Brian Eastman
Encyclopedia
Brian Eastman is a producer of feature films (such as Shadowlands
and Under Suspicion
), television drama (such as Agatha Christie's Poirot
and Jeeves and Wooster
), and stage productions (such as Shadowlands, Misery, Up on the Roof). He has received two BAFTA awards and two international Emmy awards and his productions have received many other awards and nominations. He is a Fellow of the Royal Television Society. He divides his time between the UK and US.
Eastman founded the independent production company Carnival Films
and between 1980 and 2006 produced over 300 hours of television drama, eight feature films and 10 stage productions. In 2007 Carnival Films was sold to the Australian company Southern Star. Eastman continues to produce through his new production company, Batway Ltd.
Eastman is married to Christabel Albery, an avid gardener, for whom he created the gardener-detectives series Rosemary & Thyme
. They have homes in London
and Santa Monica
, California.
and Jesus College, Cambridge
. Between 1972 and 1975 he worked for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
in Concert Management, and between 1976 and 1979 he was the Music Tours Officer for the British Council. His first venture into film making was to make music documentaries.
Leszek left the company in 1985 and the company was renamed Carnival Films (and Theatre) Ltd in 1989. At this time Carnival also expanded its activities into stage productions.
In the mid 1990’s the Australian company Southern Star acquired a shareholding in Carnival.
In 2005 Gareth Neame joined Carnival as managing director and in 2006 Southern Star became the owners of the company. At this point Brian Eastman left Carnival, which was subsequently sold to NBC Universal.
, following her retirement from the BBC.
In the detective genre Brian produced 70 hours of Agatha Christie’s Poirot starring David Suchet; Rosemary and Thyme, starring Felicity Kendal; and Anna Lee, starring Imogen Stubbs. In action/adventure he produced 40 hours of BUGS, and in comedy drama he produced the adaptations of Tom Sharpe’s novels Blott on the Landscape and Porterhouse Blue.
He produced the mini-series Traffik written by Simon Moore, which subsequently was adapted into a feature film directed by Steven Soderbergh. Other mini-series for Channel Four included The Big Battalions and The Fragile Heart. For TNT in the US, and the BBC, he produced The Grid, and for NBC in the US, and SKY, he produced The Tenth Kingdom. (Full list below)
, Eastman produced the feature film version
of William Nicholson’s Shadowlands
, starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger. Other movies with which he has been involved include Under Suspicion
, starring Liam Neeson and Laura San Giacomo, and WILT
starring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones.
at Wyndhams Theatre in London, starring Charles Dance and Janie Dee. He co-produced the UK tour of Our House, the Madness musical, and presented in the West End the stage adaptation of Girl with a Pearl Earring and a new adaptation of Treasure Island. In January 2010 Brian presented the world premiere of Jane Prowse’s adaptation of Jane Juska’s A Round-Heeled Woman at the Theater Artaud in San Francisco starring Sharon Gless.
Shadowlands
Shadowlands is a 1985 television film, written by William Nicholson, directed by Norman Stone and produced by David M. Thompson for BBC Wales. Its subject is the relationship between Oxford don and author, C. S. Lewis and Joy Gresham....
and Under Suspicion
Under Suspicion
Under Suspicion may refer to:* Under Suspicion , an American television police drama* "Under Suspicion" , an episode of the American television series CSI: Miami...
), television drama (such as Agatha Christie's Poirot
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Agatha Christie's Poirot is a British television drama that has aired on ITV since 1989. It stars David Suchet as Agatha Christie's fictional detective Hercule Poirot. It was originally made by LWT and is now made by ITV Studios...
and Jeeves and Wooster
Jeeves and Wooster
-External links:*—An episode guide to the series, including information about which episodes were adapted from which Wodehouse stories.*—Episode guides, screenshots and quotes from the four series....
), and stage productions (such as Shadowlands, Misery, Up on the Roof). He has received two BAFTA awards and two international Emmy awards and his productions have received many other awards and nominations. He is a Fellow of the Royal Television Society. He divides his time between the UK and US.
Eastman founded the independent production company Carnival Films
Carnival Films
Carnival Films is a British television production company, founded by Brian Eastman in 1978 as Picture Partnership Productions Limited and run by Gareth Neame since 2005. The company swiftly built up a strong reputation as an independent production company of theatre, film and television drama...
and between 1980 and 2006 produced over 300 hours of television drama, eight feature films and 10 stage productions. In 2007 Carnival Films was sold to the Australian company Southern Star. Eastman continues to produce through his new production company, Batway Ltd.
Eastman is married to Christabel Albery, an avid gardener, for whom he created the gardener-detectives series Rosemary & Thyme
Rosemary & Thyme
Rosemary & Thyme is a British television mystery series that starred Felicity Kendal and Pam Ferris as gardening detectives Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme. The show began on ITV in 2003, and the third series ended in August 2007...
. They have homes in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
, California.
Early career
Brian was educated at the City of Norwich SchoolCity of Norwich School
The Eaton School, more commonly known as CNS, is a secondary comprehensive school situated in Norwich, Norfolk on Eaton Road.-Admissions:It has over 1500 pupils and currently employs over 190 staff...
and Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
. Between 1972 and 1975 he worked for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
in Concert Management, and between 1976 and 1979 he was the Music Tours Officer for the British Council. His first venture into film making was to make music documentaries.
Carnival Films
The company now known as Carnival Films and Television Ltd was founded by Brian Eastman and the director Leszek Burzynski in 1978 and was originally called Picture Partnership Productions (PPP). Brian and Leszek worked together on music documentaries, short films for the cinema and commercials. PPP was one of the first independent companies to be commissioned by the newly created Channel Four television in the UK, and the company’s work then concentrated on drama productions.Leszek left the company in 1985 and the company was renamed Carnival Films (and Theatre) Ltd in 1989. At this time Carnival also expanded its activities into stage productions.
In the mid 1990’s the Australian company Southern Star acquired a shareholding in Carnival.
In 2005 Gareth Neame joined Carnival as managing director and in 2006 Southern Star became the owners of the company. At this point Brian Eastman left Carnival, which was subsequently sold to NBC Universal.
Television productions
Brian has produced a great variety of television drama. Between 1988 and 1994 Brian was joined at Carnival by Betty WillingaleBetty Willingale
Betty Willingale is a British television producer, formerly a script editor, who is best known for her work on BBC TV drama adaptations of classic literature....
, following her retirement from the BBC.
In the detective genre Brian produced 70 hours of Agatha Christie’s Poirot starring David Suchet; Rosemary and Thyme, starring Felicity Kendal; and Anna Lee, starring Imogen Stubbs. In action/adventure he produced 40 hours of BUGS, and in comedy drama he produced the adaptations of Tom Sharpe’s novels Blott on the Landscape and Porterhouse Blue.
He produced the mini-series Traffik written by Simon Moore, which subsequently was adapted into a feature film directed by Steven Soderbergh. Other mini-series for Channel Four included The Big Battalions and The Fragile Heart. For TNT in the US, and the BBC, he produced The Grid, and for NBC in the US, and SKY, he produced The Tenth Kingdom. (Full list below)
Feature films
With Richard AttenboroughRichard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
, Eastman produced the feature film version
Shadowlands (film)
Shadowlands is a 1993 British biographical film directed by Richard Attenborough. The screenplay by William Nicholson is based on his 1985 television production and 1989 stage adaptation of the same name. The original television film began life as a script entitled I Call it Joy written for Thames...
of William Nicholson’s Shadowlands
Shadowlands
Shadowlands is a 1985 television film, written by William Nicholson, directed by Norman Stone and produced by David M. Thompson for BBC Wales. Its subject is the relationship between Oxford don and author, C. S. Lewis and Joy Gresham....
, starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger. Other movies with which he has been involved include Under Suspicion
Under Suspicion
Under Suspicion may refer to:* Under Suspicion , an American television police drama* "Under Suspicion" , an episode of the American television series CSI: Miami...
, starring Liam Neeson and Laura San Giacomo, and WILT
WILT
WILT is a radio station broadcasting an adult contemporary format. Licensed to Wilmington, North Carolina, USA, the station serves the Wilmington area. WILT is currently owned by Sunrise Broadcasting, A subsidiary of Capitol Broadcasting Company of...
starring Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones.
Stage Productions
Brian’s first stage production was Up on the Roof which was nominated for an Olivier Best Musical award. Brian was then joined at Carnival by Andrew Welch and together they produced Shadowlands, Misery etc. (Full list below)Recent activities
Eastman started a new company, Batway Ltd, to concentrate on stage productions. Again working with Andrew Welch, he revived ShadowlandsShadowlands
Shadowlands is a 1985 television film, written by William Nicholson, directed by Norman Stone and produced by David M. Thompson for BBC Wales. Its subject is the relationship between Oxford don and author, C. S. Lewis and Joy Gresham....
at Wyndhams Theatre in London, starring Charles Dance and Janie Dee. He co-produced the UK tour of Our House, the Madness musical, and presented in the West End the stage adaptation of Girl with a Pearl Earring and a new adaptation of Treasure Island. In January 2010 Brian presented the world premiere of Jane Prowse’s adaptation of Jane Juska’s A Round-Heeled Woman at the Theater Artaud in San Francisco starring Sharon Gless.