Archive for the ‘The Kings Speech’ tag
English Director Tom Hooper
Tom Hooper
London Academy of Media Film & TV
DREAMS OF FILMMAKING
In 1972, Thomas George Hooper was born in London to an English media businessman called Richard Hooper, and an Australian author called Meredith Hooper. Hooper gained his education at Highgate School, then going on to Westminster School. When he was 12 years old, he found his inspiration for becoming a filmmaker when he read a book called How to Make Film and Television. He first made a film when he turned 13 called Runaway Dog, a short comedy film he shot on a 16mm Bolex camera given to him by his uncle. When he was 14, he achieved runner-up position in a BBC young filmmaker’s competition with a short film entitled Bomber Jacket. This would be the first of many awards.
DEBUT IN TELEVISION
Hooper took a gap year after he finished school to write, produce and direct a 15 minute film called Painted Faces, which was shown in 1992 on Channel 4’s First Frame strand and was also shown at the 35th London Film Festival. Then he went on to study English at University College, Oxford. While at Oxford, Hooper joined the Oxford University Dramatic Society, and during his time there, he directed productions featuring Kate Beckinsale and Emily Mortimer, as well as some television advertisements.
AWARD WINNING SOAPS
When Hooper graduated from university he continued to direct TV commercials. After a few years his father introduced him to a television producer called Matthew Robinson and he decided to change direction to television. Hooper worked with Robinson on, amongst other things, a Children’s BBC series called Byker Grove, as well as his first episodes of the successful BBC One soap opera Eastenders. Hooper was the director of seven episodes of the soap between 1998 and 2000, two of which won the British Academy Television Award for Best Soap Opera in 2000 and 2001.
Eastenders taught Hooper to direct with speed and in 1999 he moved on to bigger budget productions like the comedy-drama series Cold Feet for Granada Television. Over the next few years, Hooper directed numerous television productions and his work on Prime Suspect for Granada TV, broadcast in 2003, got him a nomination for a British Academy Television and a Primetime Emmy Award.
Tom Hooper
Hooper made his feature film directing debut with Red Dust in 2004, a drama for the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, starring Jamie Bartlett, Hilary Swank and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Unfortunately, the film did not attract a big audience. Hooper says this was due to stories in the media about torture occurring in the Iraq war at the time, making target audiences feel uncomfortable watching such a film.
In 2005, Helen Mirren asked Hooper to direct a two-part serial called Elizabeth I for Company Pictures/HBO films, and Hooper won his first Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special for this. His work on Elizabeth I led him to being asked by Tom Hanks to direct the TV miniseries John Adams (2008), which ended up being nominated for 23 Emmy Awards and winning 13; the highest number any nominee had achieved in a single year.
In 2007, Hooper started directing his first feature film called The Damned United (2009), an adaptation of David Peace’s novel. He started work on his next film called The King’s Speech in 2009, after his mother went to see the play in London and told him the script was brilliant. The story is all about King George VI, his Australian speech therapist and their relationship. The film was released in 2010 and received numerous nominations, and won him the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures.
Do you belong behind the scenes? – learn directing today at London Academy
The Golden Globe Award
London Academy of Media Film and TV
Academy Award
History 
In 1943, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) was formed by the Hollywood based correspondent of Britain’s Daily Mail. The members of the association were Hollywood based journalists from around the world. This legacy has not changed. The association recognises and acknowledges film and television, as a universal art form. As representatives of the world press, the members felt a responsibility to voice their opinions on productions. They created the Golden Globe, an award that acknowledges excellence in every aspect of film and television, from the script and actors to the overall film, which are presented at a lavish ceremony. The first Golden Globe awards ceremony was in 1947, at the 20th Century Fox studios in Los Angeles. It has since been held at various locations, including the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Jennifer Jones was the first to win the, Golden Globe for Best Actress in a film for her performance in, ‘The Song of Bernadette’, which also won best film. Paul Lukas was the first actor to win best actor in a film, for his performance in, ‘Watch on the Rhine’. There have been many landmarks in the history of the Golden Globes. The most significant was in 1951, the association branched out to include drama and musical or comedy, to acknowledge all genres of film and television. In 1952, the association created the Cecil B. DeMille Award to especially acknowledge outstanding contribution to the entertainment field. It was named after the first recipient, Cecil B. DeMille. Today the Golden Globes accredits achievements in 25 categories; 14 in film and 11 in television. The association represents 55 countries including, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In order to determine nominees in each category of the Golden Globes, the association interview more than 400 actors, writers, directors and producers and watch over 300 films and attend international film festivals.
The Recent Golden Globe Awards 
The 68th Golden Globe awards were held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, California, on 16th January 2011. It was hosted by the British comedian, Ricky Gervais, making it his second consecutive year as host. He received criticism from the media and celebrities that attended the awards for his borderline insulting jokes, directed at the celebrities and president of HFPA, Philip Berk. Robert Downing Junior described him as ‘mean spirited with mildly sinister undertones’. After his opening monologue, that shocked more than amused the audience, he disappeared for an hour. His ‘disappearing act’ left the audience to assume he was told to tone down his jokes, when he returned subdued. The most controversial joke was about the Scientology faith and homosexuality. Referring to the film, ‘I Love You, Philip Morris’, Ricky remarked: ‘it’s about two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay, the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists’. However Ricky’s unconventional hosting did not deduct from the award ceremony. The film, ‘The Social Network’, was the star of the ceremony winning four out of the 6 categories it was nominated for; Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Original Score. Despite the historical film, ‘The Kings Speech’, leading the awards with seven nominations, it received one award, Best Actor in a Motion Picture, which went to Colin Firth. Among the winners were; Natalie Portman, for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, for her role in; ‘Black Swan’. Christian Bale won Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, for his role in, ‘The Fighter’. Robert De Niro won the Cecil B. DeMille, Lifetime Achievement Award, for his exceptional contributions to the film industry. The television show, ‘Glee’ won the most Golden Globes in the television categories. The Golden Globe ceremony is one of the major events of the entertainment industry and one of the three most watched awards shows on television and is broadcast live to 150 countries.
Winning is a great feeling, you too can win – try acting today at London Academy
The Weinstein Company
BEGINNINGS
Founded by Bob and Harvey Weinstein in 2005, The Weinstein Company (TWC) is an independent American film studio. In 1979 the brothers co-founded Miramax Films, which was bought by The Walt Disney Company in 1993. When the brothers left Miramax in 2005, they retained ownership of Miramax’s Dimension Films label. TWC headquarters remain in New York City, where the brothers grew up.
THE BROTHERS
Harvey Weinstein CBE (Hon) was born in 1952 and currently lives with his wife Georgina, who gave birth to a daughter in August 2010. He already has 3 daughters with his first wife, Eve Chilton. Harvey won an Academy Award for producing the 1998 film Shakespeare In Love.
Robert “Bob” Weinstein was born in 1952 and has been married to Annie Clayton since 2000.
BUSINESS
The company put out its first releases in 2005, distributing films such as Derailed, Hoodwinked and Mrs Henderson Presents, before setting up a distribution arrangement with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in early 2006. TWC would retain long-term ownership of the products but MGM would distribute it domestically.
In the same year the company introduced Our Stories Films, a studio collaboration with Robert L. Johnson, to distribute African-American products. By November 2006 they had bought the arts orientated cable channel Ovation TV with co-investors Hubbard Media Group.
Dimension Extreme, The Miriam Collection and Kaleidoscope TWC were launched in 2007 as straight to video labels. 2008 saw the end of TWC’s arrangement with MGM and a restructuring of the company’s finances the following year caused a number of redundancies. Further jobs were lost in early 2010, following the lack of box office success for the star studded musical, Nine.
RECENTLY
In 2010 the brothers made a bid for their previous company Miramax, but it was unsuccessful. Also that year, 200 film titles were sold too Goldman Sachs and Assured Guaranty, in order to eradicate the company’s crippling debt.
A new collaboration between TWC and Miramax has been established to enable sequels of films made under the former studio.
Upcoming films include Spy Kids 4, Scream 4, Hoodwinked 2: Hood vs. Evil and Fraggle Rock.
OTHER PROJECTS
The brothers also own Weinstein Books, which published its first book in September 2007.
A collaboration with Perseus Book Group in 2009 puts this company in control of marketing, editing, publishing and distributing Weinstein Books releases.
A fine pair to do business with. Learn more on low budget film making at London Academy, meet the professionals who can show you how to make a good film on a small budget.
Australian Actor Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Rush
London Academy of Media Film and TV
Academy nominated actors
Australian Actor Geoffrey Rush
Early Life and Acting Beginnings
Geoffrey Roy Rush is one of Australia’s most accomplished actors. He was born on July 6th 1951, in Toowoomba, Queensland. His parents, Merle Kiehne, a retail sales assistant and Roy Baden Rush, accountant for the Royal Australian Air Force divorced when Geoffrey was 5 years old. Consequently Geoffrey moved to Brisbane with his mother, where he attended Everton Park State High School. He continued his education to University level, earning a degree in art, from the University of Queensland. While at university Geoffrey was scouted by Queensland Theatre Company (QTC).
Stage Career
In 1971, 20 year old Geoffrey made his stage acting debut in, the Queensland Theatre Company’s production of, ‘Wrong Side of the Moon’. In 1975, Geoffrey moved to Paris to study mime, movement and theatre at the L’École Internationale de Théatre Jacques Lecoq. He then returned to Australia and continued his stage career with QTC. Geoffrey collaborated with the QTC for 4 years, in which he demonstrated his versatile acting range. His most notable productions are; ‘June and the Paycock’, ‘Godspell’, ‘Present Laughter’ and The Rivals’. In the 1980s, Geoffrey joined the State Theatre Company of South Australia and continued to showcase his acting range, from pantomime; ‘Hamlet on Ice’ and ‘Aladdin’ to Shakespeare plays; ‘The Winter’s Tale’ and ‘Troilus and Cressida’. He also starred in Oscar Wilde’s, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’, as John Worthing (Ernest), alongside his actress wife, Jane Menelaus and co-starred with former roommate, Mel Gibson, in the Australian production of ‘Waiting for Godot’. Geoffrey became renowned for playing ‘marginalised eccentrics’. In 2009, Geoffrey made his Broadway debut in the restaging of ‘Exit the King’. His performance won many prestigious theatre awards, most notably; Tony Award for Best Performance by a leading actor in a play and Drama Desk Award. This production cemented Geoffrey’s prestige in the theatre.
Film Career 
In 1981 Geoffrey made his film debut in the Australian film ‘Hoodwink’. In 1992, he suffered a nervous breakdown due to work pressures. His plight inspired his portrayal of David Helfgott, an eccentric pianist struggling with mental illness, in the biopic ‘Shine’ (1996). Geoffrey won an Oscar for this performance, making him the first Australian actor to win this prestigious award. This set the foundations for his future success. In 1998, Geoffrey received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor, for his role as Philip Henslowe in, ‘Shakespeare in Love’, starring Gwyneth Paltrow. He also won a BAFTA for his performance as, Sir Francis Walsingham, ‘the mysterious master of spies’, in the historical film, ‘Elizabeth’. Geoffrey’s knack for portraying quirky characters led him to star in independent films; the critically acclaimed, ‘Lantana’ (2001), as John Knox and one of Frida Kahlo’s lovers, the legendary Leon Trotsky, in the biopic ‘Frida’ (2002). In 2004, Geoffrey dabbled in television film starring in the biopic, ‘The Life and Death of Peter Sellers’, for which he won his second Golden Globe Award, an Emmy Award and SAG Award, for best actor in a television movie. Geoffrey’s recent film Tom Hooper’s, ‘The Kings Speech’ (2010), based on the true story of King George IV, accumulated the highest nominations for prestigious film awards this year, with 14 BAFTA nominations, 5 British Independent Film Awards and it has generated more Oscar buzz than any other film this year, with 12 Oscar nominations. It has been critically acclaimed as a ‘further testament to the extraordinary achievements of the British film industry’. Geoffrey is nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor for his role as, Lionel Logue, an unconventional, Australian Speech therapist to Prince Albert. Geoffrey is one of 25 people to have won the Triple Crown of Acting. His unique ability to portray intricate characters in an engaging and accessible way has made Geoffrey Rush, one of the most successful actors of our time.
English Actress Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter
Quirky English actress Helena Bonham Carter was born on May 26th 1966, in Golders Green, London. Her heritage is of aristocratic calibre. Helena’s great grandfather, Lord H. H. Asquith was the British Prime Minister (1908-1916). Her father, Raymond Bonham Carter was a merchant banker and the representative of the Bank of England at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C. (1960s). Helena’s mother Elena Bonham Carter (formerly Propper de Callejón) became a psychotherapist after 3 years of therapy, helped her overcome a serious nervous breakdown. Helena’s blue blood family also includes, diplomats, barons and baronesses and her great uncle the legendary director Anthony Asquith. Helena is the youngest of three children, she has two brothers, Edward and Thomas, and is a distant cousin of actor Crispin Bonham Carter.
Education
Helena Bonham Carter has no formal training in acting; she was educated in the independent girls’ school, South Hampstead High School, London and later at Westminster School, a co-educational independent school. Despite her adequate grades, Helena was denied admission to King’s College, Cambridge. The academic officials were sceptical that Helena’s passion for acting would enable her to finish university. Consequently the rejection of Cambridge led Helena to pursue acting as a full time occupation.
Career
In 1979 at the age of 13 Helena entered a national writing competition and used her cash prize to pay for her profile to feature in the actors’ directory ‘Spotlight’. At 16 years old Helena landed her first agent and professional acting debut in a television advertisement. Helena’s first starring role was as Lady Jane Grey in the film ‘Lady Jane’ (1986). Her breakthrough role was Lucy Honeychurch in ‘A Room with a View’ (1985), which was filmed after ‘Lady Jane’ but released prior.
Helena’s earlier roles established her as a period drama actress, labelled the ‘Corset Queen’ and ‘English Rose’. Since then Helena has been described as Tim Burton’s, ‘Black Orchid’, due to her numerous collaborations with the director. Burton cast Helena in diverse roles that demonstrate her chameleon quality and varied skill set as an actress. In the films: ‘Planet of the Apes’ (2001) in which Helena transformed into Dr. Zira, a chimpanzee psychologist and veterinarian. Burton’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ (2005) , brought out Helena’s maternal side, as Charlie’s mother, Mrs. Bucket. In the musical ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’ (2007), Helena debuted her singing ability as Mrs. Lovett, the accomplice of the vengeful Sweeney Todd. Helena was the epitome of Burton’s image of the Red Queen in ‘Alice in Wonderland’ (2010). She also stars in another renowned book adaptation; ‘The Harry Potter’ series (2007- 2011), as Bellatrix Lestrange, Lord Voldemort’s most loyal Death Eater. In her most recent film, ‘The Kings Speech’ (2010), Helena draws upon her aristocratic background to personify Queen Elizabeth. She has also lent her voice to Burton’s animation film, ‘The Corpse Bride’ (2005) and ‘Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit‘ (2005) . Helena also speaks fluent French, as demonstrated in the film ‘Portraits chinois’ (1996). Helena has dabbled in most film genres, from period dramas, fantasy, animation and sci fi, making her the most diverse and eclectic actress of our time.
Personal Life
Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton
Helena is married to the director Tim Burton. They met in 2001, while filming ‘Planet of The Apes’. They have a son Billy Ray and daughter Nell, named in homage to all the Helen’s in her family. Johnny Depp is a close mutual friend and God father to their children. They live in London, in separate but adjoining houses, which enables them to simultaneously spend time as a family and have their own space.
In 2008 Helena became a benefactor of the charity Action Duchenne, which supports people who suffer from the disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
