Feature filmmaker Bruce Beresford has signed with Orbit Productions, Hollywood, for spot representation.
Beresford’s longform credits include Driving Miss Daisy, which won four Academy Awards—for best motion picture of 1989, best actress (Jessica Tandy), best writing for a screenplay based on material from another medium (Alfred Uhry’s Off-Broadway play) and best makeup. Beresford was also nominated for a best director Oscar on the strength of the ’83 film Tender Mercies, which won Academy Awards for best actor (Robert Duvall) and best screenplay written directly for the screen (Horton Foote). Three years earlier, Beresford and co-writers Jonathan Hardy and David Stevens saw their Breaker Morant garner an Oscar nomination for best screenplay based on material from another medium.
Among other entries on the director’s filmography are Crimes of the Heart, Don’s Party, Last Dance, Black Robe, Paradise Road, and Double Jeopardy—starring Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones. Beresford is currently in pre-pro on Boswell for the Defense, with Michael Caine.
Internationally, Beresford’s film work has received best director honors from the Australian Film Institute for Don’s Party and Breaker Morant, and from the Canadian Film Academy for Black Robe.
Known for his dramatic storytelling, Beresford said he chose to team with Orbit because of the expanding company’s energy and its track record of finding interesting work for established feature directors such as Carroll Ballard (Fly Away Home, The Black Stallion) and Roger Spottiswoode (The Sixth Day, Tomorrow Never Dies). "After seeing Orbit’s show reels," said Beresford, "and the high quality of projects they secure for their directors, I wanted to be part of that team."
Beresford will work closely at Orbit with its president, Lee Nelson, and executive producer, Lynne Pateman. Nelson cited Pateman’s hiring last year as a sign that the company was poised for growth. She joined the company along with noted spot director Robert Black (SHOOT, 11/10/00, p. 1). "Orbit dedicates itself to securing projects that enhance the creative strengths and visions of each of its directors," related Pateman.
Beresford’s directorial diversity can also be seen in his opera experience, which includes helming Puccini’s Girl of the Golden West for Italy’s Spoleto Festival, Elektra for the State Opera of South Australia, and Sweeney Todd for the Portland Opera. Beresford also directed Rigoletto last year, for the Los Angeles Opera.
According to Nelson, Beresford is ready to make his schedule accommodating for spot assignments. Orbit is repped by Andrew Halpern on the West Coast; Sharon Lew and Associates on the East Coast; and Robin Pickett and Associates in the Midwest.
Orbit Productions is a sister company of feature/longform house Orbit Pictures. Both firms are subsidiaries of the Hollywood-headquartered Orbit Entertainment Group.
