Carnival Films
Carnival Films is a British television production company based in London, UK, founded in 1978. It has produced television series for all the major UK networks including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Sky, as well as international broadcasters including PBS, A&E, HBO and NBC. Productions include single dramas, long-running television dramas, feature films, and stage productions.
Production company | |
Industry | Television Production |
Founded | 1978 (as Picture Partnership Productions Ltd.) 1988 (as Carnival Film and Theatre Ltd.) 2006 (as Carnival Film & Television Ltd.) |
Founder | Brian Eastman Leszek Burzynski |
Headquarters | , |
Key people | Gareth Neame (executive chairman) David O'Donoghue (managing director) Nigel Marchant (managing director) Aliboo Bradbury (commercial director) Charlotte Ashby (head of production) Joanna Strevens (executive producer) Jessica Pope (executive producer) |
Products | Motion pictures, television programmes |
Parent | Universal Studios (NBCUniversal) |
Website | carnivalfilms |
History
Carnival Films was founded in 1978 by feature film producer Brian Eastman.
As of 2014 Carnival has produced over 500 hours of drama and comedy for television, cinema and stage. This included 70 hours of Agatha Christie's Poirot starring David Suchet and 24 hours of Rosemary & Thyme, starring Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris. In the action/adventure genre it produced BUGS, Oktober and The Grid, in comedy drama it produced Jeeves and Wooster starring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, teenage drama-comedy As If, as well as the adaptations of Tom Sharpe's novels Blott on the Landscape and Porterhouse Blue.
In 2004 the BBC's former Head of Drama Commissioning Gareth Neame joined Carnival as managing director.[1] In 2007 former Creative Director of BBC Drama Sally Woodward Gentle joined the company as Creative Director. The two had previously worked together on Spooks (MI:5), Tipping the Velvet and Cambridge Spies.
In 2008 Carnival was acquired by NBCUniversal as part of its plan to increase its presence in content creation outside the US.[2] Following several more acquisitions Carnival is now part of NBCUniversal International Television Production alongside newer additions Monkey Kingdom, Working Title Television, Chocolate Media and Lucky Giant in the UK, Lark in Canada and Matchbox Pictures in Australia.[3][4]
Under the direction of Gareth Neame, Carnival has produced series such as; The Philanthropist for NBC; hit BBC series Hotel Babylon; the critically acclaimed television films Enid starring Helena Bonham Carter and Matthew Macfadyen; Page Eight starring Bill Nighy, Rachel Weisz, Michael Gambon and Ralph Fiennes; landmark four-part drama Any Human Heart starring Jim Broadbent, Matthew MacFadyen, Hayley Atwell and Kim Cattrall; The Hollow Crown, a BBC adaptation of Shakespeare's history plays starring Tom Hiddleston, Ben Whishaw and Jeremy Irons; The Last Weekend, a three-part adaptation of Blake Morrison's novel; and Whitechapel for ITV.
Carnival's biggest hit, both critically and commercially, is Downton Abbey, written and co-produced by Julian Fellowes.[5] Its final episode aired on 25 December 2015.
Productions
Television
Current
Past
- 2006–present (as Carnival Film and Television Ltd.)
- Stan Lee's Lucky Man (2016–2019) Three series for Sky One
- The Hollow Crown (2012–2016) 8 episodes for BBC Two
- Jamestown (2017–2019 ) Three series for Sky One
- Downton Abbey (2010–2015) Six series for ITV1
- The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies (2014) Mini Series for ITV – total 2 episodes
- Dracula (2013/2014) One series for Sky Living / NBC – total 10 episodes
- Salting the Battlefield (2014) Single Drama for BBC Two (Part 3 of The Worricker Trilogy)
- Turks & Caicos (2014) Single Drama for BBC Two (Part 2 of The Worricker Trilogy)
- The 7.39 (2014) Mini Series for BBC One – total 2 episodes
- Whitechapel (2009–2013) Four series for ITV1 – total 18 episodes
- Murder on the Home Front (2013) Mini Series for ITV1 – total 2 episodes
- The Last Weekend (2012) Mini Series for ITV1 – total 3 episodes
- Page Eight (2011) Single Drama for BBC Two (Part 1 of The Worricker Trilogy)
- Any Human Heart (2010) Miniseries for Channel 4 – total 4 episodes
- Material Girl (2010) One series for BBC One – total 6 episodes
- Enid (2009) Single Drama for BBC Four
- Hotel Babylon (2006–2009) Four series for BBC One – total 32 episodes
- The Philanthropist (2009) One series for NBC – total 8 episodes
- Harley Street (2008) One series for ITV1 – total 6 episodes
- Midnight Man (2008) Mini Series for ITV1 – total 3 episodes
- The Old Curiosity Shop (2007) Single Drama for ITV1/WGBH
- Christmas at the Riviera (2007) Single Drama for ITV1
- Empathy (2007) Single Drama for BBC One[6]
- Sea of Souls: The Prayer Tree (2007) Mini Series for BBC One – total 2 episodes
- The Whistleblowers (2007) One series for ITV1 – total 6 episodes[7]
- Rosemary & Thyme (2003–2006) Three series for ITV1 – total 22 episodes
- 1989–2005 (as Carnival Film and Theatre Ltd.)
- The Grid: Mini series (2004) for BBC and TNT – total 2 episodes
- Agatha Christie's Poirot: (1989–2004) for ITV1 – total 53 episodes
- As If: four series (2001–2004) for Channel 4 – total 60 episodes
- As If (US): one series (2002) for UPN – total 7 episodes
- The 10th Kingdom: Mini Series (2000) for NBC – total 9 episodes
- Lucy Sullivan Is Getting Married: two series (1999–2000) for ITV1 – total 16 episodes
- Oktober: Mini Series (1998) for ITV1 – total three episodes
- BUGS: four series (1995–1998) for BBC One – total 40 episodes
- Crime Traveller: one series (1997) for BBC One – total 8 episodes
- The Mill on the Floss: TV Film (1997) for BBCOne/WGBH/Canal Plus
- The Fragile Heart: Mini Series (1996) for Channel 4 – total 3 episodes
- The Infiltrator: TV Film (1995) for HBO
- Anna Lee: one series (1994) for ITV – total 5 episodes
- Jeeves and Wooster: four series (1990–1993) for Granada/ ITV – total 23 episodes
- All or Nothing at All: Mini Series (1993) for LWT/ ITV – total 3 episodes
- Head over Heels: one series (1993) for Carlton/ITV – total 7 episodes
- The Big Battalions: Mini Series (1992) for Channel 4 – total 5 episodes
- Traffik: TV Film (1989) for Channel 4
- Forever Green: two series (1989–1992) for LWT/ ITV – total 18 episodes
-
- 1978–1988 (as Picture Partnership Productions Ltd.)
- Porterhouse Blue: Mini Series (1987) for Channel 4 – total 4 episodes
- Blott on the Landscape: Mini Series (1985) for BBC – total 6 episodes
- Father's Day: two series (1983–1984) – total 14 episodes
Film
- Downton Abbey (2019)
- Firelight (1997)
- Up on the Roof (1997)
- Shadowlands (1993)
- Under Suspicion (1991)
- Wilt (1990)
- 1978–1988 (as Picture Partnership Productions Ltd.)
- Whoops Apocalypse! (1988)
- Cry Wolf (1980)[8]
Stage
Past
- Juno and the Paycock (1993) Albery Theatre, London[9]
- How Was It for You? Theatre Royal, Plymouth
- Map of the Heart (1991) Globe Theatre, London[10]
- The Ghost Train (1992) Lyric Theatre, London[11]
- What a Performance (1994) Queens Theatre, London[12]
- Misery (1992) Criterion Theatre, London[13]
- Shadowlands (1990) Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York
- Up on the Roof (1987)
Awards
Carnival Films has won a wide variety of awards for its work on Television, Film and Stage productions. With the company itself winning the 'Best Independent Production Company' award at both the Televisual Magazine Bulldog Awards 2011,[14] and the Broadcast Awards 2012.[15] In addition Carnival's productions have together been awarded nine Primetime Emmy Awards;[16] one Golden Globe;[17] nineteen BAFTAs;[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] one Screen Actors Guild Award;[26] a Producers Guild of America Award;[27] two National Television Award;[28] three International Emmy Awards;[29] five RTS awards;[30][31][32] four BANFF Rockie Awards;[33] three Ivor Novello Awards;[34] two Broadcast awards;[15] a Bulldog award; an Evening Standard Theatre Award; and a Tony.[35]
Further to this success the company's productions have also received nominations from such varied awards bodies as the Academy Awards,[36] the Laurence Olivier Awards, The Monte Carlo International Television Festival,[37] The Screen Actors Guild,[38] The American Society of Cinematographers,[39] The Edgar Allan Poe Awards,[40] The Rose D’Or[41] and The San Sebastian Film Festival.[42]
References
- Conlan, Tara (20 August 2008). "NBC Universal buys Carnival". The Guardian. London.
- "Televisual – BLOGS & COMMENTS". Televisual.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "Downton Abbey awarded world record for critical reviews". Radiotimes.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "Empathy – BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "- Greenlights – Greenlight". greenlight.broadcastnow.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "Cry Wolf: Review". Screen International (237). London. 19 April 1980. p. 67.
- "Production of Juno and the Paycock – Theatricalia". theatricalia.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "doollee.com – the playwrights database of modern plays". Doollee.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- Taylor, Paul (2 December 1992). "THEATRE / Out of steam: Paul Taylor sees The Ghost Train rolling on at the Lyric, Hammersmith". The Independent. London.
- Taylor, Paul (14 October 1994). "THEATRE / Replaying the field: What A Performance, The Queen's Theatre". The Independent. London.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "404 Page Not Found". Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "BAFTA Awards". Bafta.org. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "BAFTA Awards". Bafta.org. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "BAFTA Awards". Bafta.org. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "BAFTA Awards". Bafta.org. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "BAFTA Awards". Bafta.org. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "BAFTA Awards". Bafta.org. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "BAFTA Awards". Bafta.org. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "BAFTA Awards". Bafta.org. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- Bowie-Sell, Daisy (28 January 2013). "SAG 2013: Downton Abbey takes top prize at Screen Actors Guild Awards". The Daily Telegraph. London.
- "PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES 2012 PRODUCERS GUILD AWARD WINNERS – Producers Guild of America". Producersguild.org. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "Winners – National Television Awards". Nationaltvawards.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "Awards – Previous Winners – International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Iemmys.tv. Archived from the original on 5 December 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "BBC News – Entertainment – Cher up for Novello prize". 6 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "1991 Tony Award Winners". 2.broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "Shadowlands (1993)". The New York Times.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Nominees for the 2012 Edgar Allan Poe Awards" (PDF). Theedgars.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)