Underhill, Shaw launch Films of London

The company plans to shoot the first two films of its seven-picture slate in 2014. Those films are Andy de Emmony’s Glorious Summer, a comedy about a weekend at a music festival that goes awry; and Tooth & Claw, a horror film about an airport heist that unravels; the director for the latter £1.5m project will be announced soon.

The outfit plans to focus on features and documentaries budgeted at £500,000 to £2m. The slate will also include £1m London-set noir thriller South of The River, about a law firm who hires a lowly detective to find a missing woman; Drugs 2.0 adapted from Mike Power’s book about modern drugtaking; Swansong, about a care home for elderly former Hollywood stars; and darts champion Jocky Wilson story Jocky.

NFTS alumnus Underhill previously established TV commercials production company P for Production.

Shaw, who will serve as development producer, has worked on commercials for seven years and also worked as production staff on features such as Robin Hood, Eastern Promises and Atonement.

Films Of London’s Advisory Board includes chair Sandy Lieberson, Karen Lindsay-Stewart, Mick Audsley, Henry Shawdon and Robert Wakefield.  

Lieberson said: “Films of London is the exciting and ambitious new production company led by Jason Underhill and I am extremely proud to be associated as the inaugural Chair. With a team of experienced and talented producers and filmmakers I am confident that the slate of films and media projects being developed will make a real impact in the UK and internationally.”

Jason Underhill, founder, owner and CEO of Films of London said:  “At our core we are film fans. We want Films of London to be a company that delights in creating engaging and popular films for other fans. We plan to work with the UK’s most talented screenwriters and script developers to devise projects with lasting quality.”

Rory Shaw, co-owner and development producer added: “We consider film to be the most powerful form of storytelling. We want Films of London to produce an eclectic range of high quality stories for audiences to enjoy for years to come.”