This was the official website for Richwater Films, a British film production and financing company and distributor, launched in 2013 by Jonathan Sothcott, which specialized in crime, thriller and action films. Richwater Films ceased operations in 2016 amidst a number of allegations.
This site now should be viewed as a historical record with content from the site's archived pages and other outside sources.
British 'Carry On' Producer at Center of Series of Fraud Allegations
5/30/2016 by Alex Ritman / www.hollywoodreporter.com
Getty Images / Jonathan Sothcott
A Facebook page set up against Jonathan Sothcott is "just the tip of the iceberg," claims one former employee, as several others come forward with allegations of scores of unpaid wages and major financial mismanagement.
British film fans of a certain age have a special place in their hearts for the Carry On movies.
The silly, slightly bawdy comedy franchise, which produced 31 films between 1958 and 1992, harkens back to a simpler time: when sexual provocation meant a wee double entendre and a flash of boob. Never a major success outside the country — the films were filled with in-jokes about the National Health Service and English history — the Carry On movies remain a British institution, as beloved as warm beer and the brand of football played with a round ball without using your hands.
So news last week that a British producer was set to revive the films was greeted with a wave of nostalgia by the local press, who devoted countless column inches to the story and reveled in the prospect of the first new Carry On title in 25 years.
A look behind the headlines, however, shows how treacherous such nostalgia can be. Consider Jonathan Sothcott, the producer at the center of the Carry On reboot and a man, according to a number of industry figures, with a trail of bad debt and bankrupt film companies to his name.
Several former employees of Sothcott have accused the producer of scamming them and countless others working on the lower rungs of the British film industry as he moved from one title to another. Indeed, a Facebook page entitled "Jonathan Sothcott Fraud Investigation,"was set up anonymously three months ago encouraging alleged victims to get in touch. The page has already pushed some 250 actors, writers, extras, consultants and others come forward. Many of the page's followers have detailed how they still haven’t been paid, sometimes years after working on Sothcott’s films.
But the matter isn’t simply one for grievances on social media. The British police has also been looking into matters, THR has learned, along with the governmental tax department HMRC. While the HMRC never comments on investigations, it has been sent evidence — from both individuals and the police — and provided a case number.
As one producer, who wished to remain unnamed, tells THR: “We were just waiting for him to do something newsworthy, and then came the Carry Onstory.”
Filmmaker J.K. Amalou was among the first to file a complaint with the police. The director shot underworld action film Assassin, which Sothcott produced, in 2013. The movie starred Danny Dyer, a familiar face from low-budget British gangster titles, and now a star on long-running BBC soap EastEnders.
To make the movie, which had a budget of $220,000 (£150,000), Sothcott set up Assassin Productions Limited, a so-called Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) company and placed the money from the film's investors — £140,000 — into it. This is standard practice in the film industry. SPV's are a kind of firewall against liabilities. If a film goes way over budget, or flops badly, the SPV goes bust, not the producer's main production company.
Amalou, however, soon became suspicious that Sothcott was using Assassin Productions Limited as his own private piggy bank. Sothcott claimed Amalou had gone £50,000 over budget on the movie but, according to the director, evaded meetings to discuss the problem. When Amalou tried to check the company finances, he found Sothcott had failed to file the required bank mandate giving him access. But when he eventually did get into the accounts, the director said he immediately spotted evidence of fraud.
"The minute I looked at the bank statement, I saw straight away that he was taking huge amounts from the account," he tells THR. "I saw companies that had no connection with my film whatsoever. It was obvious he was using the bank account — my investors’ money, my film’s money — to do other things."
Among the outgoings were expensive lunches, events organizers and, notably, transfers to other film companies set up by Sothcott and payments for invoices on other films, including another gangland thriller, Top Dog.
Dougie Brimson, whom Sothcott hired to write and co-produce Top Dog (adapted from Brimson’s own novel), said he had similar suspicions of wrongdoing connected to that film and its SPV, Top Dog Limited.
Although he was a director and shareholder of the company, Brimson says that he was refused access to all bank statements and invoices. He estimates that "at least £487,000" was raised for the film, including a £350,000 pre-sale to Universal Pictures.
"Top Dog Ltd was more than well capitalized," he says, suggesting that similar films were made for around £200,000-£250,000. And yet the company was eventually declared bankrupt, with Brimson saying that it owed "tens of thousands of pounds."
Although he never had full access to the finances, Brimson says he managed to obtain evidence of false accounting, including an invoice of £1,500 entered into the accounts as £15,000 and a fee for the director Martin Kemp (formerly of U.K. pop music group Spandau Ballet) almost 50 percent higher than his agreed remuneration.
Brimson asserts that Kemp was still owed money from Assassin, in which he also starred, suggesting that the inflated figure from Top Dog could well have been an attempt to pay off this debt.
Another individual paid from the accounts of Top Dog was Ricci Harnett. Like Kemp, Harnett starred in the film, and was paid in full for his work.
But when Sothcott hired him to make his directing debut on another title, Reign of the General, Harnett saw that part of his fee was also paid out of Top Dog Ltd's accounts. Other money, he says, came from the account of WSKTOW, another now-defunct SPV set up for We Still Kill the Old Way, yet another London gangster film produced by Sothcott.
Harnett said he had to return to work as a motorcycle courier and relied on support from his family to pay the legal bills in his suit that, finally, resulted him him getting the money he was owed.
Another director, Jonathan Glendening, tells THR he was three weeks into shooting the Sothcott-produced comedy-horror Strippers v. Werewolves before he eventually received a £4,000 payment — the only money he received for his work — via former Sothcott collaborator Simon Phillips (who now tells THR he is also owed money by the producer) and from a different company account.
After the film's wrap party, in which the director says Sothcott praised him and his work on the film, Glendening claims he was fired for "gross incompetence," (something Sothcott has confirmed to THR) locked out of the edit and told his "fantastic footage was suddenly awful." Glendening also asserts that one of the principal actresses in the film was fired after coming out in support of an unpaid makeup artist, with Sothcott casting his then-girlfriend in a new part.
The final "awful" release, which still bares Glendening's name, was rushed out without effects, and the director says, looks "remarkably different" to the original scenes he cut himself.
“But that’s not the point, the point is I shot the entire film for him and wasn’t paid for it," he adds.
Reign of the General, Top Dog, We Still Kill the Old Way and others, including Age of Kill, were made through Sothcott’s production banner Richwater Films, launched in 2013, and now — like many of the producer’s outfits — dissolved. Another one of Sothcott’s now defunct outfits, Black and Blue Films Limited — which was behind Strippers v. Werewolves — was put into liquidation with reported debts of more than £500,000. Sothcott is believed to have had at least 10 of his companies dissolved, and has resigned from four others (including Assassin Productions Limited).
“Ultimately, I know his scam,” says Amalou. “He sets up limited companies (and) raises some money knowing full well that he’ll have enough to deliver a film to a distributor, but not enough to pay everyone involved.”
Among the scores to have contacted the Facebook page is an extras agency that says it is owed £10,000, a cinematographer who claims to be owed £6,000 and a catering company owed “many thousands.” Several have said that when they put their grievances online they were instantly warned by Sothcott's legal council. "When we posted something on Twitter about us he sent us a lawyers letter saying we were bad-mouthing him," claims one.
Amalou says that in order to pay those owed on Assassin (Sothcott eventually resigned from the company, leaving him to deal with the debts), he had to sell off his 20 percent stake in the film.
“So I have no shares whatsoever. I didn’t make a penny from the film, even though it’s now making money.”
When media reports of the financial disputes surrounding Sothcott first emerged earlier this month, the producer told The Mail of Sunday that the Facebook page had been set up by “some stalker making it all up," claiming that “none of it’s true — I don’t even know who the nutter is."
But the volume of complaints being leveled against the individual indicate that it’s far from just one stalker, and that the issue has been going on for a number of years (one report of unpaid wages dates back to 2010 zombie horror film Devil’s Playground).
In a response to THR, Sothcott rejects the allegations made against him in this article, claiming that he himself is owed money from Assassin and denies he attempted to block Amalou from seeing the company accounts. He also asserts that he resigned from the company "because I simply didn’t want my name associated with such a terrible film." (THR has seen evidence that Sothcott attempted to buy himself back into the "terrible" film as a producer)
Sothcott also rejects that any threats have been made — beyond legal letters "relating to defamation" to Brimson and Amalou — to any individual regarding any grievances, and even denies to have received any claims for outstanding sums on any of his films, something in direct conflict with the many who have spoken out via the Facebook page.
Among the suggested reasons why Sothcott has seemingly managed to avoid any major legal proceedings thus far is that those left chasing unpaid invoices aren’t millionaire film executives with teams of sharp-suited legal experts at their disposal.
“I could go after Sothcott in a big way with my lawyer, but it would cost me a minimum of £30,000,” says Amalou, who filed a report with the police some 18 months ago.
Sothcott's legal representative has a letter dated May 20 from the regarding the police investigation into him that says the case will "not be proceeded with," but THR has learned that some of the evidence gathered has been passed from the police to British tax authorities.
Now, while the average behind-the-scenes employee on one of Sothcott’s low-budget titles might be put off from chasing a few thousand pounds of missing payments due to the costs involved, HMRC wields considerably more clout. Accusations that Sothcott has abused the U.K.’s producer tax relief, which is now as much as 25 percent of production expenditures, could see tax investigators move in. Sothcott says this is "absolutely not true and a serious allegation," something rejected by Amalou, who points to payments made to cast and crew – such as Kemp and Harnett – from other film accounts and the movement of money between SVPs.
"He’s pretending that stuff is connected to the film and is claiming the 20-25 percent off it, which the tax man gives back to him," says the director, while Glendening adds that he has "always wondered" if tax relief was claimed on his unpaid director’s fee.
What happens with Sothcott's proposed Carry On titles remains to be seen, but it's clear that there are many who would prefer the producer wasn't allowed to have any further involvement in filmmaking, let alone on such an iconic franchise.
"He is a blight on our industry," one producer told THR. "His actions damage the legitimate attempts by every independent producer in the country to make films and, in some ways, give us all a bad name."
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What to Think About This News
It was distressing to learn about the allegations against Jonathan Sothcott. Several of my friends within the film industry were really excited when he launched his production company. They too were interested in one day having their own production company and actually followed an number of nascent companies to see if they would survive in an industry that is notoriously difficult to succeed in unless you have backers/ investors with deep pockets.
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WELCOME TO RICHWATER FILMS!
Launched in January 2013, RICHWATER FILMS is a new independent British production and financing company dedicated to making the very best in high concept commercial movies. The company also has interests in publishing, music and multimedia.
Led by established, prolific producer Jonathan Sothcott, Richwater strives to work with the very best talent available to make films that truly deliver to audiences around the world.
Here you will find out more about our forthcoming films, background on the business, and details of how you can get involved.
"Jonathan Sothcott is carving out a niche as one of the most prolific producers of British action movies"
ABOUT RICHWATER FILMS
Launched in January 2013 by award-winning British film producer and entrepreneur Jonathan Sothcott, RICHWATER FILMS has already established itself as a major player on the British independent film scene. With interests in publishing and multimedia and a groundbreaking output deal with US studio Anchor Bay, Richwater is so much more than just a film company.
"Jonathan Sothcott is carving out a niche as one of the most prolific producers of British action movies" - THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Over the past 5 years, Jonathan has produced films starring the likes of Ray Winstone, Richard E Grant, Mark Hamill, Robert Englund, Danny Dyer, Rik Mayall and Steven Berkoff. A lifelong film aficionado, Jonathan relishes making movies – producing is a real passion for him, as well as a business.
He launched Richwater to make ambitious, commercially viable films that have a distinct voice, reach a wide audience and embrace recent advances in distribution channels.
For the company's first project, vigilante actioner VENDETTA, Jonathan pulled out all the stops and assembled a stellar ensemble cast including his close friend Danny Dyer (The Football Factory, The Business) - with whom he has worked some half a dozen times – Vincent Regan (Bonded By Blood), Bruce Payne (Passenger 57), Ricci Harnett (Rise of the Footsoldier), Nick Nevern (White Collar Hooligan) and Roxanne McKee (Game of Thrones), despite the low budget. This is indicative of the ‘family’ atmosphere inherent in the company’s filmmaking philosophy, with actors, director and writers working fluidly together to make the very best films possible.
The company’s second film, TOP DOG (Universal Pictures), has now been released, and both WE STILL KILL THE OLD WAY and AGE OF KILL are both in the can.
Looking to the future, Richwater aims to produce and/or co-produce 6 to 8 movies each year across a range of budget levels and largely - though not solely - in the action and thriller genres. Richwater’s deal with independent publisher Caffeine Nights will ensure that its properties are represented on bookshelves in the forms of novelisations and graphic novels, as well as in special non-fiction publications. Also this year, the company is looking to expand into television production.
Richwater is committed to working with the very best talent in the creative industries and Jonathan and his team are constantly seeking new material and opportunities to expand the company’s reach.
MEET THE TEAM
The board of Richwater Films reflects the dynamic, entrepreneurial spirit of the company, with a combined experience of over 30 years in the entertainment industries and high calibre expertise encompassing film production, marketing, acquisitions, development, distribution, financing and public relations.
JONATHAN SOTHCOTT CEO & FOUNDER
Jonathan is one of the UK's most dynamic, proactive filmmakers and is recognized as a successful independent entrepreneur throughout the movie industry as well as in the wider business community. Formerly Head of Programming at The Horror Channel, he entered the film industry in 2009 and has since produced some two dozen feature films. He won 'Best Producer' two years in a row at the British Horror Film Awards and the British Lion Award at the British Film Festival in 2012. Away from movies, Jonathan was Executive Producer on the monster special interest DVD hit Danny Dyer's Football Foul Ups.
Twitter @sothcott
ADAM STEPHEN KELLY MARKETING EXECUTIVE</p>
An emerging filmmaker in his own right, Adam is also a film journalist, first published in print at age 16. Kelly's writing, which includes over 700 published articles, interviews, features and reviews, has been read by millions around the world in a variety of outlets, from Rolling Stone to Ain't It Cool News. He has conducted interviews with the likes of Sir Roger Moore, Simon Pegg, Ronan Keating and Kelly Brook. He is the writer/director of critically-acclaimed short Done In, which premiered as part of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.
Twitter @adz_kelly
JAMES MULLINGER SVP NORTH AMERICA
James is a respected journalist and critically acclaimed stand up comedian. He was the co-author of bestselling book The Films Of Danny Dyer with Richwater CEO Jonathan Sothcott. As a journalist he has written for The Guardian, Men’s Health, Radio Times, The Erotic Review and worked for GQ Magazine for 14 years where he remains as Comedy Editor.
James now lives in Atlantic Canada heading up Richwater’s North American office when not touring with his comedy shows. London’s Evening Standard described him as “something of a sensation” and The Huffington Post reviewed his sold out 2013 tour stating: “Compulsive viewing. A very funny man with a big future ahead of him.” Time Out have described him as “Excellent, very funny, skilful” and recently commented that: “He’s a powerful man, that Mullinger.” James' new stand up show is entitled How A Middle Class Comedian Fell In Love With Danny Dyer and will be touring all over the UK from October 2014.
NEIL JONES HEAD OF PRODUCTION
Award-winning filmmaker Neil Jones has directed such stars as Rutger Hauer, Tamer Hassan, Craig Fairbrass and Doug Bradley. His critically-acclaimed boxing biopic Risen won a BAFTA for Best Actor. As a producer at Richwater, Neil has overseen We Still Kill the Old Way and Age of Kill, which he also directed.
Twitter: @njonesfilms
OUR FILMS
REVIEWS
****
"This is the overdue Danny Dyer movie we thought we’d never see."
Britpic
"Death Wish for 2013"
Loaded Magazine
"Nail-biting"
Daily Star
"A Brit answer to First Blood"
Total Film
"Cinematic class"
The Sun
****
The Shiznit
"Ronseal cinema"
Empire
"Danny Dyer's best ever performance"<
HEYUGUYS
"Surprisingly good"
Virgin Movies
"A gem of a British Thriller"
UK Film News
"Dyer is back to his best... Awesome"
GQ
****
"Incredibly tense, disturbing and thoroughly entertaining. This is Hard R stuff."<
The Action Elite
"Each set piece is uniquely twisted"
Britflicks
****
"With an attractive solid script that fizzes along it is easy to see why Richwater Films stable of actors all wanted to be on display here" Filmsploitation
TOP DOG
SYNOPSIS
Hooligan boss Billy Evans has it all - a successful business, a beautiful family and respect on the terraces. Even better, the police have never been able to touch him. But when he butts heads with gangster Mickey over a backstreet protection racket, Billy soon finds himself out of his depth as events rapidly escalate and he finds that he has taken on far more than he can chew.
CAST
Leo Gregory …. Billy Evans
Ricci Harnett … Mickey
Vincent Regan … Mr Watson
George Russo … Hawk
Danielle Brent … Sam
Jason Flemyng … Dan
Lorraine Stanley … Julie
Susan Penhaligon … Sal
Written by Dougie Brimson, based on his cult novel.
Directed by Martin Kemp
WE STILL KILL THE OLD WAY
SYNOPSIS
When retired East End villain CHARLIE ARCHER is murdered by a feral street gang whilst attempting to stop them attacking a young girl, his brother RITCHIE ARCHER returns to London from Spain to investigate. Retired to the costa del crime for 30 years, Ritchie doesn’t recognise this new London of post code gangs, ASBOS and a culture of fear on the streets. With the police investigation lead by DI TAYLOR thwarted at every turn and drawing blank after blank, Ritchie decides to take the law into his own hands and bring his old school justice back to the streets of East London. Rounding up his old firm, he leads a vigilante crusade against the vicious young criminals, using every grisly method at his disposal to find and punish his brother’s killers. A vicious street war follows, with no prisoners taken on either side, leading to a dramatic conclusion as the feral youths lay siege to a hospital Ritchie’s firm is holed up in. They’re outgunned and outnumbered, but this firm has never been outclassed yet!
CAST
Ian Ogilvy … Ritchie Archer
Steven Berkoff … Charlie Archer
Alison Doody … Susan Taylor
Lysette Anthony … Lizzie
James Cosmo … Arthur
Danny-Boy Hatchard … Aaron
Dani Dyer … Lauren
Red Madrell … DK
Chris Ellison … Roy
Tony Denham … Butch
Nicky Henson … Houghton
Written by Dougie Brimson & Gary Lawrence and Sacha Bennett
Produced by Jonathan Sothcott and Neil Jones
Directed by Sacha Bennett
LATEST NEWS
INTANDEM NAMED WORLDWIDE SALES AGENT FOR THREE RICHWATER FILM PRODUCTIONS
Intandem Films, the London based international film group, announces that it has been appointed as exclusive sales agent on three fully financed feature films produced by Jonathan Sothcott (, The Fall of The Essex Boys, Devil’s Playground) of Richwater Films. Intandem will receive a 10% sales commission on each movie.
Each of the films will be represented by Intandem at the forthcoming American Film Market (AFM), which is due to take place between 6-13th November in Santa Monica, California, USA.
Vendetta (completed film)
Directed by Stephen Reynolds this action thriller stars Danny Dyer (The Football Factory, Severance, The Business) and is set for a cinema release in the UK on 15th November 2013.
The story centres on Jimmy - a fierce warrior forged on the battlefield, who now wants to exact revenge on the thugs that murdered his parents.
With the police closing in and his old regiment determined to stop him from exposing their dirty tricks, Jimmy goes underground. His actions have created a media frenzy as Jimmy becomes London’s first vigilante of the 21st Century.
Assassin (in production)
Directed by JK Amalou (Hard Men, Deviation). The film stars Martin and Gary Kemp and marks the first time the brothers, both former Spandau Ballet band members, have partnered in a film since cult classic The Krays.
The film is about a hitman (Jamie – played by Danny Dyer) who kills a politician only to compromise himself by falling in love with his victim’s estranged daughter. When she is killed by another gang and Jamie seeks revenge – resulting in an orgy of violence.
Reign of The General (in pre-production)
Starring Ricci Harnett as gangland legend Carlton Leach., this true crime epic follows the murders of Leach’s close friends Tony Tucker, Pat Tate and Craig Rolfe – the ‘Essex Boys’ gang who were killed in the notorious Range Rover Murders in 1995.
A paranoid Leach, sure that he’ll be next, bounces back from drugs and depression to rally his firm and adapt to a new style of crime when a price is put on his head and he is forced to fight for survival.
Jonathan Sothcott, CEO Rich Water Films said:
“My intention of establishing Richwater Films as a serious player in the action/crime film marketplace always relied on finding a major sales agent which was prepared to go the extra mile to achieve the results the films deserve and help show that UK films can work internationally. In Intandem, I think we have found that Agency and I am very much looking forward to working with the team on what I hope will be the beginning of a successful long term relationship."
Robert Mitchell, CEO Intandem Films said:
“The Management Team at Intandem are delighted to be partnering with Jonathan Sothcott on these three commercial films. With our experience and his talent, we believe that there is a strong foundation on which to build a long and mutually advantageous relationship going forward”.
PUBLISHER CAFFEINE NIGHTS AND RICHWATER FILMS EXTEND BOOK TIE UP WITH THREE NEW TITLES
Leading independent publisher Caffeine Nights has announced today that it has extended its first look deal with Richwater Films with the addition of three new titles to its roster.
Acclaimed crime author Nick Oldham, who novelised Richwater’s first film Vendetta for Caffeine Nights, is currently adapting their hitman thriller Assassin for publication in Spring 2014. Assassin, which recently wrapped filming, stars Martin and Gary Kemp, reunited on screen for the first time since cult classic The Krays. It is written and directed by JK Amalou and will be released in April 2013.
Vendetta – The Graphic Novel, by Brian Gorman, is based on the screenplay by Stephen Reynolds and expands the story’s universe beyond the confines of the movie.
Finally, the non-fiction The Films of Danny Dyer by GQ’s James Mullinger and Jonathan Sothcott is a retrospective of the big screen career of Britain’s most controversial movie star. Billed as the definitive companion to the actor’s work, it has been endorsed by the actor and features a running commentary from him throughout.
Caffeine Night’s Darren Laws said “Our association with Richwater Films has broadened our horizons and we are publishing our first graphic novel and non-fiction title because of it. We are excited to be publishing these titles and working with Richwater Films to produce books for fans of these films and actors, as well as readers of great entertaining books, which is always the ethos of Caffeine Nights.”
Richwater Films CEO Jonathan Sothcott commented, “I think that we’re doing something quite wonderful with Caffeine Nights, putting out books that we can be proud of in the same way that we are with the films we make. This is just the first chapter in what I hope will be a long and fruitful association.
Vendetta by Nick Oldham is published this month
The Films of Danny Dyer is published November 2012
Vendetta – The Graphic Novel is published November 2012
Assassin by Nick Oldham will be published in Spring 2014
ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT UK AND RICHWATER FILMS SIGN CO-PRODUCTION DEAL AND ANNOUNCE FIRST TITLE
London -- Anchor Bay Entertainment UK has announced that it has signed a major co-production agreement with Jonathan Sothcott’s indie, Richwater Films. The two companies will develop, finance and produce a minimum of 4 feature films per year. The announcement marks one of the the most important investments in UK production by a major American distributor in the last fifty years.
Anchor Bay UK’s Director Of Acquisitions Rod Smith said, “I am very proud and excited to announce this new partnership with Richwater Films and an exciting new chapter in Anchor Bay UK’s growth and development. Jonathan Sothcott’s Richwater Films and Anchor Bay share the same passion, aspirations and drive to create some of the most exciting, relevant, talked about and commercially successful British independent films for many years. I am very excited about our first project, We Still Kill The Old Way, and look forward to announcing further titles in due course.”
Richwater CEO Jonathan Sothcott commented, “This is a genuine watershed moment in British film production – an American distributor committing to such a big creative slate of independent British films. We’ve worked a long time to make this happen because British films CAN work commercially – so long as they are made for audiences rather than for filmmakers’s egos and as long as they are made with genuine care and attention. The exciting thing about this is that we’ll be able to create so many new jobs in the film industry, as well as telling great stories that audiences will enjoy.”
Anchor Bay Entertainment will retain UK and Australian distribution rights as part of the deal and the producers will appoint a sales agent to handle the rest of the world.
The first film will be London revenge thriller We Still Kill The Old Way, co-written by Gary Lawrence and Green Street Hooligans’ scribe Dougie Brimson. It revolves around a group of ageing London gangsters going on a vigilante killing spree when one of their number is murdered by a street gang. Sothcott describes it as “Harry Brown on crack.” Filming is due to commence in January 2014.
Richwater’s Nick Aldrich commented, “Our aim of making Richwater Films into the commercial British film production company has taken another step forward today with this remarkable opportunity. Even as we diversify the business into publishing, soundtracks and digital content, we have never forgotten that our core trade is DVD product and as the market continues to flourish, we are in a very exciting and unique position.”
The deal is not exclusive for Richwater which is shortly to begin filming on gangster epic Top Dog for Universal Pictures UK.
In the Summer of 2013, Richwater Films and Anchor Bay hosted a cocktail party at the Groucho Club in Soho to mark their historic co-production deal. Guests included Martin Kemp, Craig Fairbrass, Emily Beecham, Ricci Harnett, Danny Dyer, Bruce Payne, Anouska Mond and Kierston Wareing.
BUYERS HAVE VENDETTA
EXCLUSIVE: Manifest records sales on Danny Dyer thriller to North America and Germany, among others.
Manifest Film Sales, the newly re-branded sales arm of Intandem Media Group, has clocked sales on Danny Dyer thriller Vendetta. The Richwater Films production has sold to North America (Inception), Germany (Universum), Japan (Klockworx), Middle East (Falcon Films), Poland (Vitra Film), Korea (J&J Media), Greece (Odeon), Scandinavia (Another World), Turkey (Sinema) and Benelux (Premiere TV).
Vendetta stars Dyer, Vincent Regan and Ricci Harnett in the story of a special ops interrogation officer who tracks down the gang who killed his parents.
The film was recently released by Anchor Bay in the UK. Manifest is headed up by Andrew Brown and Billy Hurman.
Director of sales Brown said: “Vendetta is the first of a number of exciting thrillers - including Top Dog, and Reign of the General - that we are representing for Richwater Films and we are looking forward to our continuing successful relationship.”
U.K. Genre Banner Richwater Films Adds Nude Model Crime Drama to Slate
The company behind Danny Dyer-starrer "Vendetta" snaps up the movie rights to Tracy Kirby's autobiography "Model Prisoner" for a fall 2014 production start.
LONDON – U.K. indie production banner Richwater Films, the company behind vigilante thriller Vendetta, starring Danny Dyer, has secured the movie rights to Tracy Kirby's autobiography Model Prisoner.
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Anchor Bay U.K. Inks Deal With British Production Banner Richwater Films
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Anchor Bay to Roll Out Danny Dyer's 'Vendetta' in U.K. and Australia
Kirby, a topless page 3 model in the British tabloid The Sun, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News International, was arrested for unwittingly smuggling cash for a huge international drugs cartel and spent two years in Holloway Prison in the British capital.
INVESTORS
Richwater Films, one of the most exciting and ambitious film production companies in the UK, offers an extensive selection of innovative investment opportunities, from private equity investment in new film projects to structured investments under the government-sponsored SEIS and EIS schemes, and DCMS film tax credit.
Have you ever thought about investing in movies?
Richwater Films runs a number of low-risk, tax-efficient SEIS and EIS schemes to enable groundfloor investment in highly commercial feature film productions. Films can generate spectacular returns on investment, over a short to mid-term period, and the upside potential of film is far greater than most traditional investments such as property and shares. Richwater Films provides dynamic financial solutions for a wide variety of commercial feature films in all genres and at various budget levels, and specialises in identifying the substantial tax benefits available for qualifying investors.
Would you like to be part of the UK film industry?
James Bond
Hammer Horror
Pinewood Studios
Working Title
Merchant Ivory
The UK has the most creative and respected film industry in the world, rich in heritage and growing year on year. If you are reading this, you are probably already an experienced investor in search of new opportunities to counter the capricious situation that continues to plague investment since the devastating financial events of 2008.
Films show absolutely no correlation to the financial markets, making them a cherished asset, which can help balance your investment portfolio. In fact, low-budget films traditionally fare better in the face of harsh economic times as people seek low-cost entertainments.
The huge growth of online distribution platforms and new ways to consume entertainment on portable devices (such as smartphones and tablets) has generated a huge demand for high-quality, low-cost content. In addition, the evergreen DVD market shows no signs of slowing down. In the first quarter of 2013, DVD business in the UK was up 10% on 2012.
By utilising the latest advances in digital movie technology and applying cutting edge cost-saving techniques, savvy content creators such as Richwater can now create movies with the look and feel of Hollywood blockbusters, but where the actual production costs are far less, thus producing strategic investment prospects.
All investments involve a degree of risk and films are no exception. Risk exposure can be reduced through vigorous due diligence processes, and Richwater is at the cutting edge of market analysis to ensure that its films are as commercial as possible. Our experienced team of film finance specialists and investment professionals provides an unrivalled service to our clients and investors. We have built strong relationships with the UK's leading industry talent and through our in-depth sector knowledge and expertise can offer both investment opportunities and strategic advice. In some cases, risk can even be mitigated through projects that secure returns through pre-selling the movie to distributors before filming even begins.
Richwater works in close partnership with leading West End media accountancy firm Entertainment Accounts Management to ensure that all of our investment opportunities are as well structured as possible.
Aside from the financial prospects, investing with Richwater gives you additional perks such as detailed production updates, special screenings, invitations to premieres, and even opportunities to visit the set to see the films actually being made.
There’s no hard sell, no shady tax avoidance, just a solid business opportunity - and you don’t have to be a millionaire to get involved either. If you’re interested in learning more please email info@richwaterfilms.com
