Matthew Stillman

Matthew Stillman (born 28 September 1967) is the British CEO and founder of 2020 Group (also known as 2020 Content),[1][2] one of the world's largest private companies producing content in advertising and entertainment.[3] The group owns 20 companies in 16 countries, operating under seven brands.[1][3]

Matthew Stillman
Born28 September 1967
London
NationalityBritish
EducationUniversity College School, London; Sussex University (UK)
OccupationEntrepreneur and producer
Spouse(s)Kate Driver

Companies in the group have produced films such as Casino Royale, Mission Impossible 4, Chronicles of Narnia and The Bourne Identity;[4] music videos for Beyonce, Kanye West, David Bowie and Madonna.;[5] and commercials for clients including Adidas,[6] Google,[7] Guinness and Audi.[4]

In 2000, The Hollywood Reporter named Stillman in its International Power 50 list of the fifty “biggest power players” in global entertainment and media.[8]

Early life and education

Stillman grew up in Richmond, south-west London.[9] His father imported products from China, while his mother worked for Air France at Heathrow Airport.[9] He has two siblings.[9] He was educated at University College School, London,[9][10] and the University of Sussex, where he studied politics, graduating in 1991.[10][9]

Career

Early career

After unsuccessfully trying to break into the film industry in London, Stillman visited Prague in 1992[11][12] with a friend, Nick Spikings,[9] to explore the possibility of setting up a production company in the city. Beginning with “$500 and a typewriter” and renting an office at Barrandov Studios for $150 a month,[13] the two friends set up a company called Stillking. They then started a nightclub, Ubiquity, to provide cash-flow over the company's first summer.[12]

Stillking

Stillman won Stillking's first business working on a music video for k.d. lang,[12] then produced a TV commercial for Dentsu.[13] More work on TV commercials followed. In 1994, Stillman chose an unknown Czech film student, Ivan Zachariáš, to make a film about UN peace-keepers for a 50th anniversary commercial for the UN. The project marked a breakthrough for both Stillking and Zachariáš.[13]

By 1995, Stillking was working on around ninety commercials a year.[14] Film-makers were coming to Prague in large numbers, attracted by the combination of low costs, attractive locations and high production standards,[15][16] and over the next decade the company thrived[17] and expanded.[18] Offices were in due course opened in Warsaw, London, Budapest (Pioneer Stillking),[14] Bucharest (Icon Stillking),[19] Milan,[20] Barcelona, Cape Town and Santiago de Chile.[21][22] By 1999 the company was turning over around $20m a year[8] and by 2002 about $168m.[23]

In 1995, Stillking made its first network mini-series: The Ring, for NBC, starring Nastassja Kinski, was released in 1996.[24] The same year Stillking worked on its first feature film, Plunkett & Macleane (released 1999) with Working Title Films.[4]  Stillking subsequently set up its own development arm for producing its own English-language films.[25]

The company has become one of Europe's most significant production entities, participating in over 150 film and TV projects, including Casino Royale, The Bourne Identity, Van Helsing, Red Sparrow, Wanted, Carnival Row and The Witcher.[26]

It has also continued to produce music videos, including work for Beyonce, Kanye West and Madonna;[5] and commercials for clients such as Guinness, Audi, Coca-Cola, Mercedes and Stella Artois.[4]

In 1997, the American heiress Elisabeth Goth purchased a minority stake in the company (reportedly 20 per cent) for an undisclosed sum.[8]

Stink

In 1997, Stillking combined with the production company Blink Ltd to create Stink, a London-based venture that produces TV commercials.[27][28] Stink went on to receive numerous awards for its work, including more than 100 Cannes Lions, more than 50 D&AD pencils and the first ever Film Grand Prix for an interactive piece of work.[29] Its clients have included Honda,[30] Gucci,[31] Apple,[32] Nike[33] and Facebook.[7]

2020 Group

In 2014 the Stillking Films holding company was renamed 2020 Group.[34] The group, which is sometimes referred to as 2020 Content,[1] now has 20 daughter companies, in 16 countries,[3] and is one of the largest private companies involved in the production of content in advertising, film and television. Stillman is founder and CEO.[3][2]

On The Corner Films

In 2017 Stillman became a director of On The Corner Films,[35] a company specialising in documentaries and factual entertainment,[36] with Asif Karpadia and James Gay Rees.[35] Its productions include Diego Maradona (2019).[37]

Illuminated Content

In 2018, in collaboration with Liev Schreiber, Stillman launched Illuminated Content, a Gotham-based venture to develop, produce and finance TV and movie projects.[3] In 2019 the company produced Human Capital,[38][39] and announced a collaboration with David Carver to produce The Place I Belong, a biopic of the golfer Moe Norman.[40]

Other activities

Stillman is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta).[41] He is a member of Founders Forum, the community for global entrepreneurs, CEOs, and investors in the digital, media and technology sectors.[42] He is also an investment partner in the technology venture capital company PROfounders Capital.[43]

Stillman was one of 1,280 British business leaders who signed a letter backing Britain Stronger In Europe on the eve of the UK's 2016 referendum on EU membership.[44]

In 2000 The Hollywood Reporter named Stillman in its International Power 50 list of the “biggest power players” in global entertainment and media.[8]

Filmography (selected)
Works for cinema involving Stillman's companies[45][4][46][47][48][49][19][37][50]
Year Title Company
2020 Radioactive Pioneer Stillking, Budapest
2020 Harry Haft Pioneer Stillking, Budapest
2020 Voyagers Icon Stillking, Bucharest
2020 Violence of Action Icon Stillking, Bucharest
2019 Human Capital Illuminated Content, New York
2019 Spider-Man: Far From Home Stillking Prague
2019 Diego Maradona On The Corner Films, London
2019 The King Pioneer Stillking, Budapest
2018 Ophelia Stillking Prague
2018 Red Sparrow Pioneer Stillking, Budapest
2018 Colette Pioneer Stillking, Budapest
2017 Interlude in Prague Stillking Prague
2017 Atomic Blonde Pioneer Stillking, Budapest
2016 Underworld: Blood Wars Stillking Prague
2016 Don't Breathe Pioneer Stillking, Budapest
2015 Child 44 Stillking Prague
2013 Snowpiercer Stillking Prague
2011 Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Stillking Prague
2009 G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra Stillking Prague
2008 Wanted Stillking Prague
2008 Quantum of Solace Stillking Santiago de Chile
2008 The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian Stillking Prague
2006 Casino Royale Stillking Prague
2006 The Illusionist Stillking Prague
2006 Last Holiday Stillking Prague
2006 Tristan + Isolde Stillking Prague
2005 The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Stillking Prague
2005 Doom Stillking Prague
2005 Kinky Boots Stillking Miro, Milan
2005 Everything Is Illuminated Stillking Prague
2004 AVP: Alien vs. Predator Stillking Prague
2004 Van Helsing Stillking Prague
2004 The Prince and Me Stillking Prague
2004 EuroTrip Stillking Prague
2003 Shanghai Knights Stillking Prague
2002 xXx Stillking Prague
2002 The Bourne Identity Stillking Prague
2002 Bad Company Stillking Prague
2001 From Hell Stillking Prague
2000 Mists of Avalon Stillking Prague
2000 Dungeons & Dragons Stillking Prague
1999 The Idiot Returns Stillking Prague
1999 Plunkett & Macleane Stillking Prague


Works for television involving Stillman's companies[4][45][46][48][51]
Year Title Type Company
2020 The North Water TV Mini-Series Pioneer Stillking, Budapest
2019 Miracle Workers TV Series – involved in 1 episode Stillking Prague
2019 The Witcher TV Series Stillking Prague
2019 Whiskey Cavalier TV Series - 13 episodes Stillking Prague
2019 Carnival Row TV Series - 6 episodes Stillking Prague
2019 Treadstone TV Series Pioneer Stillking, Budapest
2018 Das Boot TV Series - 9 episodes Stillking Prague
2018 The Romanoffs TV Series - 1 episode Icon Stillking, Bucharest
2017-2019 Knightfall TV Series - 15 episodes Stillking Prague
2017 Genius TV Series - 10 episodes Stillking Prague
2016-2017 Mars TV Series - 4 episodes Pioneer Stillking, Budapest
2016-2017 Maigret TV Series - 4 episodes Pioneer Stillking, Budapest
2016 Spark TV Series Stillking Prague
2015 Legends TV Series – 10 episodes Stillking Prague
2015 Sons of Liberty TV Mini-Series Icon Stillking, Bucharest
2014 Houdini TV Movie & Mini-Series Pioneer Stillking, Budapest
2013-2014 Crossing Lines TV Series - 18 episodes Stillking Prague
2013 Terapie TV Series - 14 episodes Stillking Prague
2012 Missing TV Series - 10 episodes Stillking Prague
2009 Masterwork TV Series Pilot Stillking Prague
2009 The Philanthropist TV Series - 2 episodes Stillking Prague
2005 Revelations TV Mini-Series - 5 episodes Stillking Prague
2005 Colditz TV Movie Stillking Prague
2002 Young Arthur TV Series Pilot Stillking Prague
1999 Passion's Way TV Movie Stillking Prague
1997 Into Thin Air: Death on Everest TV Movie Stillking Prague
1996 The Ring TV Mini-series and movie Stillking Prague

Personal life

In 2004, Stillman married Katherine Driver, a manager and producer[52] who is sister of the actress Minnie Driver. They live in London.[53]

Stillman enjoys cycling and appreciates the clothes of designers such as Acne and John Pearse.[5] The fashion website Mr Porter includes him in its Style Council, a directory of "the world’s best connected men”.[54] Stillman is a director of the Czech cancer charity, the Pink Bubble Foundation.[55]

gollark: Also, it turns out that random simple-looking emails can contain triply-nested messages?
gollark: I forgot to enable decoding, and some weird sanitization issue incursed.
gollark: Apparently, because structured serialization formats are not real, email can get encoded in a bunch of weird ways, including one which trims lines and puts = characters in for escaping.
gollark: This is a funny and yet vaguely horrifying consequence of several problems in my code and the design of email.
gollark: Oh, this is a cool idea.

References
  1. "Matthew Stillman – PROfounders Capital". Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  2. "Matthew Stillman". LinkedIn. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  3. "Liev Schreiber & Matthew Stillman Launch Illuminated Content From 'Ray Donovan's New Gotham Base". Deadline. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  4. "Stillking Films". filmcommission.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  5. "Style Council Members: Mr Matthew Stillman". Mr Porter. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  6. "Adidas 'Pogba III capsule collection' by Stink Studios". Campaign. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  7. Sherwood, I-Hsien (24 February 2020). "This Week's Agency Moves". AdAge. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  8. Cassidy, Kevin (7–13 November 2000). "International Power 50" (PDF). The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 March 2020.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  9. Membery, York (10 February 2001). "The Stillman Show" (PDF). FT Weekend Magazine, Financial Times. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  10. "Stillman - Borovan.cz". www.borovan.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  11. Helma, Ondrej (22 September 2000). "Prague Is Popular Spot For Filmmakers". Sandusky Register. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  12. Johnstone, Chris (10 August 2009). "Boss of Prague-based Worldwide Film Production Company Matthew Stillman On How He Got Started In The Business And How It Has Changed". Radio Prague International. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  13. Morais, Richard C (2 December 1996). "Go East" (PDF). Forbes. 158. pp. 80–82. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  14. Holdsworth, Nick (19–25 October 1999). "Prague Spring" (PDF). The Hollywood Reporter. pp. 17–19. Retrieved 6 March 2020.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  15. Szczepanik, Petr (2016). Curtin, Michael; Sanson, Kevin (eds.). "Transnational Crews and Postsocialist Precarity: Globalizing Screen Media Labor in Prague". Precarious Creativity: Global Media, Local Labor. University of California Press. JSTOR 10.1525/j.ctt1ffjn40.11.
  16. Holley, David (20 August 2000). "The Czech Connection". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  17. Meils, Cathy (17 February 2004). "Stillking Films Sees Profits Mushroom". Variety. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  18. Muraskin, Robert (4 July 1996). "In Budapest We'll Always Have Paris". Washington Post. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  19. "Icon Films - Client & Contact Info | IMDbPro". pro.imdb.com. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  20. Miels, Cathy (17 December 2000). "Stillking Looks To Boost Biz". Variety. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  21. "Stillking Films - Contact". www.stillking.com. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  22. Schwinke, Theo (5 March 2009). "Stillking and Pioneer launch joint venture in Budapest". Screen Daily. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  23. Meils, Cathy (17 February 2004). "Stillking Films sees profits mushroom". Variety. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  24. "The Ring (1996)". IMDB. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  25. "Stillking To Produce Its Own Films". Premiére. July 2001. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  26. "Companies: With Stillking Films". IMDB. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  27. "STINK LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  28. Campbell, Lisa (19 January 2001). "Blink splits from off-shoot Stink and loses Ivan Zacharias". Campaign. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  29. "The One Club / The One Show - Archive of Award Winners". www.oneclub.org. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  30. "Iceland Offers Dramatic Winter Visuals As Stink Films On Location For Honda". The Location Guide. 6 February 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  31. "Gucci - Première". Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  32. "Jameson Irish Whiskey Launches Third Iteration of Campaign in the UK". AdWorld. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  33. "Nike - My Time Is Now". The FWA. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  34. "2020 GROUP (JERSEY) LIMITED - Overview (free company information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  35. "ON THE CORNER FILMS LIMITED - Officers (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  36. "About Us – On the Corner". Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  37. "With On The Corner Films (Sorted by Popularity Ascending)". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  38. Hipes, Patrick (18 October 2018). "Liev Schreiber & Alex Wolff To Star In 'Human Capital' Movie; Marc Meyers To Direct Oren Moverman Script". Deadline. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  39. "Liev Schreiber & Maya Hawke in First Trailer for 'Human Capital' Film". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  40. Bryson, Mark (15 August 2019). "Hollywood Insiders Sign On To Produce Story About Kitchener Golf Legend Moe Norman". The Record.
  41. Parfitt, Orlando (4 December 2019). "Bafta reveals new members for 2019". Screen Daily. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  42. "10 Years In Names". Founders Forum: 10 Years. 2015. p. 214. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  43. "Person: Matthew Stillman – Overview". Crunchbase. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  44. Sheffield, Hazel (22 June 2016). "EU referendum letter: 1280 business leaders sign letter backing Remain". The Independent. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  45. "Matthew Stillman". British Film Institute. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  46. "With Stillking Films". IMDB. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  47. "Stillking Films: filmography". IMDB Pro.
  48. "Matthew Stillman - Filmography". IMDB. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  49. Barraclough, Len (2 November 2017). "Hungarian Cast and Crew of 'Red Sparrow' Helped Spy Thriller Take Flight". Variety. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  50. "With Stillking Miro Film (Sorted by Popularity Ascending)". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
  51. Vojteková-Točíková, Zuzana (21 February 2019). "Slovak Tax Incentives Lure British and US TV Series to Shoot in Slovakia". Film New Europe. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  52. "Kate Driver". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  53. Elliott, John. "Moving On". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
  54. "Style Council Members". Mr Porter. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  55. PinkBubble. "Jak pomáhat dětem s rakovinou | Volejte | Pink Bubble". Nadace PinkBubble (in Czech). Retrieved 2020-03-06.
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