'1066' (the movie UK)

.. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Latest News! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Are you interested in KING ARTHUR? go to Helen Hollick's Muse & Views Blog on www.helenhollick.blogspot.com and www.acorne.blogspot.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nothing new to update you with - we ARE still on track though, keep your fingers crossed for the funding to come through. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We are excited that Jeff Stewart has come aboard and will be playing Earl Siward. Stay tuned for more information. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We are delighted to announce that actress Susan George has expressed her delight in playing the part of Queen Emma ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now you can become a Movie Mogul! Considered by many as the biggest independent film project ever undertaken in the United Kingdom ‘1066’ is set to tell the story of one of the greatest battles in human history. Now you have the opportunity to become part of this sensational project and a mini movie mogul to boot! ‘1066’ chronicles almost half a century of intrigue. The people, politics and power struggles that lead to the great battle of Hastings on October 14th 1066 at Senlac Hill between King Harold II and William Duke of Normandy. The script written by Director Robin Jacob and novelist Helen Hollick has attracted some of the world’s best movie making talent. With a budget in excess of £50,000,000 the producers have taken an innovative approach to raising the production funding by creating ‘1066 The Film PLC’ a public limited company. (www.1066thefilmplc.com) this breaks the usual movie financing rules by giving members of the public the opportunity to grab a stake in this truly British epic. With production staff in London, New York and Los Angeles ‘1066’ has tapped into the movie making industry at the highest levels. The recent appointment of industry legend Ted Kotcheff executive producer of the hit TV series Law and Order Special Victims Unit has given ‘1066’ a significant presence within the Hollywood establishment. The enviable list of attached technicians have been responsible for dozens of the worlds biggest blockbusters earning the Hollywood studios hundreds of millions of pounds at the box office. For more information on how to get involved and the full story synopsis go to www.1066thefilmplc.com and select the prospectus tab. http://pro.imdb.com/title/tt1018103/ http://www.1066thefilmplc.com/ http://www.1066themovie.biz/ http://www.myspace.com/haroldgodwinson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It is with great sadness that we have been informed by his agent that Sean Lawlor, who was cast as Earl Leofric, has passed away. As yet there are no details. The production team of 1066 send our deepest condolences to Sean's family and friends. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit '1066' on imdb - INTERNATIONAL MOVIE DATABASE - click HERE for a direct link ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEWS & UPDATES ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oct '09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sorry folks I've been busy promoting my books so this profile has been a little neglected of late. The good news is that we're still on target for getting this movie made! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anyone live in or near Nottingham UK? Helen Hollick is one of the guest speakers at the Nottingham New Writer's Book Festival on 19th September in the Civic Hall - FREE ENTRY! Come along & say hello! Helen will also be at the annual Battle of Hastings re-enactment on October 10th/11th signing copies of Harold the King in the English Heritage Tent ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ July '09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The cast and crew would like to express our condolences to the family and friends of Michael Jackson. Our thoughts are with Mark Lester and his family. Mark was a close friend of Mr Jackson. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MAY '09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ actor LEE ARENBERG has joined the cast as Robert Champert Helen and friends with Lee and Marty (Klebba) in the USA Aug '08 Helen Talking to Lee "Lee and Marty - two most charming gentleman, it was a pleasure to meet you both. I look forward to meeting up again!" H. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ APRIL '09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RONAN VIBART has been cast as Sweyn Godwinson ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mar '09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Two new actors have joined us: 18 year old JACK BROWN from London is a young actor with the promise of a good future. He has been cast in a small but significant role as a young monk. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ and lovely London actress EMILY HALL has been cast as Alditta - King Harold's official wife. Welcome to 1066 both of you! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Feb '09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Production Team has been joined by TED KOTCHEFF producer of, among other things, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. We are honoured to have him with us! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The lovely Katia Winter has joined the cast as EDITH SWANNECK Welcome to the cast Katia! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dougie Milsome has joined the production as 1st Director of Photography and with Peter Hannan as 2nd Unit DP we have our DPs in place. Dougie has done The Last of the Mohicans, Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, etc. His experience is most valuable to the production and we are honoured to have him aboard with us. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Steve Pollington, Anglo-Saxon historian and language expert has come on board as Dialog/language coach. Welcome aboard Steve! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jan '09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We are delighted to announce that our fight Director, Anthony De Longis, has been cast as the Norman Walter Gifford. Anthony De Longis & actor Harrison Ford ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oliver! Star Mark Lester's son Felix has been cast in the UK movie '1066'! Life has come full circle for child star Mark Lester (Oliver!) after a break of almost 30 years, Lester is set to play King Harold II in the feature film '1066' alongside his son Felix who has been cast as Harold's son Godwin. "The rapport between father and son will add great authenticity to the film" says director Robin Jacob. Also on the cast list are Ian Whyte (alien Vs Predator) and Martin Klebba star of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. '1066' is an historically accurate portrayal of the events that lead to the Battle of Hastings. The script has been written by Robin Jacob and Helen Hollick author of 'Harold the King'. The '1066' Myspace site reached a milestone on January 1st, with over 10,000 friends attached, a number that is increasing by 100 new requests a day from film fans around the globe. "There has been an enormous response to '1066' from the public and industry alike and we have some of the world's most experienced technicians already attached" says Jacob. "Peter Hannon has taken the role of 2nd Unit Cinematographer (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Gathering Storm) alongside SFX Supervisor Ian Wingrove (Troy, AVP, Sleepy Hollow) Fight Director Anthony De Longis (Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, Jet Li's Fearless Secondhand Lions, Road House ) and as Stunt Supervisor industry legend Rocky Taylor who's impressive CV contains amongst others 17 Bond movies, The Da Vinci Code and Titanic." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ producer Robin Jacob chats with acclaimed historical artist Chris Collingwood who designed the 1066 logo poster ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 2008 - Welcome to Matthias Hues who has joined the production as Hugh De Montfort. (You'll find his Myspace in our top friends) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Robin, Lance & Helen had a good day out at Wychurst in Kent at Regia Anglorum's Saxon Manor House rebuilding project. Our host was Kim Siddorn who has agreed to come on board as an adviser with regards to Saxon dwellings and ships etc. Click here for the Wychurst Project (Photo, Regia Anglorum. www.regia.org) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ up & coming actor GILES ALDERSON has joined the production as Tostig go to imdb for more information on this talented young actor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 2008: Author Helen Hollick, Producer Robin Jacob & Asst. producer Lance Prebble spent the weekend at Battle, Sussex for English Heritage re-enactment. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 2008: Helen met with Marty Klebba & Lee Arenberg in the USA to chat about the movie - Marty is to play the dwarf, Turold. July 2008: Ian Whyte meets fans at the Comic Convention, London. Rocky Taylor (1066 Stunt Supervisor)was there also ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anthony De Longis has joined the production team. Anthony's impressive list of professional credentials spans Film, Television, and Theatre. He has worked both in front of and behind the camera with some of biggest names in the Entertainment Industry, including Tom Cruise, Jet Li, Ron Howard, Yuen Woo Ping, Michelle Pfeiffer, Harrison Ford, Tim Burton, Patrick Swayze, Ellen Barkin, Angelica Huston, Bo Derek, Richard Chamberlain, Placido Domingo, and Charlton Heston. click here - Anthony's website or go to top friends for Anthony's Myspace profile ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MARTIN KLEBBA has joined the cast as Turold ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Robin (producer) & Helen recently spent a day at Battle, Hastings (UK) and met some of the guys from English Heritage, one in specific, Daryl who is interested in anything James Bond; he has a fantastic collection of stuff from Cars to playing cards, etc. As Robin is a Bond fan he enjoyed looking over his vast collection. We then walked the Battle site, Robin taking many pictures and me trying to remember to keep out of the way of the camera. The staff in the English Heritage shop were lovely - I signed a few of my books that were on the shelf. Robin, Daryl, Helen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Helen Hollick. Mark Lester & Ian Whyte at Battle, Sussex (see slide show below for more photos) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On a recently concluded trip to Los Angeles visiting the Hollywood Film Festival, producers Robin Jacob and Hollywood-based Chris Carson have attracted more industry veterans to the film project 1066. After spending an afternoon with film veteran Fight Director Anthony De Longis at his Canyon Country ranch, the producers asked him to come on board at this early stage as fight director. Anthony’s credits are extensive. Currently training Harrison Ford in the latest Indian Jones epic ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ he has appeared in such movies as Second Hand Lions, ‘Sinbad the Battle of the Dark Knights’, ‘Almost Heroes’, ‘Far and Away’, ‘The Outer Limits’, and ‘Star Trek’ to mention a few. With extensive fight scenes planned for 1066 Anthony’s vast experience will add to the production. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Also joining the production on the cast is Gary Daniels, former Professional Karate Association Light Heavy Weight Kickboxing Champion - he has appeared in more than fifty movies including ‘White Tiger’, ‘American Street Fighter’, ‘Fist of the North Star’ and ‘City Hunter’ with Jackie Chan. Gary will play Gyrth, the brother of Harold Godwinson. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark Lester, Ian Whyte and Bronwen Harrison joined author Helen Hollick at the annual English Heritage Battle of Hastings re-enactment in Sussex, UK, on October 14th for the 941st anniversary of the Battle. Helen was delighted to have sold over a hundred copies of her book Harold the King - aided by the two enthusiastic actors and Bronwen. Several re-enactors strolled up to say hello, and Mark enjoyed questioning them about their chain mail and weaponry. Our thanks to English Heritage for their welcome and co-operation towards Lance Prebble who was busily filming events. Meeting Mark for the first time, Helen said she could easily picture him as Harold; "As an author I have a very clear vision of my characters - in looks and personality. Mark is perfect for the part, he will bring Harold to life." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "As an estimated big budget movie this is not an easy project but one that deserves to have the right production value rather than trying to do some low budget movie that devalues the story." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The CAST so far