ARDOR MEDIA
A BOLD NEW PRODUCTION COMPANY
MISSION STATEMENT
It is our intention to start a bold new production company that specialises in scripted entertainment, writing and producing exciting and engaging films and television. The new company will be called ARDOR MEDIA.
PROPOSED PROJECTS
ARDOR begins with FOUR projects on its slate:
EUROPA: a feature film script which has already been sold to Featuristic Entertainment and is due to be produced in summer 2025, starring Mia Goth.
BUDGET REQUIRED: £0
SALVABLE: a feature film that has already been made by Featuristic Entertainment, which requires deficit funding, starring Toby Kebbell and Shia LaBoeuf.
BUDGET REQUIRED: £95,000
SWAN SONGS: the first feature film that ARDOR will produce, starring Max Beesley.
BUDGET REQUIRED: £500,000
THE BLACK MOUNTAIN: an unusual and extremely ambitious hybrid project - part documentary series, part feature film.
BUDGET REQUIRED: £4,500,000
MISSION STATEMENT & PROPOSED PROJECTS
As a new company, we are keen for any investor/s to feel that they have a stake in the creative process from day one, which is why in exchange for the investment we require, the investor/s will own 10% of ARDOR.
We are looking for £5,095,000 of investment to:
cover £95K of deficit funding required to finish the feature film, SALVABLE
finance the production of our first feature film, SWAN SONGS
finance THE BLACK MOUNTAIN project (both documentary series and feature film)
To take full advantage of the tax incentives offered in the UK, the investment would need to be staggered:
An initial £95,000 for SALVABLE, followed by £500,000 for the production of SWAN SONGS, and £500,000 for THE BLACK MOUNTAIN documentary. The remaining £4,000,000 for THE BLACK MOUNTAIN feature would come the following year. (See pages 20-26.)
This investment would be in the form of a convertible loan agreement. If the investor/s failed to see an ROI within 8 years after the initial investment of £500,000 for SWAN SONGS, this would then convert to a 50% share of the business.
Of the full investment of £5M, the total capital at risk is a maximum of £3,480,000, as a result of UK tax incentives (explained on the following page).
INVESTMENT & COMPANY STRUCTURE
The normal procedure for film investors is when the film becomes profitable the sales agent takes their fee. At this point the investor is paid back the sum of what they invested into the project, plus10% as an interest payment. The remaining profits are then split 50/50 between the investors and the producers.
As an example, if the budget was £1 million, given by a single investor, and there was a modest profit of £2.5 million in sales:
The sales company would take 15/20% of this (EG £500k), leaving a ‘pot' of £2 million.
From this the investor would receive the original £1 million invested into the film + 10% as an interest payment (£100k) totalling £1.1 million.
This leaves £900k left in the pot. This is then split 50/50 between the investors, producers and talent: that is, £550k for the investor and £550k for the producers & talent.
Based on these numbers, from the investors original £1 million investment they would make £1.65 million.
The term to expect this return is 1-3 years depending on distribution strategy.
TYPICAL ROI STRUCTUR & TIMELINE
The UK currently offers a 32.5% tax rebate for any film investment under £15M (under the UKIFTC scheme, once profits on the rebate itself have been taxed).
This equates to a tax break of £1,462,500 for the feature films (SWAAN SONGS & THE BLACK MOUNTAIN) alone (ie. 32.5% of £4,500,000).
This tax break will also apply to the documentary series, although the exact figure is subject to how much of the documentary is filmed in the UK - most expenses when shooting in the U.S., Japan, etc. will not qualify for the tax break.
That said, at least 50% of the documentary will be filmed in the UK, making a tax break of £81,250 a conservative estimate (ie. 32.5% of £250,000).
This equates to a total tax break of (at least) £1,543,750 for the investor/s £5M investment.
So the total capital at risk from an investment of £5,095,000 is (at most) £3,551,250.
UK TAX INCENTIVES
ROUGH PRODUCTION TIMELINE
All these dates are estimates and subject to availability of talent and distribution strategy.
Meet the Team
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Company Director
Lover of all things horror, classical music and chess, Simon Richardson is an award-winning director (“Look at Me”, 2022), whose first horror feature, “Darkness Wakes”, secured a distribution deal with Left Films in 2015.
Simon is a prolific writer. His screenplay, “Wolfchild”, secured him a US Literary agent back in 2010. He has written fourteen screenplays and edited a number of short films and features for distributors including Metrodome and Vertigo.
His latest screenplay, “Europa”, is currently in development with Featuristic Films and will star award-winning actor, Mia Goth.
Simon’s career began in advertising, where he worked as both director and editor. He has directed and shot countless commercials for clients including Disney and Capcom.
Simon is a co-founder of A-OK Media House and has co-created an array of documentaries which have aired on Netflix, BBC, Discovery Channel, National Geographic and Amazon Studios.
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Company DirectorMatt Trevor-Roper is an award-winning director and production designer.
To relax, Matt enjoys playing keyboard in his legendary Oxford cover band, “The Cheesegraters”. He is passionate about tackling challenges and connecting with people.
His work includes “Dickensian”, a 20-part drama for the BBC; Raindance and Tokyo International award-winning feature, “Mr. In-Between”; and multi-award-winning short film, “Reaching Four”.
Matt’s career began in business management overseeing over 200 franchise businesses for a fashion company. He changed his career over 12 years ago to work in film and film production.
He has directed commercials for Saint Gobain, Jewsons, Stark, Toni&Guy, London Transport and The London Film Fashion Centre.
OVERVIEW
Her life in tatters, grieving and disenfranchised following the death of her mother, Arielle flees pre-referendum London in early summer of 2016.
In Barcelona, she meets Berenice – beautiful, reckless and free-spirited – and the two unlikely travel companions embark upon an impromptu journey across the continent, which opens Arielle’s eyes to both Europe and, ultimately, herself.
Her trans-continental voyage of discovery through the shifting geopolitical and cultural landscape of modern Europe will not only bring her from the Thames to the Bosphorus, but ultimately a new understanding of herself, her world, and her place in it.
A “NO-INVESTMENT-REQUIRED” RETURN
Although ARDOR will not be producing EUROPA, we will have both a writing and Executive Producer credit (the latter featuring the company logo at the start of the film). The Executive Producer credit includes 2.5 % of the Producer Net Profits of the film, thereby guaranteeing a revenue stream for ARDOR investor/s within a three-five year period when the film is profitable.
Mia Goth, the female lead in EUROPA, is currently starring in Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” - a $100 million dollar film - and is about to become a global superstar.
It will be produced by our creative partner, Featuristic Films, and directed by new directing duo sensation: Franklin and Marchetta (who also directed SALVABLE).
OUR CREATIVE PARTNER: FEATURISTIC FILMS
FEATURISTIC FILMS is a London-based entertainment company that develops, produces and finances FILM & TELEVISION.
Recent titles include IFTA-nominated “Knuckledust,” starring Moe Dunford, Kate Dickie and Phil Davis, which was acquired by Hulu and Sky Cinema through a multi-territory distribution deal with Samuel Goldwyn Films; “Laurent Garnier: Off the Record,” which had its world premiere at CPH:DOX, followed by selections at Edinburgh, Karlovy Vary and IDFA; “Say Your Prayers,” the sophomore feature of BIFA nominee Harry Michell with Harry Melling, Derek Jacobi and Roger Allam; and “The Sonata” with Freya Tingley, Rutger Hauer and James Faulkner, selected at Frightfest and acquired by Screen Media.
Featuristic Films is currently in post-production on “Afghanistan”, a timely feature documentary which chronicles a British soldier's return, just as U.S. troops pulled out of the country amid a Taliban takeover. The title was acquired by WestEnd Films for world sales. Whilst snowbound thriller "Cold Meat '' starring Allen Leech (Downton Abbey, Imitation Game, Bohemian Rhapsody) wrapped in Canada in Spring 2022.
Currently in production, Featuristic have two exclusive feature documentaries. "Animality" tells the story of parkour and freerunning pioneer Sebastien Foucan (Casino Royale) and “Bardot” charts the life of screen icon Brigitte Bardot. "Bardot" is directed by Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee, Alain Berliner (Ma Vie En Rose).
A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY
SALVABLE offers a wonderful opportunity for a start-up like ARDOR. Produced by Featuristic Films - a creative partner with whom we are also working on EUROPA - the film is already in post production and now requires £95,000 to finish.
Crucially, for this relatively small investment, ARDOR gets a film released next year (2025), which features premium Hollywood actors and has a great distributor behind it (Lionsgate), who have already pre-sold 8 territories, including North America.
Featuristic is offering:
a 20% premium
3.34% of Net Profits
two Executive Producer credits (ie. one for ARDOR and a personal one for the investor)
Swan Songs
A provocative new drama from award-winning filmmaker
Simon Richardson
The Premise
SWAN SONGS tells the tragic story of a middle-aged composer with a psychogenic fugue: that is, an extreme dissociative personality disorder, whereby one “half” of him has no idea what the other half is doing. The composer is one part musical genius, heroin addict and self-harmer - and one part normal man recovering from the excesses of his more brilliant, subversive side. Unbeknownst to the latter, the former has decided to write his final swan song, before taking his/their life.
Swan Songs is a bleak, uncompromising piece of writing, which promises to be a shocking, thought-provoking, deeply moving and truly unforgettable cinematic experience.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
“SWAN SONGS is the ideal first feature for our new production company to produce. It has a small cast, few locations - most of it is set in a single fishing village - and although the storyline is comparatively simple, it offers the actors an opportunity to really show off their range - particularly Max Beesley.
Attaching Max Beesley to the project was a huge coup. As well as being a wonderful and versatile actor, Max is an extremely capable pianist and conductor. He is also an ex-addict himself, and is capable of conveying the agony and pathos required of the role in spades. I have no doubt that he will deliver a a formidable performance.”
- Simon Richardson
MAX BEESLEY: CONFIRMED
Beesley came to prominence with his first major acting role in the BBC’s, “The History of Tom Jones” in 1997. A number of film and TV roles followed, including Mike Figgis’s “Hotel”, medical drama, “Bodies” and the hugely popular BBC series, “Hotel Babylon” and thriller, “The Last Enemy”, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Carlyle.
Beesley gained more exposure with American audiences with a recurring role on “Suits”, in 2013 and from October 2015 with another recurring role, this time in the US spy drama, “Homeland”, opposite Claire Danes From 2016 to 2018 he starred in “Jamestown” as Henry Sharrow, depicting the first British settlers to colonise Virginia in 1609.
He was cast as Seale Bolton in “The Outsider” on HBO in June 2019. 2021 saw him return to television, starring in “The Midwich Cuckoos”, opposite Keeley Hawes for Sky TV. In 2022, Beesley joined the cast of “Hijack”, for Apple TV, opposite Idris Elba. In 2024, he starred as a boxing promoter in Guy Ritchie’s Netflix hit, “The Gentleman”, alongside Theo James, Kaya Scodelario and Ray Winstone.
“SWAN SONGS” ESTIMATED BUDGET
The estimated budget of the film is £500,000.
The total capital at risk for a film with a budget of £500,000 is £337,500, making this a film with an extremely low budget, given the calibre of the lead actor.
It is our intent to pre-sell the film, so a profit for the investor is guaranteed before principal photography has even begun.
The screenplay is available to read upon request.
THE BLACK MOUNTAIN
A truly unique exploration of horror from award-winning filmmaker
Simon Richardson
The Premise
Would it be possible to create the scariest film of all time? This is what acclaimed writer/director, Simon Richardson, is attempting to achieve…
He will forensically research the subject of fear in a documentary spanning the work of leading academics, scientists, mentalists, hypnotists, a vast array of film creatives, and experts in the field of parapsychology. This knowledge will then be applied to a feature film with one intent: to produce the most terrifying audio-visual experience in the history of cinema.
A true love letter to horror! And we want you to be part of it…
Director’s Statement
“My aim is create a uniquely terrifying film. But I am not going to be relying upon my own creative merit to do this: I am going to do it using the scientific method…
I believe that the future of successful feature film production lies in a hybrid model, involving different forms of media. “The Black Mountain” project provides the perfect vehicle for this approach: a documentary series directly informing the content of a feature film, complimented by an engaging, wide-reaching social media campaign driving traffic to both.
Nothing like this has ever been attempted before, in terms of its sheer breadth. It will be the biggest horror experiment ever conducted!”
- Simon Richardson
A Project Like No Other
This truly unique project will be delivered in two distinct, interconnected parts:
Part 1: The Documentary Series
A limited documentary series (6 x 42 minutes) will explore the origins of human fear, and how to manipulate it, informed by world-leading scientists and academics, psychologists, hypnotists, mentalists, those who dabble in the occult and film industry professionals. This will be the most in-depth analysis of human fear ever committed to film.
A full treatment for the documentary series is available upon request.
Estimated budget: £500,000
Part 2: The Feature Film
Once Simon and his team have gathered sufficient information, they will apply everything they have learned to a feature film, with the sole aim of creating the most terrifying audio-visual experience of all time.