldwide. From its factual stable, the company recently produced the critically acclaimed series WORLD WAR II: THE LAST HEROES. The Impossible Pictures group of companies includes Impossible Pictures Ireland, Impossible Kids and 360Production. For more information visit www.impossiblepictures.co.uk or contact grant.bushby@impossiblepictures.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT ONE
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content and will handle worldwide distribution for PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD. The company’s comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 20,000 film and television titles, 2,500 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks. Entertainment One has a strong presence in production and distribution of television programming, with nine television series currently airing, or set to air, on US primetime cable and broadcast networks. Among them, the highly-acclaimed THE WALKING DEAD on AMC, audience-favorite ROOKIE BLUE on ABC, preschool-phenom PEPPA PIG on Nick Jr., CALL ME FITZ starring Jason Priestley for DirecTV, HAVEN for Syfy, PARTY AT TIFFANY’S for OWN, and THE FIRM for NBC, starring Josh Lucas and Juliette Lewis.

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has produced some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming in partnership with Canadian independent producers, including, most recently, ratings success stories FLASHPOINT and THE LISTENER, Emmy Award-winning period drama THE BORGIAS, international hit DEGRASSI, critically acclaimed sketch comedy series PICNICFACE, upcoming theatre docu-series WAY OFF BROADWAY, original drama series SAVING HOPE which was recently acquired by NBC, and new young adult drama THE L.A. COMPLEX, which was recently acquired by The CW. Bell Media has also ordered the two-hour drama pilot, BOREALIS, and the television feature THE HORSES OF MCBRIDE.

ENTERTAINMENT ONE TELEVISION ESTABLISHES CO-DEVELOPMENT DEAL WITH IMPOSSIBLE PICTURES

November 29, 2011

Toronto/London – November 28, 2011 – Leading independent studio Entertainment One (eOne) is pleased to announce that it will co-develop a slate of projects with Impossible Pictures (Impossible), one of the UK’s top independent production companies. The companies will collaborate to develop projects for the UK, the US and Canadian markets.

“I’m looking forward to the innovative and exciting developments ahead. eOne takes a collaborative, teamwork-driven approach to making television. They have a wide scope of business over a great number of territories but do an impressive job at making each partner their most important,” says Impossible Pictures’ MD Jonathan Drake. The companies have a number of exciting projects in the works, including Traffic, Martian Wars and The First – A WW1 Series, and are currently working together to secure deals with broadcast partners globally.

eOne and Impossible recently co-produced the highly-captivating World War II television series, D-Day to Victory (Canada)/The Last War Heroes (UK). The 6×60 series traces the allied troops’ push from D-Day to VE Day. The series, which recently aired on History Television in Canada and Channel 4 in the UK, was well-received by critics and viewers alike.

“We’re thrilled to deepen our relationship with Impossible and want to build upon the success of our recent co-production,” said Michael Kot, Senior Vice President Factual, Entertainment One Television. “The team at Impossible Pictures is one of the finest, and is a brilliant production partner for us. Their talent, creativity, and market strengths compliment eOne’s global presence, and enables us to develop extraordinary programs for broad worldwide audiences,” Kot continued.

Kot, who joined Entertainment One in October 2010, oversees all original factual programming for the company’s television group. Kot and his team have eight series, as well as blue chip on-offs currently in production for a broad range of broadcasters. Series include Party at Tiffany’s for TLC, Mega Builders for Discovery Channels, Builder Boss for HGTV Canada, Sweet Fix for Food Canada and Party Mamas for Slice in Canada and Wealth TV in the US.
Blue chip docs include We Were Children for APTN and the National Film Board and The Great Escape with Wildfire Television for History Television and Channel 4.

Entertainment One has a robust presence in production and distribution of television programming in a wide-range of genres, with nine television series currently airing, or set to air, on US primetime cable and broadcast networks including the highly-acclaimed The Walking Dead on AMC, Hung on HBO, audience-favorite Rookie Blue on ABC, preschool-phenom Peppa Pig on Nick Jr., Call Me Fitz starring Jason Priestley for DirecTV, Haven for Syfy, the recently premiered Hell on Wheels for AMC, which debuted with the second-highest ratings in the network’s history and stars Anson Mount and Common, as well as the highly-anticipated The Firm for NBC, starring Josh Lucas and Juliette Lewis, set to air January 8, 2012 and Party at Tiffany’s for TLC, set to air this fall.

For more information:
Jackie Rubin Grant Bushby
Entertainment One Impossible Pictures Ltd
Tel: +1.416.979.7256 Tel: +44 (0)207 4082565
jrubin@entonegroup.com grant.bushby@impossiblepictures.co.uk

About Entertainment OneEntertainment One (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company’s comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, kids programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 20,000 film and television titles, 2,500 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.

About Impossible PicturesImpossible Pictures is a multi-award winning independent television production company based in the UK and led by Tim Haines, best known as the creator of the ground-breaking Walking with Dinosaurs, and the co-creator of the hugely popular drama series Primeval. From its Factual stable, the company has produced the critically acclaimed series Blitz Street. The Impossible Pictures group of companies includes Impossible Pictures Ireland, Impossible Kids, Firestep and 360Production. For more information visit www.impossiblepictures.co.uk

360Production Makes Crusades for BBC2

October 18, 2011

Derry based Indie, 360Production, part of the Impossible Pictures group of companies, has been commissioned to make series about the Crusades for BBC2. The 3×60-minute series will trace the 200-year campaign – from 1095 to 1291 – in which the Catholic Church fought to recapture Jerusalem from the Muslims.

Presented by the renowned medieval history scholar Dr Tom Asbridge, Crusades will be filmed in key locations including Cyprus, Jerusalem, Rome and Istanbul.

360Production creative director and executive producer of the series, John Farren, says, “This series will reveal subtleties and fresh insights that deepen our understanding, and bring the men and women who lived, loved and fought in the Holy Land for two centuries into a sharp new light. It is a story that has not been told before on television.”

BBC commissioning editor Martin Davidson added, “Bringing to bear years of work in Islamic archives, Dr Asbridge will be providing the fullest television account of these extraordinary conflicts, challenging the many myths and falsehoods that have been attached to them.”

Crusades will be delivered to BBC2 in early 2012.

———–

Notes to Editors:

Impossible Pictures is a multi-award winning independent television production company based in the UK and led by Tim Haines, best known as the creator of the ground-breaking Walking with Dinosaurs, and the co-creator of the hugely popular Primeval. The Impossible Pictures group of companies includes Impossible Pictures Ireland (Sinbad), Impossible Kids (Buzz & Tell), and 360Production (Digging for Britain). For more information visit www.impossiblepictures.co.uk

Contact:
Grant Bushby, Head of Marketing & PR, Impossible Pictures
T : +44 (0) 207408 2565
E: grant.bushby@impossiblepictures.co.uk

Impossible Kids and Kindle Entertainment To Deliver 3D CGI Animated Series for CBeebies

September 30, 2011

Impossible Kids, the children’s division of Impossible Pictures and Kindle Entertainment are delighted to announce an order from CBeebies for 52×11-minute episodes of a new 3D CGI animated children’s series, Dinopaws.

Aimed at the pre-school market, Dinopaws follows three bold, brave, resourceful and curious young dinosaurs – Gwen, Tony and Les – on a mighty mission to discover something new every day and understand their world. With striking designs, a poetic imagination and a dash of comedy, Dinopaws will captivate its young audience.

Says Impossible Kids’ MD Karl Woolley: “We are thrilled to be working with Kindle in creating this innovative, animated comedy for CBeebies. The skills both companies bring to the project, added to the writing talent of Alan Gilbey, provide a potent creative combination and the platform to make a truly groundbreaking show for CBeebies.”

Anne Brogan of Kindle Entertainment echoes Karl’s comment; “I cannot imagine a more creative team; everyone involved in this project is a tiny bit bonkers…which you have to be if you really want to make little kids laugh!”

Adds Alison Stewart, Head of CBeebies Production, Animation and Acquisitions,
“We’re delighted with this show. CBeebies could do with a few dinosaurs to add to its stable of stars, and I know our audience will love Gwen, Tony and Les from the moment they embark on their adventures!”

Dinopaws has been co-developed by Impossible Kids and Kindle Entertainment and will be co-produced by the two companies in association with Guru Entertainment in Canada.

ends

Notes to Editors:

Impossible Kids is the children’s division of Impossible Pictures, the multi-award winning independent television production company responsible for shows like Primeval and Blitz Street. Other Impossible Kids titles include Buzz & Tell for CBeebies and the forthcoming Fleabag Monkeyface for CITV. Impossible Pictures is led by Creative Director Tim Haines (Walking with Dinosaurs). The Impossible Pictures group of companies also includes Impossible Pictures Ireland (Sinbad), Firestep, and 360Production (Digging for Britain). For more information visit www.impossiblepictures.co.uk

Contact:
Grant Bushby
Head of Marketing & PR, Impossible Pictures
T : +44 (0) 207 408 2565
grant.bushby@impossiblepictures.co.uk

Kindle Entertainment is the BAFTA award winning Independent production company of the year led by Anne Brogan and Melanie Stokes. Kindle won an International Emmy for its BBC 1 family drama, Dustbin Baby and currently make Leonardo, an action adventure series for CBBC. Kindle are also the company behind the much loved, award – winning, pre-school series Big and Small, featuring the comic voice talent of Lenny Henry. For more information visit www.kindleentertainment.com

Contact :
Jacqueline McGee
T : +44 (0) 207 748 5275

Mark Wright Appointed 360Production MD

September 28, 2011

Impossible Pictures’ Head of Production, Mark Wright, has been promoted to the post of Managing Director 360Production, Impossible Pictures’ factual arm headed up by Creative Director John Farren. With offices in Derry, Dublin and London, 360Production is responsible for BBC series such as Digging for Britain, Making History and the recent James May’s Things You Need to Know.

“I am very excited to be stepping up to this role at 360Production at this time,” says Wright, “as there’s a fantastic slate of projects in the pipeline that I will be getting involved in. I’m looking forward to expanding Derry as the core base for all 360 productions and driving growth in output in both the domestic and international markets.”

Says 360Production’s John Farren: “We are delighted to have Mark on board as MD as he will bring real depth and experience to the company and help maintain 360’s commitment to producing multi-platform content.”

Adds Impossible Pictures’ MD Jonathan Drake: “360Production has been a remarkable success story since its launch three years ago. John Farren and his team have succeeded in building a really robust business and an effective production base in Northern Ireland. The time has come for a wholly dedicated MD to take it to the next level, and I have every confidence in Mark’s skills and determination to achieve just that.”

Primeval Heads to North America

September 20, 2011

Primeval, the successful drama series made by Impossible Pictures for ITV is to be spun off into a new, original series by Canadian broadcaster SPACE.  Titled Primeval: New World, the 13 x 1 hour show is set to begin production in Vancouver this winter.

Primeval: New World follows a team of animal experts and scientists that investigates the appearance of temporal anomalies and battles both prehistoric and futuristic creatures. Developed in association with Omni Film Productions and Impossible Pictures, Primeval: New World will deliver all the thrills and gripping storylines that fans of the British series have grown to love, but this time set in a North American world of adventure. Casting and production details will be announced soon.

Creative Executive for Drama, Katie Newman (Primeval) will executive produce for Impossible Pictures, while Gabriela Schonbach will do the honours for Omni Film.

Says Newman:  “The post watershed series offers a whole new world of possibilities in terms of characters, stories and, of course, thrilling action.   It’s older, darker and scarier than the UK series, and the fantastic backdrop of the Pacific North West make this series a real evolution from the original. Alongside an exciting new cast will be recognizable faces, a bigger budget and, of course, plenty of carnivorous and ferocious CG creatures.”

Adds Impossible Pictures MD Jonathan Drake, “It’s a really exciting development in the life of this fantastic property created by Tim Haines and Adrian Hodges. We are really looking forward to working with Omni to help make a series that can exceed even the huge success of the original Primeval in international markets and with viewers across the world.

“We’ve worked closely with Impossible Pictures and Space for two and a half years to create this spin-off, and we’re excited to take on the challenge of a UK – Canada co-production with a company whose creative work has impressed us for years,” says Omni Vice President Gabriela Schonbach.

Notes for Editors

Impossible Pictures
Impossible Pictures is a multi-award winning independent television production company based in the UK and led by Tim Haines, best known as the creator of the ground-breaking Walking with Dinosaurs and the co-creator of the hugely popular Primeval series.  Impossible Pictures is currently in production on Sinbad, a 13-hour series for Sky and BBC Worldwide. From its factual stable, the company is currently in production on The Last War Heroes for Channel 4.  The Impossible Pictures group of companies also includes Firestep (trading as Impossible Kids) and 360Production. 

For more information visit www.impossiblepictures.co.uk or contact grant.bushby@impossiblepictures.co.uk

SPACE is Canada’s national science fiction, horror and fantasy channel and is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. For more information about SPACE, visit spacecast.com.

Omni Film Productions

Omni Film Productions is one of Canada’s most respected independent television producers, and has produced hundreds of hours of award-winning programming including drama, comedy, factual and lifestyle series, documentaries, and children’s programming, since opening its doors in 1979. Omni co-produces and partners regularly with studios, production companies and broadcasters worldwide. Omni Film is currently in production on Arctic Air, CBC’s new one-hour flagship drama series.  Previously, Omni co-ventured with Fox Television Studios on Defying Gravity, a 13-episode drama series produced for CTV and SPACE (Canada), ABC (USA), BBC2 (UK), and ProSieben (Germany). In addition, Omni is now producing season three of the ratings hit Ice Pilots NWT for History Television, seen internationally in two dozen territories. Production is also underway on PYROS, a new one-hour unscripted series for Discovery Channel Canada, Discovery Channel UK and Discovery Europe.  www.omnifilm.com.

 For more information please contact: andrea.allen@bellmedia.ca or renee.dupuis@bellmedia.ca

360 Makes Titanic Series to Mark Centenary

July 11, 2011

Derry based Indie 360Production, part of the Impossible Pictures group of companies, has announced the start of production on Titanic & Me, a 3×30-minute series co-comissioned by BBC One and BBC Northern Ireland.  Due for broadcast in 2012 to mark the centenary of the sinking of the famous liner in April 1912, the series will be presented by Strictly Come Dancing’s Len Goodman, who will explore how the story of the famed liner continues to resonate 100 years after it sank.  He’ll uncover the unheard stories of the bravery, cowardice, bad luck and opportunism of the men, women and children who travelled on board, and he’ll meet their descendants to understand how the Titanic tale is still part of their every day lives. Goodman will also explore the legacy that Titanic left in its wake, in culture and in industry.

Goodman has his own Titanic connection. Before he was a ballroom dancer, he was a Woolwich welder at shipbuilders Harland and Wolff, the same company that built Titanic at their docks in Belfast 50 years earlier. During the series, Len will also experience what life was like for the Edwardian dockers who built the ship, and see if his ship building skills are still up to scratch after all these years.

Says Goodman: “I really wanted to do Titanic & Me because it’s something that I know I’ll find really interesting. I’m passionate about learning new things and I love meeting and chatting to people from all walks of life. So all in all this sounded like a great opportunity, and I’m delighted to be onboard, so to speak.”

Adds Titanic & Me executive producer John Farren: “I am delighted to see the story of a Northern Irish icon being made from our Irish base.

“It’s a  great time to work in television in Northern Ireland as there is a real sense of gathering momentum in the country,” says Farren.

 Titanic & Me will transmit on BBC One in the first half of 2012.

Notes to Editors:

Impossible Pictures is a multi-award winning independent television production company based in the UK and led by Tim Haines, best known as the creator of the ground-breaking Walking With Dinosaurs, and the co-creator of the hugely popular Primeval.  The Impossible Pictures group of companies includes Impossible Pictures Ireland (Sinbad), Impossible Kids (Buzz & Tell), and 360Production (Digging for Britain).

For more information visit www.impossiblepictures.co.uk

Contact:

Grant Bushby

Head of Marketing & PR, Impossible Pictures

T : +44 (0) 207408 2565

M : +44 7715 176548

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