Ben Grass

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Ben Grass
BornMay 1971 (age 52–53)
United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of Oxford
INSEAD
OccupationCo-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]

  1. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (2 November 2019). "Saban Films Lands Right To 'Twist' Starring Michael Caine & Lena Headey". Deadline. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Sky announces co-production of forthcoming original film Twist". WebWire. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  3. ^ "First look at Rita Ora's latest role in modern Oliver Twist adaptation". Evening Standard. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Endemol buys stake in digiatl production company Pure Grass Films". The Guardian. 1 March 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  5. ^ Fellner, Chris (3 July 2019). The Encyclopedia of Hammer Films. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-2659-2.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "Endemol grows stake in Pure Grass". The Hollywood Reporter. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Grass is greener for Endemol U.K." Variety. 1 March 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  9. ^ "First look at Rita Ora's latest role in modern Oliver Twist adaptation". Evening Standard. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  10. ^ "Jude Law's model son Rafferty lands lead role in Oliver Twist remake". Metro. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ Dams, Tim (1 October 2019). "Michael Caine, Lena Headey to Star in Modern-Day Version of 'Oliver Twist'". Variety. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Michael Caine to Play Fagin in New 'Oliver Twist' Adaptation". The Hollywood Reporter. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Sir Michael Caine and Rita Ora join Sky's modern day Oliver Twist adaptation". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Michael Caine supported by walking stick on set of Oliver Twist remake". Metro. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  17. ^ Rosser, Michael. "Michael Caine to play Fagin in Sky day-and-date release 'Twist'". Screen. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "Saban Films Acquires Charles Dickens Retelling 'Twist'". The Hollywood Reporter. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  20. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (1 June 2020). "Bear Grylls To Produce Modern Day 'Count Of Monte Cristo' Movie Set In Afghanistan". Deadline. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Bear Grylls To Produce Modern Day 'Count Of Monte Cristo' Movie Set In Afghanistan". PressFrom – CA. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  22. ^ "Sky announces co-production of forthcoming original film Twist". WebWire. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  23. ^ Buckingham, Ed (2 January 2016). 7 Summits: 1 Cornishman climbing the highest mountains on each continent. Vertebrate Publishing. ISBN 978-1-909461-50-5.
  24. ^ Kiss, Jemima (3 October 2008). "MSN launches online TV drama Kirill with David Schofield". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  25. ^ "ELESPECTADOR.COM". ELESPECTADOR.COM (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  26. ^ "Endemol harvests 40% stake in Pure Grass". The Hollywood Reporter. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  27. ^ Montgomery, Alice (1 January 2015). Jamie Dornan: Shades of Desire. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-0-7181-8089-8.
  28. ^ Lee, Marc (2 March 2008). "Hammer Horror: Beyond the Rave". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  29. ^ Horsley, Jake (3 March 2007). "Films in narrow-screen". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
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