18.03.2008
ENDEMOL UK ACQUIRES STAKE IN PURE GRASS FILMS
Endemol UK today announced it has taken a 40% stake in digital production company Pure Grass Films.
Pure Grass Films was co-founded by Managing Director Ben Grass and Creative Director Tom Grass in May 2005. The company specialises in digital entertainment series with spin-off potential for TV, feature films and console games.
Forthcoming credits include Beyond the Rave, a 20 part Horror series financed by Hammer Films - their first production in 25 years. The series stars Sadie Frost (Dracula), Jamie Dornan (Marie Antoinette), Nora-Jane Noone (The Descent) and Tamer Hassan (Eastern Promises, The Football Factory). The Executive Music Producer is Pete Tong. It will be released first on MySpace TV on 17th April (their first international co-production) followed by a major international DVD release.
Other recent credits include When Evil Calls - the world’s first horror series for mobile phones, starring Sean Pertwee (Dog Soldiers), Dominique Pinon (Amelie, Delicatessen), and Chris Barrie (Red Dwarf).
Endemol UK’s Chief Executive Tim Hincks comments: “Our digital strategy is simple – we want to work with creative people who have brilliant ideas. Ben and Tom fit the bill perfectly.”
Ben Grass adds: “We are delighted to receive this backing from Endemol, and really excited about the opportunities it presents to develop our properties for cross platform exploitation on a global basis.”
Prior to founding Pure Grass Films Ben Grass was Director of Internet and Mobile at Sony Pictures in London. He set up Sony’s mobile group in Europe, and was responsible for the distribution of mobile content for movies such as Charlie’s Angels 2 and Spiderman 2.
Tom Grass wrote Beyond The Rave and has previously created mobile games for movies such as Charlies Angels 2 and Bad Boys 2.
As part of this investment Tim Hincks and Endemol UK’s Managing Director, Digital Media Peter Cowley have joined the board of Pure Grass Films.
This is Endemol UK’s second deal via its digital media investment fund, which was established to acquire a portfolio of assets specialising in digital platforms. In August 2007 Endemol UK announced it has taken a 25% stake in digital entertainment producer and distributor MoMedia International Ltd.
For more information about Pure Grass Films visit: www.puregrassfilms.com
ABOUT ENDEMOL UK
Endemol UK is one of the largest independent production companies in Britain and annually produces over 6,000 hours of output. It incorporates a number of production brands including Brighter Pictures, Cheetah Television, Initial and Zeppotron. These four specialise in a range of genres including comedy, gameshows, entertainment, specialist factual and scripted series.
Credits include BBC ONE’s latest talent show hit The One and Only, Channel 4 series Supersize vs. Superskinny, hit game shows Deal or No Deal (Channel 4), 1 vs. 100 (BBC ONE); Golden Balls (ITV1) and forthcoming BBC ONE series The Kids Are All Right; reality blockbuster Big Brother (Channel 4; E4); and comedy series 8 Out Of 10 Cats (Channel 4), Would I Lie To You (BBC ONE) and Charlie Brooker’s Screen Wipe (BBC Four; BBC Two).
The company is also behind a growing portfolio of innovative multiplatform entertainment including BBC THREE’s online and TV event Upstaged; O2’s first ever made-for-mobile drama, Cell; Bebo’s online reality show, Gap Year; BBC online interative drama Signs of Life and BBC THREE’s forthcoming interactive comedy series The Wall.
Endemol UK is part of Endemol - a global leader in entertainment that comprises an international network of companies that spans over 20 countries on five continents.
Endemol is owned by a consortium consisting of Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, Mediaset Group and Cyrte Group. For more information, please visit www.endemol.com
For more information
Charlie Gardner at Endemol UK on +44 (0) 7977 075 643 / charlie.gardner@endemoluk.com
Ben Grass at Pure Grass Films on +44 (0) 7889 800 719 / ben@puregrassfilms.com