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故事簡介
「你可以有不同的看法，但你不可以說自己不知道。」
──威廉韋柏霍斯William Wilberforce，1789年
＜奇異恩典＞是一首聖詩，也是一個以反黑奴制度為主題的故事。適逢今年是英國廢除黑奴買賣200週年，＜奇異恩典＞的主角韋柏霍斯，正正是廢除黑奴的先鋒，為廢奴作出的努力影響深遠。
韋柏霍斯生於大不列顛帝國最強盛、卻又有不少社會問題的時代。受到好友兼英國史上最年輕首相威廉畢特（William Pitt）的影響，韋柏霍斯年僅21歲便成為了下議院議員，二人更一起打拼，成為廢奴的先驅。
韋柏霍斯曾經想過為信仰而放棄事業，後來被好友約翰紐頓（John Newton）啟發，決定利用自己的政治力量來維持公義，與那些思想守舊頑固的英國議員抗衡，結果不但改變了自己的國家，更帶動了全球的反黑奴運動，影響極其深遠。
＜奇異恩典＞這齣戲，?墨於韋柏霍斯20至30歲期間的政治奮鬥，細看他如何影響了其他政客以至全國市民的想法。當時，他與其他廢奴制的戰友一起示威、杯葛、舉行會議、設定口號，努力地把廢奴思想傳遍整個英國。
＜奇異恩典＞陣容鼎盛，男主角由艾恩古福特擔綱演出，露夢娜嘉萊依則飾演充滿熱情、由戰友變成韋柏霍斯妻子的芭芭拉史般納（Barbara Spooner）。米高甘博扮演被韋柏霍斯打動而參與廢奴的國會議員霍士爵士（Lord Fox），魯弗斯史韋飾演與韋柏霍斯並肩作戰的湯瑪斯克拉遜（Thomas Clarkson）。塞內加爾著名男歌手尤蘇恩多爾（Youssou N'Dour）飾演曾做過奴隸、後來致力推動廢奴的非洲反黑奴先鋒奧魯達艾基雅諾（Olaudah Equiano）。
＜奇異恩典＞中英文原歌詞：
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!
Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'This grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun;
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
than when we've first begun.
奇異恩典，何等甘甜，
我罪已得赦免；
前我失喪，今被尋回，
瞎眼今得看見。
如此恩典，使我敬畏，
使我心得安慰；
初信之時，即蒙恩惠，
真是何等寶貴。
許多危險，試煉網羅，
我已安然經過；
靠主恩典，安全不怕，
更引導我歸家。
將來禧年，聖徒歡聚，
恩光愛誼千年；
喜樂頌讚，在父座前，
深望那日快現。
製作花絮
駐美英國導演米高瓦特說：「韋柏霍斯和威廉畢特都十分年輕，他們推動廢奴運動之際還未到三十歲。那是英國歷史的重要一頁，我希望把它描繪成一個兩代人思維模式鬥爭的故事，就像美國六十年代初期的甘迺迪家族那樣。」
2007年正好是英國廢奴的200週年，但米高瓦特並不想拍一套了無新意的傳記電影。「那是英國政治上一個重要時段，我希望拍出強調這連串史實的重大意義和深遠影響。」
韋柏霍斯曾經一度因宗教信仰而想退出政壇，「他有強烈的道德觀，但最後他為了爭取理想，決定走回現實世界當中，與一些跟他信仰不太一致的人成為盟友。他明白到，雖然他是出於宗教信念去推動廢奴，但要達到目的，除了信仰外他還需要強悍、圓滑、聰敏及權力。憑?不屈不撓的精神，這位有政治智慧和技巧的虔誠基督徒終於實現了夢想。」
今次的編劇Steven Knight表示他是米高瓦特的影迷，二人很快便成為最佳拍檔。經過資料搜集後，Steven Knight對男主角有了更深的認識。「韋柏霍斯是個率真、不斷向?目標前進的人，而且懂得從失敗中汲取教訓。當時，廢奴是一件荒謬不過的主意 - 就像今天我們說要停用內置燃燒引擎一樣！當時的人都當他是怪人。他收留了一屋病弱的小動物，也從不辭退任何一位員工，所以到了韋柏霍斯五十多歲時，他一屋都是不太幹活的老僕人，還有一些連名字都不知道就走了來借宿的人。」
為配合這個英國的故事，米高瓦特決定起用英國演員。幾經尋覓，他選中了年青的艾恩古福特：「艾恩不但有韋柏霍斯的氣質，更有國際曝光率和賣座力，有了他，我們再選來不同年代的演員如魯弗斯史韋、班尼狄甘柏貝治、露夢娜嘉萊依、亞爾拔芬尼和米高甘博，組成了這次的強大陣容。」艾恩對導演、劇本和故事選材讚口不絕：「很難得遇上三方面都如此高水準的電影，我有信心自己能演好這角色，也深信導演會給予我充分的指引。他是我合作過最好的導演之一，準備充足，信任演員、攝製隊和劇本。」
至於自己的角色，他說：「我特意閱讀了不少資料以加深對那個年代的認識，我發覺韋柏霍斯是個很和藹可親的人，雖然從政和他的信仰有衝突，但在骨子裏他始終如一，是一個極富同情心和勇氣的人。身高只有五呎四吋的他，有?巨人般的氣魄和有魅力的嗓子。」回想起來，有兩幕對他來說特別難演。「韋柏霍斯於一間上流紳士俱樂部裏剛強地唱出聖詩＜奇異恩典＞，以宣示自己的身分和態度。那一幕非常懾人，是整齣戲的高潮位之一。幸好我們邀得以前在戲劇學院裏教唱歌的老師來擔任顧問。」而當年韋柏霍斯一年復一年地提交廢奴議案，發表過無數激烈的言論。「當我走進片場，站在一眾飾演議員的演員面前時，那一刻我突然感到十分膽怯。」
塞內加爾著名男歌手尤蘇恩多爾扮演的奧魯達艾基雅諾，是一個被賣到英國皇家海軍的非洲奴隸，後來成功賺到錢贖身和定居倫敦，他把這傳奇一生寫成的自傳更成為當年的暢銷書。他不但是爭取廢除奴隸的主力成員，更於一個非常關鍵的時刻加入韋柏霍斯的行列。米高瓦特說：「在這套戲內，艾基雅諾這個角色既複雜又重要，尤蘇成功地演繹出精髓，更為角色賦予生命力和個性。」
韋柏霍斯的啟蒙好友威廉畢特，是英國史上最年輕首相。飾演他的班尼狄甘柏貝治，現實中也是一名年輕的新晉演員。「很高興有幸接到這個英國史上舉足輕重的人物的角色，在戲內一開始廿來歲的威廉畢特已成為首相，故事線將描繪他與韋柏霍斯由那時起到大家垂老的整段友誼。因此，我特別花了時間去了解他的一生。」跟韋柏霍斯一樣，威廉畢特的健康也出現過問題，更因庸醫吩咐他每天喝兩三瓶砵酒而染上酒癮。「他的性格熱情、機智，但身體卻不合作地瘦弱，最後他死於消化性潰瘍。」
露夢娜嘉萊依飾演韋柏霍斯的妻子芭芭拉史般納，她與韋柏霍斯邂逅數周後便閃電結婚。「跟韋柏霍斯不同的是，有關芭芭拉婚前的生活我們所知甚少，因為在那個年代，沒有人會刻意記下一位平凡女性的事跡。」但婚後芭芭拉成為韋柏霍斯廢奴的原動力，他倆的婚姻長達35年，直至韋柏霍斯於1833年逝世。二人育有共六名子女。
魯弗斯史韋飾演韋柏霍斯的戰友湯瑪斯克拉遜。「我很喜歡這角色，湯瑪斯是個強悍的怪人，時刻精神奕奕，而且堅信善能勝惡。」湯瑪斯與韋柏霍斯各自努力推動廢奴。「他到全國不同地方廢奴制演說和收集資料，最後加入韋柏霍斯的行列，二人並肩作戰。他也有宗教信仰，但為了搜集證明奴隸買賣不人道的證據，所以與壞人交友。」魯弗斯對此有深刻感受：「這其實跟我們現在的社會不無兩樣，好人未必完全不做壞事。廢奴人士來自不同背景，人人都有優點和缺點，重要的是我們應看他好的一面。」
亞爾拔芬尼飾演韋柏霍斯的啟蒙者約翰紐頓。紐頓本是靠買賣奴隸賺錢的船長，但在45歲那年良心發現，歸信上帝，更編寫了逾200首聖詩，當中包括今次的主題詩歌＜奇異恩典＞。「在韋柏霍斯掙扎於事業成就和信仰之時，紐頓為他點亮了指引明燈──他建議韋柏霍斯追尋廢奴的夢想。」對於自己的角色，亞爾拔芬尼說：「其實讀劇本前我對這段史實所知無幾，我很懶，歷史這一科大抵由亨利八世起已沒碰過了。」但他盛讚導演的功架：「跟米高瓦特合作是件樂事，他組織力強，令拍攝過程又快又順利──你知道，演員的薪酬某程度上有一部分是用來等開鏡的，但米高沒叫我們等。」他又很高興能與以前合作過的演員再結戲緣：「我跟米高甘博和魯弗斯史韋大約十年前一起拍過一套戲，我跟魯弗斯自那次起就沒見過面了。」
老戲骨兼舞台和電視紅人米高甘博今次扮演霍士爵士。霍士爵士是一位貴族出身的國會議員，最初反對廢奴，但被韋柏霍斯打動，並全力支持韋柏霍斯的行動。米高甘博跟亞爾拔芬尼一樣讚賞導演：「米高瓦特是我合作過最好的導演，他拍的鏡頭準確精密，沒有多餘的鏡頭，因為他很清楚自己要什麼。他有才華、樂觀又有領導風範。」他又很高興能夥拍新派演員艾恩古福特，同時跟亞爾拔芬尼「重聚」。「我看過艾恩的戲，他年輕、聰明又俊朗，與他合作樂趣無窮。我認識亞拔超過40年了！我們一起演過數齣舞台劇和一套電影，能再次碰頭實在不錯呢。我很享受今次拍這套戲的每一分每一秒。」
無論是導演抑或演員，都深信今次的故事能引起觀眾共鳴。艾恩古福特說：「這齣戲教曉我們鼓起勇氣追求自己相信的正義真理，而付出的努力最終必得成果。」米高瓦特補充道：「我希望讓觀眾更深入了解這個他們以前未必有留意到的故事，並希望他們在娛樂的同時，也明白到一個道理：正義長存，憑一己之力也可改變世界。」
演員履歷
艾恩古福特Ioan Gruffudd（飾 威廉韋柏霍斯 William Wilberforce）
艾恩古福特最為觀眾熟悉的角色，相信是＜神奇四俠：銀魔現身Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer＞裏「神奇先生」一角，但其實他的演藝生涯早於少年時代開始。艾恩於中學時期考進倫敦皇家戲劇藝術學院（RADA），一畢業便投身演藝界，以得獎電視連續劇＜Hornblower＞冒起。他繼而參與了多齣大熱劇集如＜The Forsyte Saga＞、＜Man and Boy＞、＜孤星血淚＞(Great Expectations)等。
他參與過的電影包括：＜102斑點狗＞ (102 Dalmatians)、＜王者無敵＞(King Arthur)、＜黑鷹15小時＞ (Black Hawk Down)、獲奧斯卡提名最佳外語片的威爾斯語愛情片＜Solomon and Gaenor＞等。
露夢娜嘉萊依Romola Garai（飾 芭芭拉史般納 Barbara Spooner）
被星探發掘的露夢娜嘉萊依，處女作是於＜The Last of the Blond Bombshells＞中扮演年輕的茱迪丹芝，其後她於＜Daniel Deronda＞擔任女主角。但真正叫人刮目相看的，是她於＜I Capture the Castle＞中的演出，她更憑此戲獲英國獨立電影精神獎提名為「最傑出新星」。其後她再憑＜生命的舞動＞(Inside I'm Dancing)獲倫敦影評人協會及英國電影獎提名。
露夢娜的其他作品包括：＜辣身舞：情定夏灣拿＞(Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights)和＜Vanity Fair＞；改編自英國著名小說家Ian McEwan的同名電影＜Atonement＞，簡尼夫班納執導、改編自莎士比亞經典喜劇而以十九世紀日本京都為背景的＜皆大歡喜＞(As You Like It)，以及法國鬼才導演法蘭索瓦奧桑(Francois Ozon)的新片＜華麗安琪兒＞ (Angel)。
班尼狄甘柏貝治Benedict Cumberbatch（飾 威廉畢特William Pitt）
班尼狄甘柏貝治父母皆為演員，來自演藝世家的他，修讀並畢業於著名的倫敦音樂及戲劇藝術學院（LAMDA），並迅速憑電視劇集肯定了演技。在蜚聲國際物理學家霍金的傳記式電視劇＜Hawking＞中，班尼狄扮演主角霍金，勇奪蒙地卡羅電視節的金女神獎，更獲英國奧斯卡BAFTA提名。最近，他主演了改編自電視劇的＜To the Ends of the Earth＞。
他的其他作品包括新戲＜Starter For Ten＞及本屆威尼斯影展參賽作品＜Atonement＞。
亞爾拔芬尼Albert Finney（飾 約翰紐頓 John Newton）
本為舞台劇演員的亞爾拔芬尼，憑?兩齣風格截然不同的電影──英國工人片＜浪子春潮Saturday Night and Sunday Morning＞和古裝鬧劇＜Tom Jones＞進軍影壇，後者更為他贏得一個金球獎，並獲奧斯卡及BAFTA提名。
在這之後，亞爾拔芬尼繼續成為各個頒獎典禮的常客，包括三度提名奧斯卡最佳男主角（＜東方快車謀殺案＞ (Murder on the Orient Express)、＜近身＞ （The Dresser）、＜在火山下＞ (Under the Volcano)），以及最佳男配角（＜伊人當自強＞ (Erin Brockovich)）。金球獎得獎作品有＜鐵血風暴＞ (The Gathering Storm)（扮演英國前首相邱吉爾，同時亦贏得艾美獎及BAFTA獎）及＜Scrooge孤寒財主＞。其他作品＜大魚奇緣＞ (Big Fish)、＜伊人當自強＞、＜近身＞、＜在火山下＞及＜射月＞ (Shoot The Moon) 亦獲金球獎提名。
亞爾拔芬尼最近的電影有＜醇美年華＞ (A Good Year)及＜The White Rose＞等。
米高甘博Michael Gambon（飾 霍士爵士 Lord Fox）
縱橫影壇四十年的米高甘博，是大銀幕、舞台和電視的常客，最近更憑?於大熱的＜哈利波特＞三部曲中霍格華茲魔法學校校長「鄧不利多」一角，攫奪了更多影迷的愛戴。
米高甘博是位資深的戲劇演員，早於1963年已被舞台劇界巨擘奧立佛（Laurence Olivier）招攬到皇家國家劇院公司，至今他仍偶踏台板，取得無數掌聲。
他的首齣電影作品是莎劇＜奧塞羅＞(Othello)，其他接拍的片約超過100部，包括最近的＜非常古惑仔＞(Layer Cake)、＜The Good Shepherd＞及＜哈利波特5：鳳凰會的密令＞ (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)等。
魯弗斯史韋Rufus Sewell（飾 湯瑪斯克拉遜 Thomas Clarkson）
風格多變的魯弗斯史韋，畢業於倫敦中央演講及戲劇學院後，經常在電影、舞台劇及電視劇曝光。他憑?得獎電視劇＜米德鎮的春天＞ (Middlemarch)初為觀眾熟悉，較近期的電影包括＜崔斯炟與伊索德＞ (Tristan and Isolde)、＜The Legend of Zorro＞、浪漫喜劇＜緣分精華遊＞ (The Holiday)及＜The Illusionist＞。
魯弗斯史韋是舞台劇界紅星，他首齣於倫敦公演的舞台劇＜Making It Better＞已贏得虎報晚報戲劇獎的「最傑出新星獎」，而在＜Arcadia＞裏精湛的演出亦獲奧立佛獎提名。到了美國，他的首齣劇＜Translations＞已勇奪百老匯戲劇獎。
尤蘇恩多爾Youssou N'Dour（飾奧魯達艾基雅諾 Olaudah Equiano）
格林美得獎歌手尤蘇恩多爾是非洲音樂的先鋒，過去逾15年來，他致力推廣非洲音樂，令之登上世界舞台。他的音樂巧妙地摻入西方風格，但同時保留?非洲音樂原始的味道，他本人更依然住在家鄉，繼續為同胞創作心靈食物。
生於非洲塞內加爾首都達喀爾的尤蘇，自幼經母親傳授沃洛夫族（Wolof）的音樂，他早於1973年已開始於家鄉表演。1975年，他於當地最受歡迎的夜總會演出，發展了融和沃洛夫和西方樂器的特別曲風。
他於1982年推出首隻卡式帶並立即大賣，於樂壇迅速冒起。其後他憑?大碟＜Immigres and Nelson Mandela＞晉身國際層面，1987年更與英國音樂鬼才Peter Gabriel結伴巡迴演唱。
今次是尤蘇首次參與電影拍攝工作，他更與此戲的音樂總監一起編寫配樂。
導演履歷
米高瓦特Michael Apted
米高瓦特歷年來執導多齣電影及電視劇，當中不少獲得影迷認同及國際獎項。於英國Granada Television電視台出身的他，拍過多齣令家庭觀眾印象深刻的電視劇，計有新聞片＜World in Action＞系列、長壽肥皂劇＜Coronation Street＞、＜The Lovers and Folly Foot＞（奪得BAFTA獎），以及＜Another Sunday and Sweet FA＞和＜Kisses at Fifty＞（均獲最佳戲劇導演獎）。
1972年，米高瓦特推出電影處女作＜Triple Echo＞。不久再執導賣座之作樂與怒片＜Stardust＞、＜The Squeeze＞等。1980年，他首次於美國推出的＜Coal Miner's Daughter＞橫掃奧斯卡七項提名。翌年他拍了＜Continental Divide＞和改編自暢銷小說的＜Gorky Park＞。1985年，記錄搖滾巨星Sting製作其唱片 ＜Blue Turtles＞及演唱會的＜Bring On The Night＞為他地帶來格林美獎。＜Gorillas in the Mist＞獲五項奧斯卡提名，其後他又拍了＜Class Action＞、驚慄片＜Blink＞及茱迪科士打主演的＜妮爾的芳心＞ (Nell)。
1996年，他拍了以醫生為題材的＜Extreme Measures＞；1999年，他執導了＜新鐵金剛之黑日殺機＞(The World is Not Enough)，成為同系列中最賣座的一部戲。其後有琦溫絲莉(Kate Winslet)主演的二次大戰片＜Engima＞及珍妮花露柏絲(Jennifer Lopez)主演的＜貼身恐懼＞ (Enough)。2004年，他執導三集HBO史詩式電視電影＜Rome＞，以凱撒大帝時代為題材。
除了電影之外，米高瓦特的紀錄片亦叫好叫座，最著名的可謂1963年的＜7 Up＞，主角是14個七歲的英國小學生，他每七年探訪他們一次，看看他們的生活。而最近的＜49 Up＞系列於2005面世。其他紀錄片包括＜Married in America＞、＜Rolling Stones Forty Licks Tour＞及談06年世界盃前足球對全球之影響的＜The World 2006＞。
米高瓦特最近連任美國導演公會（Directors Guild of America）的主席，更獲國際紀錄片協會（International Documentary Association）頒發最高榮譽「IDA終身成就獎」。
史實資料]
奴隸制度及廢奴運動
古時西方國家盛行奴隸買賣，古希臘哲學家亞里士多德更曾指這是人類的「自然秩序之一」。不過隨?信奉「人人在主前平等」的基督教開始普及，奴隸制逐漸息微。
不過，探險的黃金年代再次掀開奴隸制的序幕。1444年，第一位非洲奴隸「Black Gold」被賣到葡萄牙首都里斯本。葡萄牙人最初於非洲西岸設立貿易站是為購買黃金和象牙，但當黃金和象牙的交易開始減少，他們改為販賣人口。隨?發現美洲新大陸及西印度群島成為殖民地，這些新土地需要人力來開發，奴隸買賣也就頻繁起來。
至於英國，本來英國並沒進行人口販賣。1562年，伊莉莎白女王更曾被約翰霍金斯爵士把數百名非洲人到西班牙聖多明哥一舉惹怒。但到了1713年，英國已成為買賣最多奴隸的國家，在開發其西印殖民地之餘，亦間接為糖和?酒的廠商、商人及奴隸商人帶來利潤。
奴隸船的衛生環境非常惡劣，無論男女老幼一律擠在一起，弄得渾身排泄物和嘔吐物。在橫越大西洋的長達百日航程內，病或死的人會被丟進海裏，這段被稱為「中間航程」（Middle Passage）的一段路，也是最多人死掉的一段。抵達西印後，黑奴會被洗乾淨和養肥以求賣得好價錢，被拍賣前更會被脫光衣服、塗了油在街上巡遊。賣不出的病弱者會被遺棄、任由自生自滅。一旦賣出，黑奴會被帶到蔗田「特訓」，很多人會在這時捱不住死掉。就算僥倖活下來，也要日復日地辛勞工作，更會被麻木不仁的監工虐待。
雖然有無數民眾、詩人、哲學家及教士的反對聲音，奴隸制度依然在物質主義的蒙蔽下繼續昌盛。1787年，韋柏霍斯踏出了第一步，在國會中首度提出廢奴議案。12名廢奴委員於同年五月開始宣傳，一年內已集結民間力量，令倫敦各處都遍布爭論聲音。他們收到的反對簽名，更是國會歷年來就同一議題所收到的最多。他們印製了小冊子，很快達30萬人拒絕於喝茶時使用奴隸種植得來的蔗糖。世界最著名的陶瓷業者華茲活(Josiah Wedgwood)特別為廢奴支持者製造了一款浮雕，一個被鐵鍊綑?的黑人一腳屈膝在地，臉向上天，浮雕最頂寫上委員會的印章口號：「難道我不是人，不是主內的弟兄？」當時新潮的女士都把這浮雕當作手鐲或襟針。1788年，佐治三世回應群眾壓力，下令樞密院調查奴隸販賣事宜。翌年，議員Dolben提出限制英國奴隸船上黑奴數目的「中間航程議案」 (Middle Passage Bill），在僅得兩票下通過。
委員會籌備了兩年，韋柏霍斯於1791年在議會提出廢奴，但只顧自身利益的政客合力把議案推翻。翌年，西印的黑奴發起血腥暴動，加上政客恐怕法國大革命會把反帝國思想傳到英國，種種因素阻礙了廢奴運動的進程。在其後的18年間，韋柏霍斯鍥而不捨地重提議案，始終未能成功。最後，廢除奴隸貿易議案於1807年通過，王室於3月25日同意定立此律例。
踏出一大步後，廢奴支持者繼續致力推翻整個奴隸制度，並鼓吹解放黑奴。1825年，65歲的韋柏霍斯榮休，把廢奴重任交到另一福音派基督徒議員TF Buxton手上。1833年七月，下議院三讀通過廢奴議案，三天後韋柏霍斯逝世，他被風光大葬於倫敦西敏寺北翼，在他好友威廉畢特的旁邊，政府更在他墓前豎立雕像供後人瞻仰。
英國政府賠償了二千萬英鎊予奴隸主人，約為被解放的奴隸的價值的一半。
威廉韋柏霍斯（1759 - 1833）
1759年生於英國水濱名城赫爾（Hull），是一個富有商人的兒子。父親和叔父離世後，他承繼了豐厚遺產，並立志從政，僅23歲便當選為議員。他的身家令他可以資助不少慈善活動。
一天，韋柏霍斯蒙主呼召，歸信福音派基督教。他打算從黨派激烈的政壇退下，追求崇高的精神生活，但他的友人約翰紐頓，勸他以獨立身分留在議會，並以政治力量幫助自己追求那些人生目標，效果可能更好。韋柏霍斯的密友威廉畢特是英國史上最年輕的首相，他倆在國會中一同努力廢奴，最終也拯救了無數黑奴。
韋柏霍斯亦是Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals（今天的防止虐待動物協會RSPCA）的創辦人之一。
芭芭拉史般納
芭芭拉史般納來自一個富有及虔誠福音派基督教的家庭，父母是商人和銀行家，居住英國中部的伯明翰附近。1797年四月，37歲的韋柏霍斯由朋友介紹遇上芭芭拉，二人閃電墮入愛河，僅十天後韋柏霍斯便向她求婚，五月舉行了婚禮。韋柏霍斯和芭芭拉的美滿婚姻維持了35年，直至韋柏霍斯於1833年去世。二人共有六名子女：William（1798）、Barbara（1799）、Elizabeth（1801）、Robert Isaac（1802）、Samuel（1805）和Henry（1807）。
威廉畢特（1759 -1806）
與韋柏霍斯是劍橋大學校友的威廉畢特，父親是被尊為「英國的聲音」兼「查塔姆第一伯爵」的英國前首相。威廉承繼父志，年紀輕輕便從政，憑?辯才和幹勁於23歲時當選議員，同年擔任財政大臣，更於24歲時成為英國史上最年輕的首相，並做了兩個任期（1783-1801）及（1804-1806）。
他最大的功績，是於美國獨立戰爭後重整國家經濟，處理了堆積如山的國債，並修訂了稅制令之更有效率。雖然樹敵不少，但憑?國王佐治三世的支持和信賴，威廉始終一帆風順。在任期內，他首次為國家引入個人入息稅，並致力改革國會。1801年，他的政府通過「Act of Union」，依憲法合併英格蘭、蘇格蘭和威爾斯為大不列顛帝國。在海外，他努力消除法國大革命和拿破崙戰役帶來的威脅。
1806年1月23日，尚在辦公室內工作的威廉因肝病猝死。他一生未婚及無子女，死時債務達四萬英鎊，但由國會還清。他於2月22日葬於西敏寺，更舉行了兩天的公眾哀悼儀式。
湯瑪斯克拉遜1760-1846）
廢奴運動的發起人之一，湯瑪斯克拉遜是個激進派，1787年他花了五個月到訪英國各大碼頭，搜集奴隸貿易的不公平證據，大大幫助了運動進程。1807年奴隸貿易議案通過後，英國著名浪漫派詩人威廉華茲華斯（Wordsworth）撰寫了一首詩歌頌湯瑪斯。
湯瑪斯的孜孜不倦，最終帶來了1833年的廢奴議案。他於1845年逝世，同樣葬於西敏寺。
約翰紐頓（1725-1807）
福音派牧師約翰紐頓於1760年至1770年期間，編寫了無數聖詩，當中包括了此戲的主題＜奇異恩典＞。身為一個商船船長兒子的他，多年來均為奴隸船船長，直至某天於暴風雨中航行時，突然接觸到上帝，於是歸信於主。他對自己以前的罪孽感到非常內疚，自此把自己貢獻給教會，作品包括＜甜美聖名＞(How
Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds)和＜郇城歌＞ (Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken)。
成為林肯教區主教後，紐頓於白金漢郡的奧爾尼牧會擔任副牧師。當著名詩人William Cowper搬到該區，二人一起為每周的朝拜編寫不同的聖詩；這些聖詩編成的《奧爾尼聖詩集Olney Hymns》，至今仍廣為使用，歷久不衰。
1780年，紐頓前往倫敦的St. Mary Woolnoth教堂牧養，並啟蒙了連同韋柏霍斯在內的不少會眾。儘管已老得眼睛看不見東西，紐頓依然傳道至人生最後一刻，直至1807年12月21日於倫敦逝世。
奧魯達艾基雅諾
根據他本人的暢銷自傳，奧魯達艾基雅諾生於尼日利亞南北部，是一名酋長的兒子，但他與妹妹小時候一起被拐走，賣到西印度群島的巴巴多斯。但因為奧蘭達太瘦弱，奴隸販子決定養肥他再運到維珍利亞的蔗場。蔗場主人後來把他賣給一名英國皇家海軍軍官，六年來跟隨戰船到過倫敦、法國、西班牙和加拿大。他有幸被主人教以閱讀寫字，更於倫敦受洗。1762年，他被賣給一個前往加勒比海蒙特塞拉特（Montserrat）的船長，很快又轉賣予一位當地富商。富商知道他的英語能力和航海及打工經驗後讓他做文書和隨隊船員。
艾基雅諾目睹加勒比海奴隸貿易之慘況，於是決定以自己能力做買賣賺錢，最後於1766年成功以七英鎊（等同今天的一萬英鎊）贖身。不過雖然有贖身文件，奧蘭達被強拉到一艘百慕達的船；幸好幸運之神再次向他招手，船隻遇難，他又安然到達倫敦。其後的十年他做過家傭、理髮師和發明師助手，工餘閱讀《聖經》和練法國號，並遊遍地中海、美國和北極，更在多艘船上打過工。
艾基雅諾最後定居倫敦，開始出力爭取廢除非洲黑奴制度。他的自傳大大有助廢奴運動的進程。
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上映日期 : October 25, 2007
級別 : I
片長 : 118mins
官方網址 : www.amazinggracemovie.com (美國)
www.goldenscene.com (香港)
戲院 : Palace IFC / Broadway Cinematheque / AMC Pacific Place / AMC Festival Walk
發行 : Golden Scene Co Ltd.
SYNOPSIS
"You may choose to look the other way but you can never again say you did not know."
- William Wilberforce, 1789From acclaimed director Michael Apted (The World is Not Enough, Coal Miner's Daughter) comes Amazing Grace, a moving historical epic about the life of antislavery pioneer William Wilberforce.
Ioan Gruffudd (Black Hawk Down, Fantastic Four) plays Wilberforce, a man born into the age of the Great British Empire when the country's influence around the globe was at its most powerful. It was, however, an age when the rumblings of social discontent were emerging, and a time when reformers faced an uphill struggle to be heard.
A good friend of England's youngest Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger (Benedict Cumberbatch, To the Ends of the Earth), Wilberforce is elected to the House of Commons at the age of 21, and entrusted by Pitt with the cause for the Abolition of Slavery.
In spite of his preternatural political prowess, Wilberforce finds himself torn between his successful rising career and his desire to give it all up for a life of spirituality. He seeks the advice of friend and mentor John Newton (Academy Award Nominee Albert Finney, Erin Brockovich), a former slave trader who turned to the Church in order to atone for his earlier life, who suggests that his best way for Wilberforce to serve God would be to fight injustice with his political influence. Inspired by Newton, Wilberforce quickly becomes the rallying voice in Parliament for a fragmented group of like-minded people to fight the cause and make the people of Britain, and ultimately the world, acknowledge the horror of the Slave Trade.
Amazing Grace follows Wilberforce's career through his 20's and 30's, as he and his fellow humanitarians make the issue of slavery a talking point, not only in political circles, but also throughout the country. They wage the first modern political campaign, using petitions, boycotts, mass meetings and even badges with slogans to take their message to the country at large.
Boasting a terrific ensemble cast, Amazing Grace also stars Romola Garai as Barbara Spooner, the beautiful and headstrong young woman who shares Wilberforce's passion for reform, and who becomes his wife after a whirlwind courtship. Michael Gambon (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) is Lord Fox, an MP that is convinced by Wilberforce to join the fight against the slave trade. Rufus Sewell (Legend of Zorro) plays Thomas Clarkson, one of Wilberforce's allies in the anti-slavery movement, and Grammy winning Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour is Olaudah Equiano, an African sent as a slave to the Colonies who bought his freedom and made his home in London where he became a leading figure in the fight to end the slavery of his fellow countrymen.
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
"William Wilberforce and William Pitt were both very young men, under thirty, when they took on the British establishment to bring about the abolition of the slave trade." Says Director Michael Apted. "This is a great moment in British history, and I wanted to portray it as a generational battle - the young men taking on the older generation - like Kennedys and their Camelot court were to America in the early sixties."
Michael Apted, a British director based in LA, was approached by Bristol Bay Productions to direct a film about William Wilberforce to coincide with the 200th anniversary (in 2007) of the passing of the bill that outlawed the slave trade in Britain and its Empire. "But," says Apted, "I wasn't interested in making a dull biopic. This is a great period in British politics. I wanted to make a film that showed how heroic and relevant politics can be."
William Wilberforce was a man of faith who considered retreating from the world to devote himself to religion. Apted explains, "He had a very strong moral drive, based on his religious beliefs, but Wilberforce moved in the real world and could form alliances with people he didn't totally approve of, in order to get closer to his goal. He proved that although he was driven by a divine purpose to rid the world of this iniquitous slave trade, to execute this mission he needed to be strong, worldly, smart and political. A combination of Christian visionary and skilled politician, his overwhelming tenacity eventually let him reach his goal."
By coincidence, Apted had arranged to meet with screenwriter Steven Knight, whose work he admired, the day after he had agreed to direct the film. Knight was a fan of the director's work, and had a particular interest in the period of history surrounding Wilberforce's life. They quickly agreed to work together and Knight tackled the screenplay. Knight's research into Wilberforce gave him many interesting details with which to furnish the man's everyday life. "He was a single-minded man who kept pursuing his goal, and plucked success from the jaws of defeat. To most people at the time the idea of abolishing the slave trade was ludicrous - like someone today suggesting that we abandon the internal combustion engine right now! At the same time he was an eccentric. He had a house full of sick animals, and could never bring himself to fire any of his staff, so that by the time he was fifty, he had a house full of old servants, most of whom did nothing. And he would come home to find his house full of people he didn't know, sleeping there."
Apted was determined to cast the film with British actors. "I'm a British director, the screenplay writer is British, and it's a huge moment in British history, so the cast had to be British." His search for a young actor brought him to Ioan Gruffudd. "Ioan has the intellect to take on the role of William Wilberforce, and also luckily had the international appeal and financial muscle to convince the producers that they could sell the film to audiences. This allowed us to surround him with other choice British actors of every generation - Rufus Sewell, Benedict Cumberbatch, Romola Garai, Ciaran Hinds, Albert Finney and Michael Gambon."
Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour is cast in the pivotal role of Oloudah Equiano, an African slave who bought his freedom and settled in London, writing a book about his extraordinary life, which became a best seller at the time. Campaigning for the abolition of slavery for his people, he joins Wilberforce's abolitionist movement at a crucial time. Said Apted, "The role of Equiano is crucial and complicated in the film. Youssou had that pure presence; he brings a richness and dignity to his scenes."
Actor Ioan Gruffudd, fresh from playing Mr. Fantastic in the blockbuster Marvel Comics adaptation The Fantastic Four, was attracted by the combination of director, script and story. "It's very rare to find all three of such a high standard in the same project. I was convinced that I could play this role and that I'd be guided skilfully by Michael Apted. He is one of the best directors I've worked with, well prepared, with confidence in the actors, the script and the crew," enthuses Gruffudd. "I did a lot of background reading to immerse myself in the period. I found William Wilberforce to be a likeable man, constantly conflicted between his faith and his work in Parliament, but at his core he was a humanitarian, filled with compassion and courage. At only 5'4", he had a towering presence and an incredible voice."
Gruffudd cites two scenes as his main challenges during filming. "Wilberforce sings 'Amazing Grace' in a gentleman's club, in a very aggressive manner, to show his peers who he is and what he stands for. It's a very startling image and an arresting moment in the film. Luckily I had my singing teacher from drama college, who I hadn't seen for ten years, there to guide me." As Wilberforce presents his bill again and again to Parliament over the years, he makes impassioned speeches, at various ages, and in several states of health. "It was very daunting to be confronted, suddenly, with the set full of extras playing Members of Parliament. It was like having a theatre audience and I had to be careful not to perform."
Benedict Cumberbatch, in the role of William Pitt the Younger, is a relative newcomer to film, and relished the role of Britain's youngest ever Prime Minister. "It is initially daunting to take on the role of someone with such iconic statute in British history. In the film Pitt starts out as Prime Minister, in his twenties and we follow his relationship with Wilberforce to his deathbed, so I wanted to understand the whole stretch of the man's life. He also suffered from ill health and had been told by doctors to drink 2-3 bottles of port a day, which obviously took a terrible toll on his health, and made him an alcoholic. He was incredibly intense and fiercely intelligent, but physically awkward, tall and gangly. His body suffered the ravages of a peptic ulcer, which eventually killed him."
Romola Garai plays Barbara Spooner, the woman who Wilberforce marries, after only a few weeks of courtship. "Michael was keen that we had background material on the period, but little is known of Barbara's life before she married William Wilberforce," says Garai. "In those days women were still regarded as someone's daughter, wife or mother, rather than noteworthy in their own right." But as soon as she married Wilberforce she became part of his movement for Abolition, and they remained married for 35 years, till Wilberforce's death in 1833. They had six children.
Rufus Sewell takes the role of Thomas Clarkson. "I love his character. He's a bit of an oddball and a real life force. He had so much energy, devoted to the power of good, but, like many people working for the good of humanity, proved not to be that able at individual relationships." Clarkson was a contemporary of Wilberforce, who began to work on his own against slavery. Says Sewell, "He travelled the length and breadth of the country, canvassing against the slave trade, and gathering information. He joined up with Wilberforce and became the man in the field. He was a religious man, but hung out with the wrong types, because they would give him proof of the iniquities of the trade."
Sewell emphasises the relevance of the story for today's audiences. "People who do good are not necessarily all totally clean-cut and wholesome. The Abolitionists were a very mixed bunch of individuals. There is good and bad in everyone, so it's worth appealing to the good in people. This is a film about real human beings doing something good."
Albert Finney plays John Newton. He explains, "Newton was a sea captain who profited from the slave trade until, aged 45, he suffered a crisis of conscience and left the sea to enter the Church. There he remained and wrote over 200 hymns, including Amazing Grace." Newton was a mentor to Wilberforce who turned to him at a time of personal conflict. Newton advised Wilberforce to pursue his dream of the abolition of slavery. Finney admits to knowing little of the history of the period before reading the script. "I was a bad scholar, and gave up on history after Henry VIII passed on." He says. Working with Michael Apted was a pleasure. "He is very well organised - everything moves quickly. Often as an actor you are paid to hang about, but there's none of that with Michael." Finney also enjoyed his reunion with other actors with whom he had previously worked. "I did a film about ten years ago with Michael Gambon and with Rufus Sewell, and I'd not seen Rufus since."
Michael Gambon, another veteran of stage, screen and television, plays Lord Fox. "He's an MP and a member of the British aristocracy who initially opposes the abolition of slavery, but then changes his views and backs Wilberforce." Gambon praises director Apted, "He's the best film director I've ever worked with. He films at an alarming rate, and he does very few takes, because he knows exactly what he wants. He's charming, talented and positive." He also relished working with Gruffudd and meeting up with Finney again. "I knew Ioan's work. He's young, intelligent and handsome and I enjoy working with him. I've known Albert for over forty years, and have done a couple of plays and a film with him, so it was good to see him on set. I've loved every minute of my time on the film."
Director and cast think that the film will prove relevant to today's audiences. Says Gruffudd, "I'd like the film to show that standing up for your rights takes courage and will reap rewards in the long run." Michael Apted adds "I hope we open people's eyes to an interesting story that not many people will know about, and that, while being entertained, they learn something about the human condition: that principles exist in the world, and that things can be changed."
ABOUT THE CAST
IOAN GRUFFUDD William Wilberforce
Ioan Gruffudd will reprise his role as Mr. Fantastic in The Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, based on the Marvel Comic Superheroes, starring alongside Julian McMahon, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chilkis, following the success of the last year's blockbuster The Fantastic Four.
Ioan began acting in his teens in his home town of Cardiff. He enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and immediately began work upon graduation. He starred in the Welsh language Academy-nominated romantic drama Solomon and Gaenor.
He first found fame in the title role of the award-winning television series Hornblower. Other recent television successes include the popular miniseries The Forsyte Saga, with Damian Lewis and Gina McKee; the lead role in the adaptation of Tony Parson's bestselling novel Man And Boy, and the role of Pip in Tony Marchant's Great Expectations, starring alongside Charlotte Rampling and Justine Waddell.
His film profile continued to rise with recent leading roles in 102 Dalmatians, co-starring with Glenn Close and Alice Evans and TV Set, starring with David Duchovny and Sigourney Weaver.
ROMOLA GARAI Barbara Spooner
Romola Garai's first screen role was playing the young Judi Dench in the award-winning series The Last of the Blond Bombshells, after being spotted by an agent in a school production.
Her first leading role was in the television adaptation Daniel Deronda, but she came gained critical attention and a nomination for a British Independent Film Award as Most Promising Newcomer for her leading role in the film adaptation of Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle, starring alongside Bill Nighy. Her role in Damien O'Donnell's Inside I'm Dancing led to nominations for the London Critics Circle and British Film Awards. In 2005 she was nominated for an Australian Film Institute Award for her performance in the title role in the television mini-series Mary Bryant.
On London stage, Romola played the role of James Joyce's wife Lucia, for which she was nominated for an Evening Standard Award as Outstanding Newcomer.
Since completing AMAZING GRACE, she has filmed Joe Wright's adaptation of Ian McEwan's Atonement, starring with Keira Knightley and co-star Benedict Cumberbatch and starred in Kenneth Branagh's Japanese adaptation of As You Like It.
BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH William Pitt
A relative newcomer to film, Benedict Cumberbatch quickly established his reputation on television. For his portrayal of scientist Stephen Hawking in the television biopic Hawking he was nominated for a BAFTA and won the Golden Nymph Award at Monte Carlo Television Festival. He recently played a leading role in the television adaptation of William Golding's novel To the Ends of the Earth. The son of two actors, Benedict studied drama at LAMDA.
Benedict recently completed work on Tom Vaughan's feature Starter For Ten, and Joe Wright's feature adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel Atonement, starring alongside Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and co-star Romola Garai.
ALBERT FINNEY John Newton
Early success on the British stage led Albert Finney to film stardom, after his leading roles in two very different films - Karel Reisz' working class drama Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, and the period romp Tom Jones. The latter performance won him a Golden Globe Award, and nominations for the Academy and BAFTA Awards.
Since then he has been nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actor - Murder on the Orient Express, The Dresser and Under the Volcano, plus a nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Erin Brockovich. Other Golden Globe wins were for The Gathering Storm, for his portrayal of Winston Churchill, which also won him Emmy and BAFTA Awards, and his leading role in Scrooge, he was nominated for Golden Globes for Big Fish, Erin Brockovich, Under the Volcano, The Dresser and Shoot the Moon.
On television he took the lead roles in dramatist Dennis Potter's final two plays Karaoke and Cold Lazarus.
Since completing filming on AMAZING GRACE, Albert Finney has worked with directors Ridley Scott, in A Good Year, co-starring with Russell Crowe, and with Sidney Lumet in The White Rose.
MICHAEL GAMBON Lord Fox
In a career spanning forty years, Michael Gambon has enjoyed success in film, theatre and television. In the last three films of the Harry Potter series, he has reached a new audience, filling the role of Dumbledore, beloved headmaster of Hogwart's School for Wizards.
In 1963, Gambon was invited by Laurence Olivier to be a member of the original Royal National Theatre Company, alongside Maggie Smith and Nicol Williamson. He still regularly appears on stage, receiving many critical accolades for his performances.
In 1965 he made his film debut in Olivier's Othello, and has since appeared in over one hundred films, most recently in Matthew Vaughn's Layer Cake and The Good Shepherd, directed by Robert de Niro with Angelina Jolie. Since completing work on AMAZING GRACE he has filmed roles in the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Good Night, directed by Jake Paltrow, Celebration, directed by John Crowley, from a Harold Pinter screenplay, and The Baker, directed by Gareth Lewis.
RUFUS SEWELL Thomas Clarkson
Rufus Sewell has successfully tackled a variety of roles in film, theatre and television. He came to public attention starring in award-winning television adaptation of Middlemarch in 1994, having studied at London Central School of Speech and Drama.
His London theatre debut, in Making It Better, gained him the Best Newcomer Award at Evening Standard Theatre Awards, and he was nominated for an Olivier Award for his role in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia. On Broadway, he made his debut in Brian Friel's Translations, and was awarded the Broadway Theatre Award. In 2006 he took a leading role in Tom Stoppard's latest play Rock 'n Roll at the Royal Court Theatre.
Recent television credits include his much lauded leading role in Charles II: the Power and the Passion, directed by Joe Wright, and The Taming of the Shrew, where he co-starred as Petruchio, alongside Shirley Henderson as Kate.
His recent film credits include Kevin Reynold's Tristan and Isolde, Martin Campbell's blockbuster The Legend of Zorro, Nancy Meyer's romantic comedy The Holiday, with Kate Winslett and Cameron Diaz, and The Illusionist, directed by Neil Burger and co-starring Ed Norton.
YOUSSOU N'DOUR Oloudah Equiano
Grammy Winner Youssou N'Dour is one of Africa's music pioneers, and has helped put African music on the world map over the past fifteen years.
Born in Senegal, his mother taught him the music and songs of the Wolof people, to whom his family belongs. He began to perform with music and drama groups at an early age in his home town in Daker, making his first public performance with a modern band in 1973. In 1975 he joined the Star Band, the house band at Dakar's most popular night club. With them, he experimented, melding Wolof music with western instruments, in a style called mbalax. In 1979 he formed his own band Etoile, revamping and renaming them Super Etoile de Dakar in 1982, and continuing to introduce new elements to his music, with lyrics from Wolof mythology and elements of contemporary life in Dakar.
In 1982 he released his first cassette for sale, and his popularity grew in Dakar as more cassettes were recorded. His albums Immigres and Nelson Mandela provided him with an international breakthrough and led to his collaboration with Peter Gabriel. Together they toured in 1987.
Youssou N'Dour now records for the world market, but holds onto his African routs by continuing to live in Senegal with his family, recording music specifically for his African audiences.
AMAZING GRACE marks Youssou's film debut, and he also collaborated with David Arnold to provide music for the film's soundtrack.
CIARAN HINDS Lord Tarleton
Belfast born actor Ciaran Hinds is always in high demand, appearing recently in Steven Spielberg's drama Munich, and Michael Mann's Miami Vice. In 2004 he was directed by Michael Apted in the role of Julius Caesar in the epic HBO mini-series Rome.
Earlier film credits include Sam Mendes' Road to Perdition, Nigel Cole's comedy Calendar Girls and The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Joel Schumaker.
In addition, Ciaran Hinds has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Glasgow Citizens Theatre and regularly worked with Peter Brooke and his company.
Since finishing work on Amazing Grace he has starred in Noah Baumbach's Untitled Project, alongside Nicole Kidman and Jack Black, A Tiger's Tale, directed by John Boorman, The Nativity Story directed by Catherine Hardwicke and David Mackenzie's Hallam Foe.
TOBY JONES Duke of Clarence
London based actor Toby Jones best known for his critically acclaimed performance as Truman Capote in Douglas McGrath's 2006 film Infamous, He trained at the Ecole Internationale du theatre in Paris under Jacques Lecoq. He has extensive experience on stage, including the National Theatre, most recently with the international theatre company Complicite in Simon McBurney's celebrated production of "Measure for Measure" by William Shakespeare. Jones has written several shows including "Wanted Man" and "Missing Reel" These shows were developed at the National Theatre Studio where Toby has directed, acted and taught for several years.
In 2001, Toby starred with Hamish McColl and Sean Foley in the comedy hit The Play What I Wrote directed by Kenneth Branagh. The show was hugely successful breaking the record for advance sales for a West End play, and was awarded the Olivier Award for Best Comedy, and Jones was awarded the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The show ran for a year before transferring to Broadway in 2003 where it was nominated for a Tony Award. Jones played Arthur in the show which chronicled the shifting relationship between a double act. Every night the show featured a special guest star who Arthur had to imitate with little success. Over 50 different celebrities eventually performed in the show including: Ralph Fiennes, Sting, Ewan Macgregor, Bob Geldof, Kevin Kline, Nathan Lane, John McEnroe, Glenn Close and Holly Hunter.
Other credits include Mrs Henderson Presents, Ladies in Lavender," "Finding Neverland, Ever After, and the voice of Dobby in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Jones' upcoming projects include A Harlots Progress, about the painter William Hogarth and his work, where Jones takes on the role of Hogarth and The Painted Veil, with Naomi Watts and Edward Norton for director John Curran.
Jones also plays Robert Cecil in the new HBO/Channel 4 production Elizabeth I with Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
MICHAEL APTED Director
Michael Apted enjoys a career spanning film and television, winning recognition and many awards for his work in both media.
He began working as a researcher at Granada Television and soon became established as an investigative reporter and television director of the news series World in Action, before becoming a drama director on the long running British soap Coronation Street. Among his sixty plus television credits are The Lovers and Folly Foot, which won BAFTA Awards, and Another Sunday and Sweet FA and Kisses at Fifty, both of which won him the award as Best Dramatic director.
In 1972, Apted made his directorial film debut with Triple Echo, starring Glenda Jackson and Oliver Reed, followed by the acclaimed rock and roll drama Stardust, then The Squeeze, with Stacy Keach and Agatha, starring Dustin Hoffman and Vanessa Redgrave.
In 1980, his first American feature Coal Miner's Daughter, garnered seven Academy nominations, including Sissy Spacek's Oscar for her portrayal of the country-western singer Loretta Lynn. He then directed John Belushi in Continental Divide, and William Hurt in an adaptation of the best-selling novel Gorky Park. In 1985, Bring On The Night, which chronicled the creation of rock star Sting's Blue Turtles album and his subsequent tour, won Apted a Grammy Award.
Gorillas in the Mist, starring Sigourney Weaver, gained five Academy nominations. This was followed by Class Action, a court room drama starring Gene Hackman and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Thunderheart, starring Val Kilmer, Blink, a thriller with Madeleine Stowe and Aidan Quinn and Nell, starring Jodie Foster, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in the title role.
In 1996, Apted directed Extreme Measures, a medical ethics drama starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant, followed by Always Outnumbered, starring Laurence Fishburne, written by Walter Mosley.
In 1999 he directed the James Bond adventure The World Is Not Enough, which became the most successful film in the franchise to date, starring Pierce Brosnan, Judi Dench and Denise Richards. This was followed by Engima, a World War II drama starring Kate Winslet and Dougray Scott and Enough, starring Jennifer Lopez.
In 2004, Apted directed the three establishing episodes of the epic HBO drama Rome, which follows two soldiers form Julius Caesar's army as the Republic collapses and the Empire begins.
Parallel to his feature film career, Michael Apted has made documentaries that have attracted awards, as well as critical and box office success. The most notable of these is the series which began with 7 Up, following the lives of a group of 14 British schoolchildren from the age of seven, in 1963, visiting them every seven years to chart their lives. The most recent of the series, 49 Up, aired in 2005. Other documentaries include Married in America, the Rolling Stones Forty Licks Tour and The World 2006, following soccer and it's global influence leading up to the 2006 World Cup.
Michael Apted is currently President of the Directors Guild of America, for a second term, and was recently awarded the International Documentary Association's highest honour, the IDA Career Achievement Award.
EDWARD R. PRESSMAN Producer
With over 70 diverse motion pictures to his credit, native New Yorker and motion picture producer Edward R. Pressman has forged a career of international renown, marked by originality and eclecticism.
As a producer, Pressman's specialty is discovering new talent and bringing new experiences to motion picture audiences. He is known for fostering the careers of young and inspired filmmakers. Terrence Malick's visual genius was first brought to the screen in Pressman's Badlands. Pressman also produced the Academy Award-winning Wall Street and Reversal of Fortune. He was responsible for giving artist/musician David Byrne his premiere moment behind the camera with True Stories and Alex Proyas his directorial debut with The Crow.
Over the last few years, Pressman has produced and executive produced a number of director-driven, high-profile projects, including Mary Harron's American Psycho, starring Christian Bale in the title role. Recent productions include The King starring Gael Garcia Bernal and William Hurt (Un Certain Regard at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival and released by THINKFilm) and Thank You for Smoking based on the Christopher Buckley book starring Aaron Eckhart. Thank You for Smoking was acquired by Fox Searchlight at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival and opened in March, 2006 to great acclaim.
Pressman enjoys a unique collaboration in Sunflower Productions with long-time friend Terrence Malick. Sunflower Productions' first film, Happy Times, by acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou, was released by Sony in 2001. Sony also released Sunflower's The Beautiful Country starring Nick Nolte, Tim Roth, and Bai Ling.
Other current projects include Steven Shainberg's new film Fur, an imaginary portrait of photographer, Diane Arbus, based on the book by Patricia Bosworth. Production recently wrapped on two Pressman productions: a re-make of Brian DePalma's Sisters directed by Doug Buck and starring Chloe Sevigny, Lou Doillon and Stephen Rea; and The Mutant Chronicles, a sci-fi adventure movie based on the globally popular role-playing board game directed by Simon Hunter and starring Thomas Jane, Stephen Rea, Devon Aoki, and John Malkovich,. Pressman recently announced that he will produce a film version of the Christopher Buckley novel Little Green Men with Whit Stillman directing.
Pressman attended New York's Fieldston School and then went on to graduate with honours from Stanford University with a B.A. in Philosophy. He pursued graduate studies at the London School of Economics.
TERRENCE MALICK Producer
Terrence Malick (Writer/Director) was born in Illinois, and grew up in Texas and Oklahoma. He is the director of Badlands, Days of Heaven, The Thin Red Line and The New World.
FOUR BOYS FILMS Producer
FOUR BOYS FILMS was founded in 2001 by actors David Hunt and Patricia Heaton
In its first year, the company co-produced the Kenneth Lonergan play This Is Our Youth in London's West End, followed by a series of teleplays And So To Bedlam, a co-production with the BBC and 1A Films.
Patricia and David also developed, produced and starred in the romantic comedy, The Engagement Ring, a 2 hour movie for TV which aired on TNT in December of 2005.
Hunt has made his directing debut with the documentary feature film, The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania, which won a Crystal Heart Award at the recent Heartland Film Festival and is currently in negotiations for distribution.
Four Boys Films has a number of other projects in development, in theatre, television and film both here and in the UK and also has an overall development deal with ABC/Touchstone.
Amazing Grace represents the company's feature film debut.
KEN WALES Producer
Veteran filmmaker Ken Wales, Executive Producer of the critically acclaimed and award-winning CBS Television series Christy, began his drama career playing a juvenile role on a local radio show in Kokomo, Indiana. At age 14 he operated the projector at the legendary Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, where he became a serious film buff. Wales received the firs Walt Disney four-year scholarship and graduated with honours form the School of Cinema at The University of Southern California. He has acted in over 35 films and television shows.
During a fifteen year partnership with director Blake Edwards, Wales produced many memorable films including The Tamarind Seed, starring Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif and The Wild Rovers, starring William Holden and Ryan O'Neal. He also served as associate producer on many feature films including Darling Lili, starring Julie Andrews and Rock Hudson, The Great Race with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, and The Party and Revenge of the Pink Panther, both starring Peter Sellers.
Wales co-produced the ABC 8 hour miniseries, Emmy nominated and Golden Globe winner John Steinbeck's East of Eden, starring Jane Seymour, and was associate producer of the first season of Cagney and Lacey.
He was Vice President of Production for Walt Disney Pictures and has served as production supervisor and consultant for many other features.
Wales received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Greenville College in Illinois and is on the faculty of his alma mater, the School of Cinema and Television at University of Southern California.
JEANNEY KIM Executive Producer
Graduating with a degree in Comparative Literature from Brown University, Jeanney Kim moved to London, England where she made her foray into film by working as a production coordinator at a television commercial production house.
After two years in London, Jeanney moved to New York City to become the in-house production manager for another British commercials company, Beechurst Film Productions.
En route to graduate school, Jeanney was offered an opportunity by Michael. Apted -- a feature director, documentarian and part owner of Beechurst, to work in feature film and documentaries. Jeanney's first film with Mr. Apted was BLINK for New Line Cinema.
Over the course of her 11 year association with Apted, in addition to script development duties, Jeanney earned her first associate producer's credit in 1996 on Apted's Extreme Measures a Castle Rock Entertainment release starring Hugh Grant, Gene Hackman and Sarah Jessica Parker. She also served as associate producer on Always Outnumbered an HBO production starring Laurence Fishburne and on Enigma starring Kate Winslet and Dougray Scott for Intermedia Films in 2001.
Jeanney produced the digital video short It's a Shame About Ray with writer-director Ajay Sahgal. The short film appeared in numerous film festivals and won the Audience Award at the 2001 RESFEST.
In 2002, Jeanney co-produced the Jennifer Lopez starrer Enough alongside veteran producers Irwin Winkler and Rob Cowan for Columbia Pictures
Currently she and Mr. Apted are developing several feature film projects. She is also developing UP PHILLIPS DOWN MAIN with Academy Award winning shorts director Barbara Schock.
STEVEN KNIGHT Screenwriter
Steven Knight's first screenplay, Dirty Pretty Things, filmed by Stephen Frears, gained him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and he won the London Film Critics' Circle Award for Best British Screenwriter. The film opened London Film Festival in 2002 and won the South Bank Award for Best Cinema Film in 2003.
Knight read English literature at University College London and then worked as a copywriter/ producer for a Birmingham advertising agency and then as a copywriter/producer at Capital Radio in London.
He has had three novels published by Viking and Penguin. He co-created "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" and has written several sit-coms and comedy series for BBC1.
His first play, "The President of an Empty Room", was staged at the Royal National Theatre in summer 2005.
REMI ADEFARASIN Director of Photography
For his work on Shekhar Kappur's award-winning feature film Elizabeth, Remi Adefarasin was nominated for the Academy Award, and the American Society of Cinematographers Award and won the BAFTA and British Society of Cinematographers Award for Best Cinematographers.
In 2002, he was nominated for an Emmy for the miniseries Band of Brothers. Previous BAFTA nominations include Memento Mori in 1991 and Christabel in 1988.
Adefarasin began his career behind the camera almost forty years ago, in the British television industry. Recent credits include Woody Allen features Match Point and Scoop, and the sequel to Elizabeth: The Golden Years.
JENNY BEAVAN Costume Designer
Jenny Beavan won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for her work on A Room with a View and in addition has no less than seven nominations for Gosford Park (2001), Anna and the King (1999), Sense and Sensibility (1995), Remains of the Day (1993), Howard's End (1992), Maurice (1987) and The Bostonians (1984), the latter four produced by the Merchant Ivory partnership.
In 2001, she won a BAFTA for Robert Altman's Gosford Park, and has had nominations for The Gathering Storm (2002), Tea with Mussolini (1999), Sense and Sensibility (1995), Howards End (1992) and The Bostonians (1984).
Her other awards include an Emmy for the TV drama Emma (1996), a Royal Television Society Award for television drama Byron (2003) and Donatello Award for Jane Eyre (1996).
Recent credits include Brian de Palma's Black Dahlia, Oliver Stone's Alexander and Casanova, directed by Lasse Hallstrom.
JENNY SHIRCORE Hair & Make-Up Designer
Jenny Shircore won the Academy and the BAFTA Awards for her work on Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett. She was recently nominated for a BAFTA for Girl with a Pearl Earring, directed by Peter Webber, starring Scarlett Johansson.
Recent credits include the blockbuster Notting Hill, Kenneth Branagh's Japanese As You Like It, Stephen Frear's Mrs. Henderson Presents and Andrew Lloyd Webber's feature film Phantom of the Opera.
DAVID ARNOLD Composer
Hailed as one of the most successful young British composers, David Arnold began his film career making short films with fellow enthusiast Danny Cannon, teaching himself to write, orchestrate and compose the scores for their films. In 1993 he scored Cannon's feature film debut The Young Americans, combining lush orchestration with Bjork's vocals for the title song Play Dead, which earned critical and commercial success. This led to the offer to score Stargate, Roland Emmerich's sci-fi film which enjoyed box office success and earned Arnold his first BMI Award.
Since then David Arnold has been recognized by the film industry as a talented and diverse composer, arranger and producer, whose scores includes Shaft, Changing Lane, 2 Fast 2 Furious and The Stepford Wives and, most recently, Venus, directed by Roger Michell, Hot Fuzz, directed by Edgar Wright and the last four James Bond Adventures, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Die Another Day and Casino Royale.
Winner of seven BMI Awards for his music for Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla, and 2 Fast 2 Furious, he also won a Grammy for Independence Day and recently won the Royal Television Society Award for the title music of the UK comedy series Little Britain. In addition, he won the Ivor Novello Award for the music for The World Is Not Enough.
Away from the film world, Arnold maintains a career as a successful record producer and song writer, working with a wide range of contemporary artists including kd lang, Pulp, Chrissie Hynde, Iggy Pop, Garbage, David McAlmont, Martina Topley-Bird, Natasha Bedingfield, Aimee Mann, George Michael and Damien Rice.
An avid James Bond fan, in 1997 David Arnold produced Shaken and Stirred, an album of James Bond film title songs which reached number 11 in the UK album chart.
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