Kevin Allen (actor)
| Kevin Allen | |
|---|---|
| Born |
15 September 1959 Swansea, Wales |
| Alma mater | Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts |
| Occupation | Actor, writer, director, producer |
Kevin Allen (born 15 September 1959) is a Welsh actor, screenwriter, film director and film producer. He is noted for writing and directing the cult black comedy feature Twin Town set in Swansea (1997). The film was entered into the 47th Berlin International Film Festival.[1]
He also directed the films The Big Tease and Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London and ITV series Benidorm. His 2015 film Under Milk Wood was selected as the British entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.[2]
Early life
The youngest son of a submarine engineer, younger brother of comedian Keith Allen and uncle of Lily Allen and Alfie Allen,[3] Allen spent much of his childhood in locations such as Malta and Singapore before settling in Loughor, Wales. Educated at Penyrheol Comprehensive, Allen played Gang Show with 1st Loughor Scouts and was a regular member of the Nation Youth Theatre of Wales before attending and graduating from the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, London.
Early career
Allen first came to national prominence in 1990 when he documented an England fan's eye view of the 1990 FIFA World Cup finals in Italy with his camcorder, for the BBC series Video Diaries in an episode entitled On The March With Bobby's Army.
Allen's first acting roles came by way of Channel 4's The Comic Strip and later starred alongside Dawn French in Ben Elton's West End hit Silly Cow at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. He also starred with Diana Rigg in Howard Brenton's Berlin Bertie at London's Royal Court Theatre – directed by Danny Boyle. He received a Fringe 1st Theatre Award, starring in 'A Prayer for Wings' directed by Joan Plowright at the Edinburgh Festival.
Starred as DC Cray alongside Rowan Atkinson in the first series of BBC's comedy series The Thin Blue Line while writing his debut feature screenplay, Twin Town.
Allen also presented BBC's Standing Room Only and wrote and directed several documentaries for the BBC in the 1990s including Yr Darian, 'Bombay Brown Wash', 'Booze Bores Barbours and Brilliance' and 'Rotten to the Core'.
Allen and author Pat McCabe are organisers of the Flatlake Festival held annually in Ireland.[4]
As of 2012 Allen is making a documentary film 'Found in Translation' about poet, Dylan Thomas in preparation for Thomas' 2014 Centenary.
Filmography
1995
1997
Made his directorial debut with cult feature Twin Town – set in his hometown, Swansea – was released in 1997 by Polygram International, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival – Nominated for a Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, and received BAFTA nominations for Best Director, Best Film, and Best Screenplay.
1999
Directed and produced second feature The Big Tease, a satirical comedy set in Hollywood for Warner Bros.
1999
Took a year-long trip across the US in his Airstream motorhome, writing and researching The Vacation, a redneck comedy about maverick elderly folks in deepest Alabama – for Universal Films.
2000–2003
Married Laura Madden in Death Valley, California. Supervised and developed many feature projects in Hollywood including Coming Out for Milk Wood Films. Cheek to Cheek – a feature collaboration with Gene Wilder – and with RV – a feature project commissioned by Interscope Films.
Set up 'Airstream Films'– developing a diverse slate of feature projects with his producing partner, Kate McCreery.
Developed Feature Screenplay 'Smart and Smarter' for Newline Cinema.
2004
Directed Kids action adventure movie Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London for MGM, starring Frankie Muniz, then escaped to Ireland to build an Eco house in Co Monaghan, where he now lives with his wife and their children: Gracie, Nell, Hywe, and Iris.
2005
Adapted Stevenson's classic Treasure Island as a film feature and TV series for Working Title Films and Universal.
2006
Directed hit British TV comedy (1st series) Benidorm, which received a Bafta Nomination.
2007
Launched 'The Flat Lake Literary & Arts Festival' which he produces and creatively directs with author, Pat McCabe, in County Monaghan.
2008
Developed projects for Parallel Films, Dublin – including feature 'The Man From God Knows Where' (co-writing with Pat McCabe) – Attached to direct … and The Return of the Banshee – also with McCabe.
2010
Commissioned to write Twin Town sequel for Tinopolis and launched free-range pork business Hilton Orchard with his wife Laura.
2011
Produced 5th Flat Lake Festival. Writing The Ballad of Honky Mc Swaine for Smuggler Films.
January 2012
Produced and directed 4th feature film, The Ballad of Honky Mc Swaine for Smuggler Films L – due for release late 2012.
June 2012
Commissioned to write screenplay All Ireland for Smuggler Films LA – and attached to direct.
2013
Directed Y Syrcas, a film for S4C set in 1848 Tregaron when the circus (Y Syrcas) comes to town.[5]
References
- ↑ "Berlinale: 1997 Programme". berlinale.de. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- ↑ "81 Countries in Competition For 2015 Foreign Language Film Oscar". AMPAS. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
- ↑ Lily's little brother Alfie to become the latest famous Allen The Independent 29 October 2007
- ↑ Lily set for duet with Cassidy The Independent 15 July 2009
- ↑ Rachael Misstear (14 August 2013). "S4C helps Victorian tale of Tregaron elephant come to life in Mid Wales town". walesonline. Retrieved 17 October 2015.