EXCLUSIVE: Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler’s UK-US outfit Maven Screen Media, in Cannes as producers of Scarlett Johansson’s Un Certain Regard title Eleanor The Great, are lining up their next film Rose’s Baby, which Styler will direct and in which Antonio Banderas will appear.
It will shoot this summer in London.
Beta Cinema has international rights, with CAA representing North America. Piers Tempest’s Tempo Productions is also producing.
“It’s about a dysfunctional divorced couple who can’t bear each other,” said Rattray, who said Banderas will play the father. “The only thing they agree on is they both love their teenage daughter and have to unite for a very uncomfortable mission – to make another child to help the medical issues their teenage daughter faces.”
Banderas will play the father. “It explores what we mean these days by ‘family’ – not just our biological kin, but all the people we choose to include in our circles of loved ones, the people we turn to and know we can rely on during times of crisis,” said Styler.
“It’s also a love letter to the NHS,” added Rattray. ”When Trudie and I pick projects, we tend to balance movies that are entertaining but have a strong social message.”
The romantic family comedy is based on a script by Camille Griffin and Chloë King. King initially placed the project in the US, however Griffin re-set it in the UK.
“Shooting in the UK has so many advantages, logistically and economically, it made sense to rethink that,” noted Styler, whose directing credits include Freak Show and documentary Posso Entrare? An Ode To Naples.
The production coincides with UK-born Rattray’s own recent move back to her native country from New York. The project will make use of the UK’s Independent Film Tax Credit (IFTC).
“It’s why this project can happen. It’s one of the best tax credits in the world,” said Rattray.
Maven will continue to have a New York presence, with Styler still predominantly based in the city. Rattray said she returned to the UK for a combination of personal and professional reasons.
”I have two daughters, I grew up in the UK and thought it was a nice, safe environment to bring them up in. “Professionally, the 40% tax credit in the UK is game changing for independent film. I’ve been making independent films for the last 20 years. The cost of production has steadily increased, but the value of the films has been stagnant.”
She continued, “My whole career is making films in the US, and I still love making films in New York, but the day cost, the cost of living in New York, has increased so much.”
Johansson’s directorial debut Eleanor The Great shot in New York. Maven was sent the project by US financing outfit Pinky Promise and fell in love with the script. Rattray had worked with Johansson previously, executive producing anthology New York, I Love You, for which Johansson directed one of the segments.
“When I read Eleanor, Scarlett was the first person that came to mind,” said Rattray. “She is one of the most talented people I have ever worked with. She is so decisive, she knows exactly what she wants.”
Maven’s slate has a strong focus on female filmmakers. “We’ve been lucky enough in the past few years to work with Maggie Betts, Camille Griffin, Sally El Hosaini, Sara Colangelo. All these women are so talented, but for all of them it’s not easy to get their movies made. We’ve been struck with a double standard.”
Maven has projects in development with Griffin and Betts. The company is backed by Calculus Capital, with plans to expand UK operations across film and TV. Rattray is optimistic for the future: “For smaller production companies that are nimble and can find lower-budget ways to make movies, I think it’s a moment of opportunity.”
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