Blake Friedmann

John Wolstenholme

Agent: Julian Friedmann

Biography

 

Whilst continuing his long and distinguished career as a film financier and executive producer, John Wolstenholme wrote his first screenplay HEAVEN SENT (a love story set in a drought-wracked 'hell on earth'). It was immediately picked up for production and made into a $4 million Australian movie. John's subsequent screenplays have been sold, commissioned or optioned to production companies such as DNA Films, Blue Heaven Productions and Red Vision. 

 

 

Full Credits:

 

As Screenwriter:

 

A FAR BETTER THING

With Lois Ainslie: Developed with the assistance of Equinoxe

 

ARSE WITH CLASS: aka OLD SCHOOL TIES

Seditious black comedy set in an English Public School: Written with Lois Ainslie

 

FLORA'S DAUGHTER

Romantic comedy concerning the 'secret of eternal youth': Written with Lois Ainslie

 

ANOTHER LIFETIME

Romance / Crime-thriller     

 

G2  - SPIRIT OF THE AGE

Victorian Sci-Fi action / adventure

 

HEAVEN SENT aka HURRAH

Adaptation of David Owen's novel BITTERS END: Starring Marton Csokas and Tushka Bergen

 

As Executive Producer:

 

1995 - Present

Development supervision, project packaging and financing on a range of international films; plus consultancy work and screenwriting:

 

Completed projects include:

 

MUGGERS

Black comedy concerning two penniless students conning their way through medical school. Starring Matt Day and Jason  Barry: Director: Dean Murphy: Closing night film: NUSA Film Festival: "Excellent ... fresh, funny ... outlandish originality": Variety: Film Finance Corp and Winchester Entertainment, London

 

HEAVEN SENT

Screenwriter & Co-Producer: A haunting love story set in the Australian desert: Starring Tushka Bergen and Marton Csokas: Director: Frank Shields:   Film Finance Corp of Australia / Mayfair / Spin Entertainment / Showtime: Bermuda Film Festival

 

A MERRY WAR: UK title: KEEP THE ASPIDISTRA FLYING

Exec. Producer: Romantic comedy based on George Orwell's novel: Starring Helena Bonham-Carter and Richard E. Grant: Director:  Robert Bierman: Toronto Film Festival: "Supreme entertainment value": Time magazine: Opening night film: London Film Festival: Overseas Film Group, Arts Council of England, First Independent

 

FAR HARBOR aka MR SPIELBERG'S BOAT

Executive Producer: Drama set on Long Island with ensemble cast led by Jennifer Connelly, Dan Futterman and Marcia Gay Harden: Writer / Director: John Huddles: Cinequanon Pictures: USA                       

 

THE LAST OF THE HIGH KINGS

Exec. & Co-Producer: Acclaimed coming-of-age comedy starring Gabriel Byrne, Catherine O'Hara, Jared Leto, Christina Ricci, Colm Meaney and Stephen Rea: Director: David Keating: London Film Festival: "A real triumph!": Paul Gambaccini: BBC, Miramax, Nordisk, RTE, Irish Film Board, First Independent, Eurimages

 

Additionally:

 

LOOK HERE PICTURES

Development & Business consultant on a range of films, incl:

 

GOOSED

Comedy starring Jennifer Tilly and Robert Klein: Director: Aleta Chapelle: Producers: Mark Lipsky and Francis Ford Coppola

                                            

1982-94     

UNITED MEDIA Ltd: Head of Production for independent film & TV financing / packaging company (shareholders: Prudential and PosTel): Appointed M.D. in 1987: In-house responsibility for the development, financing & distribution of a wide range of award-winning film & TV productions distributed around the world, including:

 

THE KRAYS

Miramax / Rank

 

JAMAICA INN

HTV / 20th Century Fox

 

IN A SHALLOW GRAVE

American Playhouse

 

PRISONERS OF THE LOST UNIVERSE

Showtime / EMI

 

TO THE LIGHTHOUSE

BBC / PBS

 

THE HEART OF THE DRAGON

Channel 4

 

THE INSIDE MAN

Svenskfilm

 

REGGAE SUNSPLASH

int'l TV

 

THE BAKER STREET BOYS

BBC

 

Also set u­p and managed United Media Film Sales: 1988: A distribution subsidiary for the sale of international film & TV rights                                                                                                             

 

1970-82  

Production Supervisor on commercials and documentaries, including major US.TV series Choice of Champions: for Worldvision and Syndicast: shot in 26 countries around the world

 

New Decade Films: London: Graduated through cutting rooms and production management, then producing, writing and directing: cinema shorts, award-winning documentaries, and commercials

 

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