MICHAEL WINTERBOTTOM (DIRECTOR)

JOHN ORLOFF (Screenwriter)

BRAD PITT (Producer)

DEDE GARDNER (Producer)

ANDREW EATON (Producer)

MARCEL ZYSKIND (Director of Photography)

MARK DIGBY (Production Designer)

PETER CHRISTELIS (Editor)

CHARLOTTE WALTER (Costume Designer)

ABOUT THE CREW

MICHAEL WINTERBOTTOM (DIRECTOR)

In just a dozen years, Michael Winterbottom has shown himself to be one of the most focused and unflinching filmmakers working today, traveling the world to make 14 incredibly diverse films. In 2006, audiences saw two strikingly different movies from the director, THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO and TRISTRAM SHANDY: A COCK & BULL STORY.

A bold docudrama, THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO tells the story of “the Tipton Three,” three young men held without charges for two years in the notorious American prison in Cuba. Interviews with the three (directed by Mat Whitecross) are inter-cut with dramatizations of their hellish journey, which begins when one of them is to be married in Pakistan and ends when they are released, still uncharged, after two years in Gitmo. The film won the Silver Bear for Best Direction at the Berlin Film Festival, and was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary.

Winterbottom indulged his playful side in A COCK & BULL STORY, his adaptation of Laurence Sterne’s 18th century mock autobiography, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy.

Steve Coogan stars as himself, playing the actor who plays Tristram Shandy and his father Walter in the film within the film. After premiering at the Toronto Film Festival, A COCK & BULL STORY was nominated for BAFTA’s Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film, and for five British Independent Film Awards.

Winterbottom made IN THIS WORLD, the story of two Afghan refugees who entrust their fate to people smugglers, to raise the level of public debate about refugee issues. Shot in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the film won the Golden Bear, the Ecumenical Jury Prize and the Peace Prize at the 2003 Berlin Film Festival, and the BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language. Winterbottom won the Directors Guild of Great Britain’s award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in British Film.

24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE took Winterbottom back to his home turf. A witty homage to Manchester’s legendary 1980’s music scene, the film stars Steve Coogan as Factory Records founder Tony Wilson. It was in competition at Cannes in 2002 and won Best Achievement in Production at the British Independent Film Awards.

Winterbottom first made his mark as a director on British television with projects including the 1993 BBC mini-series, FAMILY, written by novelist Roddy Doyle. In 1994, he made his first feature, the offbeat crime drama BUTTERFLY KISS, then directed GO NOW for the BBC.

He adapted his favorite novel, Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure, for the 1995 film JUDE, starring Christopher Eccleston and Kate Winslet. JUDE premiered at the Directors Fortnight in Cannes and won The Michael Powell award for Best Film at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

In 1996, Winterbottom was in competition at Cannes with WELCOME TO SARAJEVO, a drama set during the siege of the Bosnian capital and based on British journalist Michael Henderson’s true story.

Rachel Weisz and Alessandro Nivola starred in Winterbottom’s moody I WANT YOU, which competed at the Berlin Film Festival in 1998. He made the light-hearted sex comedy, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU, in 1999.

His next film, the realistic drama WONDERLAND, marked a turning point in style and technique. Selected for competition at the 1999 Cannes and Edinburgh festivals, WONDERLAND won the British Independence Film Award for Best Film and was nominated for Best British Film at the 2000 BAFTAs.

Winterbottom based 2001’s THE CLAIM on another Hardy novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge, but set it during the California Gold Rush. An official selection at the Berlin and Paris film festivals, it stars Milla Jovovich, Peter Mullan, Wes Bentley, Nastassja Kinski and Sarah Polley.

He took a cast including Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton to Shanghai, Dubai and Rajasthan, India to film the futuristic CODE 46 in 2003. CODE 46 premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The following year, he cast unknowns in 9 SONGS, which marks the stages of a young couple’s relationship through their sexual encounters and the concerts they attend.

Winterbottom was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, England in 1961. After collaborating on FAMILY, he and producer Andrew Eaton founded their production company, Revolution Films, in 1994. He is currently in pre-production on his next film, GENOVA.

JOHN ORLOFF (Screenwriter)

John Orloff is one of the Emmy-nominated screenwriters of the acclaimed HBO miniseries BAND OF BROTHERS. He also penned CAESAR for director Michael Mann and producer Tom Hanks, and has crafted a screenplay from the 28 short stories that comprise Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. His long-gestating SOUL OF THE AGE, a drama centered on the Shakespeare authorship question has Roland Emmerich attached to direct.

BRAD PITT (Producer)

Brad Pitt, one of the film industry’s most prominent stars, is an award-winning actor and has gained enormous success as a producer under his Plan B Entertainment banner.

Pitt most recently earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s acclaimed drama BABEL opposite Cate Blanchett. He also shared in a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Motion Picture Cast.

Pitt this year stars in two diverse projects; OCEAN’S THIRTEEN where he reprises his role as Rusty Ryan and in Andrew Dominik’s THE ASSASINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD, where he stars as Jesse James, which Pitt also serves as producer and is due out this fall. He then plays the title role in the romantic fantasy THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, which reunites him with Cate Blanchett and marks his third collaboration with director David Fincher. The film is due out in May 2008. Later this year, he will begin filming the Coen brothers’ dark comedy BURN AFTER READING, in which he stars with George Clooney and Francis McDormand. Upon completion, Pitt will begin filming on STATE OF PLAY based on the original BBC series of the same name.

As a producer, Pitt recently served as a producer on Martin Scorsese’s Oscar®- winning Best Picture THE DEPARTED and Ryan Murphy’s RUNNING WITH SCISSORS starring Annette Bening, Gwenyth Paltrow and Alec Baldwin, Paramount Vantage YEAR OF THE DOG, the documentary GOD GREW TIRED OF US. Plan B’s upcoming projects include SHANTARAM starring Johnny Depp under the direction of Mira Nair, THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana, PEACE LIKE A RIVER, starring Billy Bob Thornton; and A MILLION LITTLE PIECES. Plan B previously produced Tim Burton’s fantasy hit CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY starring Johnny Depp and Wolfgang Petersen’s historical epic TROY, in which Pitt also starred.

Born in Oklahoma, Pitt began his acting career with smaller roles in films and on television. In 1991, he first gained the attention of critics and audiences with his breakthrough performance as the seductive hitchhiker in Ridley Scott’s controversial hit THELMA & LOUISE. He went on the star as the charismatic but doomed Paul Maclean in Robert Redford’s A RIVER RUNS TRHOUGH IT; the psychopathic serial killer in Dominic Sena’s KALIFORNIA; and the conflicted vampire, Louis, in Neil Jordan’ INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE.

Pitt received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance as the willful and untamable Tristan in 1994’s LEGEND OF THE FALL. Two years later, he was honored with an Academy Award® nomination and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role in Terry Gilliam’s TWELVE MONKEYS.

Pitt subsequently earned praise for his work in the David Fincher films SE7EN and FIGHT CLUB; Jean-Jacques Annaud’s SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET; and Guy Ritchie’s SNATCH. He also joined an all-star ensemble cast, including George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Bernie Mac, in Steven Soderbergh’s hit remake of OCEAN’S ELEVEN. Pitt more recently starred in the sequel OCEAN’S TWELVE, which reunited the cast and director Steven Soderbergh; and the smash hit action comedy MR & MRS. SMITH, opposite Angelina Jolie.

Pitt’s additional film credits include: Tony Scott’s SPY GAME, with Robert Redford, Gore Verbinski’s THE MEXICAN, with Julia Roberts and James Gandolfini, the title role in Martin Brest’s MEET JOE BLACK; Alan J. Pakula’s THE DEVIL’S OWN; Barry Levinson’s SLEEPERS, Tony Scott’s TRUE ROMANCE, Ralph Bakshi’s COOL WORLD; JOHNNY SUEDE, which was named Best Picture at the 1991 Locarno International Film Festival. Pitt has also made cameo appearances in Soderbergh’s FULL FRONTAL and George Clooney’s CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND.

DEDE GARDNER (Producer)

As President of Plan B Entertainment, Dede Gardner most recently produced YEAR OF THE DOG, the directorial debut of screenwriter Mike White (THE GOOD GIRL, SCHOOL OF ROCK). Also forthcoming is THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD, starring Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck and directed by Andrew Dominik, as well as THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE, starring Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana with director Robert Schwentke. Plan B is currently developing projects with filmmakers Bennett Miller (CAPOTE), Jacob Estes (MEAN CREEK), John Cameron Mitchell (HEDWIG), Phil Morrison (JUNEBUG) and Pete Travis (OMAGH).

Before joining Plan B, Gardner was executive vice president of production at Paramount Pictures. During her eight years at the studio, she worked on such films as ELECTION, ORANGE COUNTY, ZOOLANDER and HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN TEN DAYS. She worked previously in the literary department at the William Morris Agency and prior to that at Innovative Artists. Gardner began her career as a location scout in New York City.

ANDREW EATON (Producer)

Andrew Eaton was named producer of the year at the British Independent Film Awards in 2000 and was nominated for the Best British Producer award by the London Film Critics Association in 2005. He co-founded Revolution Films with Michael Winterbottom in 1994, after their awardwinning collaboration on the BBC drama FAMILY.

Since then, the duo has brought a wide range of films to the screen, beginning with the award-winning GO NOW. Next came JUDE, starring Kate Winslet, Christopher Eccleston and Rachel Griffiths. JUDE won the Michael Powell Award for Best British Film at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

Eaton next produced THE JAMES GANG, directed by Mike Barker, followed by RESURRECTION, directed by Marc Evans. He reunited with Winterbottom for I WANT YOU, based on an Elvis Costello song and starring Rachel Weisz and Alessandro Nivola. It won a Special Award for Cinematography at the 1998 Berlin Film Festival.

Eaton and Winterbottom then filmed WITH OR WITHOUT YOU and WONDERLAND back to back. WONDERLAND was in competition at Cannes and Edinburgh, was named Best Film at the British Independent Film Awards, and was nominated for Best British Film at the BAFTAs in 2000. THE CLAIM, starring Wes Bentley, Milla Jovovich, Nastassja Kinski, Peter Mullan and Sarah Polley, was in competition at the Berlin and Paris festivals in 2001.

The inimitable 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE, starring Steve Coogan as Factory Records founder Tony Wilson, competed at Cannes in 2002. The mock documentary traced the emergence of such influential Manchester bands as Joy Division, the Happy Mondays and New Order. Its honors included Best Achievement in Production at the British Independent Film Awards.

Eaton and Winterbottom shifted gears with IN THIS WORLD, a controversial road movie that follows the harrowing journey of two young Afghan refugees. Shot on DV in the Urdu language, it won the Golden Bear, the Peace Prize and the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the 2003 Berlin Film Festival, as well as the BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language. It was nominated for BAFTA’s outstanding British film award, and for Best Film, Best Director and Best Director of Photography at the European Film Awards.

The pair next made CODE 46, a futuristic love story written by Frank Cottrell-Boyce and starring Tim Robbins and Samantha Morton. CODE 46 premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The sexually explicit 9 SONGS starred Kieran O’Brien and Margo Stilley as a young couple whose sexual encounters are echoed in the concerts they attend.

Eaton and Winterbottom returned to literary material for their 2006 film, TRISTRAM SHANDY: A COCK & BULL STORY. Adapted from Laurence Sterne’s 18th Century novel, it stars Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, Gillian Anderson, Kelly MacDonald, Jeremy Northam and a large supporting cast of British acting and comic talent. After its Toronto festival premiere, it was nominated for BAFTA’s outstanding British film award, and for five British Independent Film Awards including Best British Film and Best Director.

2006 also saw the release of Eaton and Winterbottom’s acclaimed docudrama, THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, winning the Silver Bear for Best Direction. The film tells the story of Britain’s Tipton Three who were captured in Afghanistan and detained for two years in the U.S. prison in Cuba.

Eaton’s many executive producer credits over the years include Damien O’Donnell’s HEARTLANDS, Stephen Fry’s BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS, Tracey Emin’s TOP SPOT and SNOW CAKE for director Marc Evans. Projects on Revolution’s development slate include FAST FORWARD, written by Nick Hornby and Emma Thompson, Roddy Doyle’s A STAR CALLED HENRY and Julia Davis’ THE CULT. Eaton’s next production, GENOVA will begin filming this summer in Italy.

Eaton began his career in theatre publicity before joining BBC Television as a researcher. He directed and produced documentaries for the BBC’s Arena and Omnibus arts programs on subjects from John Ford to ABBA. He studied the classics and law at Cambridge.

MARCEL ZYSKIND (Director of Photography)

Rapidly acquiring a reputation as an innovative young cinematographer in the U.K. scene, Marcel Zyskind is best known for his work with Michael Winterbottom. Their films together include IN THIS WORLD, Zyskind’s debut feature as DP, and the controversial 9 SONGS, which brought him the Best Cinematography award at the San Sebastian Film Festival in 2004. He was jointly nominated (with Alwin Kuchler BSC) by the European Film Academy for CODE 46, starring Samantha Morton and Tim Robbins. He also shot TRISTRAM SHANDY: A COCK & BULL STORY, which had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, and THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO for Winterbottom.

Zyskind was also DP on the critically acclaimed BULLET BOY for director Saul Dibb, and on Harmony Korine’s upcoming feature, MISTER LONELY. Earlier, he was focus puller and camera operator for Lars von Trier on DANCER IN THE DARK and MILLENIUM PROJECT. He was camera and steadicam operator on Winterbottom’s 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE, and on 28 DAYS LATER for director Danny Boyle. Born in Denmark, Zyskind started work as a TV camera assistant at the age of 16. He lives in Copenhagen.

MARK DIGBY (Production Designer)

Mark Digby was born in India and moved to London as a baby with his family. A MIGHTY HEART saw him return to his country of birth for only the second time, the first being for the filming of CODE 46, also with director Michael Winterbottom.

Originally a student of engineering, Digby dallied with retail, accounting and computers before entering the world of theatre. From there, he moved to television drama, and then film. As art director, he has worked with director Danny Boyle on the films 28 DAYS LATER and MILLIONS, and with director Roger Michel on THE MOTHER, starring Daniel Craig. Mark Digby was Winterbottom’s art director for 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE and IN THIS WORLD, as well as CODE 46. He was production designer for Winterbottom’s recent ROAD TO GUANTANAMO.

PETER CHRISTELIS (Editor)

Peter Christelis received the Best Technical Achievement award for his work on Michael Winterbottom’s IN THIS WORLD at the British Independent Film Awards in 2003 and was nominated for the same award two years later for TRISTRAM SHANDY: A COCK & BULL STORY. He also edited CODE 46 for the director. Christelis cut GHOSTS and HIS BIG WHITE SELF for director Nick Broomfield and HAVEN for Frank E. Flowers. Christelis began his association with Winterbottom as assistant editor on an episode of the psychological crime drama CRACKER and was also assistant editor on the films BUTTERFLY KISS, GO NOW, JUDE, I WANT YOU, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU. He served as sound effects editor on Winterbottom’s WONDERLAND and THE CLAIM.

CHARLOTTE WALTER (Costume Designer)

A costume designer for nearly 20 years, Charlotte Walter most recently designed Charles Sturridge’s re-make of LASSIE, starring Samantha Morton and Peter O’Toole, and nominated as Best Family Film by the Broadcast Film Critics Association this year. Walter blended 18th and 21st century looks for Michael Winterbottom’s TRISTRAM SHANDY: A COCK & BULL STORY in 2006. Her feature credits also include director Tim Fylwell’s 1930’s English period piece, I CAPTURE THE CASTLE, and Kai Maurer’s debut feature, SPLINTER. Her many television credits include THE AMAZING MRS. PRITCHARD, BENEATH THE SKIN, CAMBRIDGE SKIES, MURDER ROOMS, NORTH SQUARE, TOUCH AND GO and REMEMBER ME?