OPIX FILMS LIMITED
TERENCE RYAN
PROFILE
In 2008 Guerrilla Books Published: The Rise and Rise of the Independents. A Television History written by Ian Potter “This book reveals the forces behind the growth of the British independence film industry, through the people who pioneered it and the shift in power from the broadcasters to the independent producers, but above all, of the program makers, making their art their own business. Terence Ryan is considered one of the Pioneers, a major player behind the growth of the Independent Producer” In 1981 Terence became part of the Independent producers’ committee to advised the Thatcher Government on the concept that the independent producer needed a quota system with the Broadcasters so that an independent production industry could emerge. ©
Terence Ryan and Richard Attenborough filming in Belfast on the feature PUCKOON
Terence Ryan was educated at Rockwell College Ireland, returning to London he applied to the London Film School. His diploma film, GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS dramatizing the life of the poet, was selected by the British Council as their entry into international Film Festivals. It was screened at the San Francisco film festival, the Montreal film Festival, Locarno film festival and in London nominated for the First Grierson Documentary Award. At the Cork Film Festival, it won the Finbar Award for the Best Film. Terence produced and directed his first work in television, the seven-part Southern Television series, The Poet in The Landscape. His first television film Achill Island, with Cyril Cusack produced in the West of Ireland. The film’s composer Richard Hartley arranged Beethoven’s Irish themes, it was the first time the score was heard in public for 150 years. ©
1980 Terence Ryan formed Opix Films with Ray Marshall. The company would produce over 120 films and television series. Thirty films made at Opix won international awards. Ryan wrote, directed and produced the seven-part series, FOCUS ON SOCCER with Sir Matt Busby for HTV. The series sold world-wide with six million copies sold to China.
1982 With the development of the Video industry and expansion of the International Television market Ryan and Marshall believed it was time for an Independent British Television Sales Company. They set up OPIX Films & Television Distribution. It became the first sale Company for the new Channel 4, RKO, S4C plus over forty independent Producers. At this time Terence became a consultant to The Rank Organisation developing their Video market, Philips the Disc Players, and British Telecom for ten years where Opix produced films for their Board. ©
1982 FOCUS ON RUGBY Opix produced the ten-part rugby series which sold internationally
1985 Terence produced
North To Kathmandu with the BBC, featuring Billy Connolly, Ringo Starr, Barbara Bach and Max Boyce.
1986 GOING HOME. Terence/OPIX and Pat Ferns/PRIMEMEDIA organised with the BBC and CBC the first Twinning Coproduction between UK and Canada. They produced in the UK, GOING HOME (budget $3,200,000.) the Award winning WWI Feature film which Terence, Produced and Directed simultaneously in Canada they produced the adapted Margaret Attwood book, the Award winning feature film
HEAVEN ON EARTH (Budget $3,200,000)
1986 Terence with Opix and Mentorn produced
The Wayne Sleep Musical Dash for C4. The program won several international awards including the New York Film and Television Award.
1987 Terence contacted the Irish Government and proposed, with the help of Joseph Lynch of the Ireland Foreign Affairs office, the Coproduction Treaty between Canada and Ireland. In Canada Pat Ferns made representation to Telefilm and the Canadian Government, in 1989 the Coproduction Agreement was signed in Ottawa and Dublin. Pat Ferns co-produced two Irish-Canadian films using the treaty. ©
1988 Directed by Terence Ryan the feature film Hold my Hand I'm Dying is also titled BLIND JUSTICE.
Filmed in South Africa starring Oliver Reed and Christopher Casanove.
TRAILER FOR FILM
https://youtu.be/gWgCCgxFkDs?si=o6cJxNdoR5DpMlTq
1989 Terence formed the joint venture between Ideal Film Limited, owned by the Irish Media Accountant, OJ Kilkenny, Windmill lane Studios James Morris and the U2 Manager, Paul McGuinness, with Opix films and Television Distribution,
“Ideal Opix Film and Television Sales Limited.”
1993 TTHE BIG FREEZE, starring Bob Hoskins and Spike Milligan Terence co-produced with his company Opix and Finnish YLE Television the comedy feature
1994 Terence flew to the Isle of Man to discuss with the Industry Minister Allan Bell and his financial advisors the possibility for the Island as a base for film production.
1995/6 The World War II romantic adventure
TTHE BRYLCREEM BOYS starring Gabriel Byrne , Bill Campbell and Jean Butler became the first feature film produced on the Island of Man, using the business plan proposed by Terence Ryan. By 2017 £1.7 billion worth of film production business had gone to the IOM. THE BRYLCREEM BOYS (Budget $6,000,000). Distributed by CIBY Sales. In 2001the largest US Cable company HBO rated it as best UK film.
THE BRYLCREEM BOYS -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E4xA5s0L9A
The Brylcreem Boys Link to Trailer
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-bd&q=youtube+The+Brylcreem+boys+official+trailer#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:ced1d81d,vid:SoE7LT8jFjU,st:0
2002 Terence Ryan adapted and directed Spike Milligan's classic novel PUCKOON. It was the first film to be made at the Paint Hall Studios Belfast, starring Richard Attenborough, Elliott Gould, John Lynch, David Kelly, Milo O'Shea, Ronnie Drew and Griff Rhys Jones. (Budget $6,000,000.) Beyond Films, International awards, strong reviews and 37 countries bought the film. Still being screened on Netflix and Hulu in US.
PUCKOON TRAILER
https://youtu.be/T9u4TtOE9qk?si=WiRUhnE5lFa4m0sR
2006 Terence Ryan produced the black comedy thriller Botched, directed by KIT RYAN . Starring Stephen Dorff, Sean Pertwee, Jaime Murray, Jamie Foreman and Geoff Bell, at Ardmore Studios Ireland, the film won best film, best Director Kit Ryan and best actor award to Stephan Dorff, at The New York Film Festival, it was also Awarded Best Film at the German Fantasy Fest. Released through Silver Pictures/ Warner Bros to 32 countries.
BOTCHED TRAILER
https://youtu.be/whcW2dbmOSI?si=D5lQ1Jhrtpp2m0c1
2013 Produced by James T Ryan, Anis Shlewet and Terence Ryan. The psychological horror film DEMENTAMANIA, was directed by Kit Ryan. Starring Sam Robertson, Kal Penn, Vincent Regan and Geoff Bell. Content Media Sales. Major territories sold.
DEMENTAMANIA TRAILER
https://youtu.be/RSPQGtVcEIM?si=DmGV6BRLUb7Kan_S
2016 Produced by Terence and James T Ryan.
Directed by Kit Ryan.
Written by Susan Morrall .
Starring Aisling Loftus, Patrick Gibson, David Rawle and Elaine Cassidy. Aisling Loftus was nominated for female leading role in a feature film at the 2017 Irish Academy Film Awards, Patrick Gibson won the Irish Film Board Rising Star Award at the Irish Academy Film Award; PROPERTY OF THE STATE has been given several awards in Europe and the US, at the Emerge Film Festival it won Best Film, best director for Kit Ryan, and best film in Festival. GSP Sales excellent worldwide reviews becoming a standard for mental health film 2017.
PROPERTY OF THE STATE TRAILER
https://youtu.be/cseBO8vjz5Q?si=voDmshb5CgxOCCPU
2019 ORIGIN UNKNOWN 2026 This Sci Fi feature was Produced by James T Ryan and Anis Shlewet
Executive Producers Terence Ryan and Susan Morrall. Directed by Haz Dullul, staring Katee SackhofF
Released in the US, July 2018 KEW Media Sales. APRIL 2019.
2036 ORIGIN UNKNOWN TRAILER
https://youtu.be/9HKoPnraoLk?si=jclZoMLcMhi_AGCS
PRODUCTIONS IN DEVELOPMENT
FOG OF WAR - Seven part Television series ©
SKYE - Fantasy adventure film ©
a WILD GOOSE in HOLY FIRE - from the novel by KIT RYAN ©
IRELAND THROUGH ARTISTS’ EYES - A JOURNEY IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF WILLIS AND BARTLETT ©
A series of half hour documentaries dealing with the travels of the artist William Bartlett
and writer Nathaniel Willis through Ireland in 1840 based on the book
”The Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland” by Nathaniel Willis with illustrations by WH Bartlett
BEING LOST -© 2010 A film adapted from the novel BEING LOST by writer Susan Morrall. © 2010
ON THE FEAST OF STEPHEN - © 2018 Animation adapted from the book On the Feast of Stephen by Susan Morrall ©
FOG OF WAR ©
SKYE ©
a WILD GOOSE in HOLY FIRE ©
IRELAND THROUGH ARTISTS’ EYES - A JOURNEY IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF WILLIS AND BARTLETT ©
BEING LOST © 2010
ON THE FEAST OF STEPHEN © 2018
BOOKS ADAPTED FROM OPIX FILMS PRODUCTIONS
A GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT © - Adapted from the OPIX feature film The Brylcreem Boys
PROPERTY OF THE STATE © - Adapted from the film Property of the State
A GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT ©
PROPERTY OF THE STATE ©
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