ROB SPRACKLING
Rob Sprackling is an experienced screenwriter and award-winning writer/director working across comedy, live action and animation. He is currently developing a comedy horror feature based on his award winning short film RISE OF THE APPLIANCES, which he wrote and directed (British Horror Award at the British Horror Film Festival 2011, Best Horror Comedy at the Oklahoma Horror Film Festival 2010 and Best Short Film at Shriekfest Los Angeles 2010). He also wrote and directed the short film GREEN MONKEY which won a number of awards including best film at the New York Short Film Festival. As one half of Sprackling & Smith, an experienced comedy screenwriting team, he has sold numerous original feature film scripts here and in Hollywood, including Disney’s box office hit GNOMEO & JULIET which was long-listed for the best animation BAFTA and an ANNIE Award for best screenplay.
Sprackling & Smith also work in adult comedy and conceived and wrote the feature film MIKE BASSETT: ENGLAND MANAGER – the number one low budget (under $10 million) Brit film at the UK box office in the year of its release. They went on to write and exec-produce the TV series spin off MIKE BASSETT: MANAGER for ITV and developed a sequel MIKE BASSETT: INTERIM MANAGER with Riley Productions /BFI.
Other film projects from the duo include a page one re-write of the Aardman movie TORTOISE VS HARE, their adaptation of Roy Lewis’s book ANIMAL KINGDOM: LET’S GO APE (Pathé) Films, and the adaptation they worked on of the G.P Taylor novel, THE ADVENTURER: THE CURSE OF THE MIDAS BOX starring Martin Sheen, Sam Neill, Lena Headley and Ioan Gruffudd. They developed a new version of ANIMAL FARM with Andy Serkis at the Imaginarium Studios, and have also had animated family feature commissions from Fox Animation and Aardman Animation.
Upcoming feature projects from the duo include the ELLA BELLA BINGO movie with Mosvold Studios, and their original family feature THE QUEEN’S CORGI, which is currently in production with nWave Studios, set for a 2019 release.
On the TV side, they were also lead writers on the BAFTA nominated TV series MUDDLE EARTH and have also worked on CBBC’S reboot of DANGERMOUSE.
In a solo capacity Rob’s first children’s book, BORN AGAIN BEN, is published by Can of Worms Enterprises and it has just been optioned to a major US Studio for animated feature adaptation. He’s had feature commissions from Comic Animations, and has been commissioned to work on new TV projects for DC Thompson. He was recently commissioned to write a live action feature about Rock Choir, and he is currently working on animated feature commissions with the Fabulous Fantasy Company, Voice Pictures Inc and Cool Beans BV. He is currently developing a TV Series for Nucco Brain. Rob is represented by Charlie Ferraro at UTA in the States, working in association with GHA.
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FILM
PRODUCTION COMPANY NOTES
BORN AGAIN BEN (2020) Major US Studio Rob's middle grade children's book under option for an animated feature adaptation
PANDA BEAR IN AFRICA (2019-21) Cool Beans BV Feature Film Commission
Suite 2.1, 32 Tavistock Street, London, WC2E 7PB + 44 (0)20 3848 1411 [email protected] www.gemmhirst.co.uk FLAMINGO FLAMENCO (2019) Voice Pictures Inc Commissioned to write an animated family feature based on his original idea.
UNTITLED (2018) Fabulous Fantasy Company Animated feature adaptation - treatment commissioned.
THE CHOIR THAT ROCKS (2016-18) Rock Choir Limited Live action feature commission
THE QUEEN'S CORGI (2016-18) nWave Studios Commissioned to rewrite original Sprackling & Smith screenplay. Currently in production set for a 2019 release.
ELLA BELLA BINGO (2016-18) Mosvold Studios Co-written screenplay with Johnny Smith & Frank Mosvold based on popular TV series.
UNTITLED (2016-18) Comic Animations/Cinesite Original family feature commission
UNTITLED (2016) Comic Animations Commissioned to write a treatment based on Rob's original idea
POLICE DOGS (2016) Aristos Films Option on screenplay
PANDAMANIA (2015) Feather Productions & Snowfish Script rewrite of family feature Productions screenplay with Johnny Smith
KNIGHTS OF THE ROUNDTABLE Phoenix Wiley Limited Original feature film script optioned. (2014-16)
UNTITLED (2013-16) Aardman Animations Original co-written treatment and screenplay commission.
UNTITLED (2014) Aardman Animations Feature film comedy punch up
UNTITLED (2013-14) Fox Animation Family feature commission
ANIMAL FARM (2013-14 Imaginarium Studios Commissioned to write treatment and first draft screenplay for a new adaptation of this classic.
UNTITLED (2013) Aardman Animations Feature Film Comedy punch up
MIKE BASSETT: INTERIM Riley Productions / BFI Feature film sequel developed MANAGER (2011-14)
THE LOVE GOD (2011) Riley Productions Re-write of original romantic-comedy feature for Stewart Till and Steve Barron.
RISE OF THE APPLIANCES Big Rich Films Original comedy/horror feature (2010-12) screenplay. Rob to produce and direct. Pilot shot and premiered in Autumn 2010 at the Empire Leicester Square. *Winner of Best Horror Comedy at the Oklahoma Horror Film Festival 2010, and Best Short Film at Shriekfest Los Angeles 2010. Website: http://riseoftheappliances.tumblr.com/
THE PHOBES (2010) Antyx Animation Commissioned family feature screenplay in development.
LUCKY'S PAW (2010) Uli Meyer Productions Commissioned to write treatment for animation feature.
Suite 2.1, 32 Tavistock Street, London, WC2E 7PB + 44 (0)20 3848 1411 [email protected] www.gemmhirst.co.uk THE ADVENTURER: THE CURSE OF Entertainment Motion Rewrite of feature film script based on THE MIDAS BOX (2009) the book by best-selling author G.P. Taylor. Released in January 2014 starring Martin Sheen, Sam Neill and Ioan Gruffodd.
THUD, SWEAT AND TEARS (2009) Milk and One Sugar Commissioned feature screenplay
LOVE IS THE DRUG (2008) Independent Films Commissioned feature screenplay.
ANIMAL KINGDOM: LET'S GO APE Pathé/Les Animateurs Page 1 rewrite based on the best- (2007) selling book by Roy Lewis. Released 2015.
TORTOISE VS HARE (2006) Aardman/Dreamworks Page 1 rewrite
CUPID X (2004) BBC Films Original, high concept romantic comedy screenplay
GNOMEO & JULIET (2003) Disney Original screenplay and story for feature length animation. Released February 2011. Has taken nearly $200 million worldwide. Number one film in the UK and US. “This lively little film, a comic take on Shakespeare's tragedy, is really entertaining!” Wall Street Journal
UNTITLED (2002) Montecito Pictures Original screenplay sold to Ivan Reitman (GHOSTBUSTERS)
MIKE BASSETT: ENGLAND Hallmark Top Five grossing UK film of 2001. MANAGER (2001) "This sports satire is arguably the best football film ever made, and unarguably the funniest." Radio Times
FRENCH EXCHANGE (2000) Talkback/BVI Page 1 rewrite, feature comedy.
BITCH BITCH BITCH (1999) New Line Page 1 rewrite, feature comedy.
20TH CENTURY BOY (1999) HAL/Miramax Commissioned to write an extended treatment for an original feature film.
BLACKWATER ZOO (1998) Jim Henson/20th Century Fox Original screenplay feature animation. Animation
UNCREDITED FEATURE FILM Shooting Fish, Five Children And It, The REWRITES INCLUDE: Best Man, The Magic Roundabout, Goose On The Loose, The Truth About Love, The Abduction Club and Thunderpants.
WITH JOHN SMITH ROB HAS The Polar Express for WRITTEN SEVERAL Playtone/Universal and Harold And COMMISSIONED TREATMENTS The Purple Crayon for Warner Bros. FOR HOLLYWOOD MOVIES INCLUDING:
TELEVISION
PRODUCTION COMPANY NOTES
UNTITLED (2019-20) Nucco Brain Developing an animated TV series - bible rewrite and 11' script commissioned
Suite 2.1, 32 Tavistock Street, London, WC2E 7PB + 44 (0)20 3848 1411 [email protected] www.gemmhirst.co.uk UNTITLED (2015) DC Thomson Commissioned to write 2 x 11 min scripts for proposed new animated children’s show as well as 1 x 30 min Outline script for One-Off Special.
DANGERMOUSE (2011-12) CBBC Commissioned to write bible and pilot script for new series in development reviving this classic.
REBEL TOYS (2009-10) Chapman Entertainment Bible and script for animated TV series in development.
THE LAST WILL (2009-10) Hat Trick Productions Original comedy drama series idea optioned and developed.
MUDDLE EARTH (2009-10) CBBC Lead writers on major new animation series – edited and polished scripts for all 26 episodes and wrote a core block. *2011 BAFTA Children’s Awards Nominee – Best Animation Programme
MIKE BASSETT: MANAGER (2005) ITV Wrote and produced six part TV spin off. "This is a very rare thing indeed in the TV world - an ITV sitcom that is actually Premier League funny....Pick of the Week." News of The World
CAPTAIN BUTLER (1997) Channel 4 Conceived and wrote six part comedy series.
ENGLAND VS SCOTLAND (1996) Channel 4 One-off comedy show.
LOGGERHEADS (1996) Absolutely Productions One-off episode for animation comedy show.
NOAH'S ARK (1995) Jim Henson Productions Pilot TV sit-com script.
WOODLAND TALES (1995) Jim Henson Productions Pilot TV sit-com script.
GRUTZBADEN SPA (1994) Jim Henson Productions Co-wrote TV sit-com pilot with Richard Curtis.
Suite 2.1, 32 Tavistock Street, London, WC2E 7PB + 44 (0)20 3848 1411 [email protected] www.gemmhirst.co.uk