Thunderbird Pictures is a new production company that has been launched by veteran producers William Shockley and Tom Brady, along with Allen Gilmer and Riki Rushing. The company plans to have a presence in both Los Angeles and Austin, TX.
Launch and Initial Slate
Thunderbird Pictures was launched last month at SXSW, where the company served as the official awards sponsor of the inaugural Thunderbird Rising Award, presenting prizes to first-time directors Paris Zarcilla and Brittany Snow. The banner will be joined by Head of Casting Tiiu Loigu, Head of Business Development Jason Chilton, production exec Robert Abdou, and Chief Financial Officer Aldo Waker. Thunderbird’s initial slate of films includes a drama called Castro’s Daughter, starring James Franco and Ana Villafane, which was produced in partnership with Mankind Entertainment and is now in post-production. The banner is also producing the follow-up documentary Revolution’s Daughter, directed by Thaddeus Matula, which is currently in production, as well as the Shockley-helmed Last Dollar, a period Western inspired by European cinema, which begins shooting on May 8.
Partnership and Goals
Shockley said, “Our goals were similar; to produce masterful films, navigate the distribution, and optimize revenue with transparency. Thunderbird Pictures was born with that creed in mind. We partnered with Tom Brady, and our alliance with UTA Independent Film Group solidified the effort.” Brady added, “At Thunderbird, we are thrilled to channel our uniquely varied and battle-tested experience into championing new voices and creating thought-provoking, yet exciting films people want to see.”
About the Producers
William Shockley is a 30-year veteran of the L.A. film industry as an actor, writer, producer, and director, who appeared in Paul Verhoeven’s films RoboCop and Showgirls. Shockley is best known for his six-year run as Hank Lawson on the popular CBS series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Tom Brady is a writer, director, producer, and showrunner whose feature credits include writing and co-producing the Rob Schneider starrer The Animal, and co-writing and directing Disney’s The Hot Chick, also starring Schneider. Allen Gilmer and Riki Rushing are both based in Austin, TX, and have executive produced a number of films, including Death in Texas, Radley, Frank and Penelope, and QT8: The First Eight, a documentary on filmmaker Quentin Tarantino.
Thunderbird Pictures’ launch is exciting news for the film industry, and its initial slate of films promises to be thought-provoking and exciting. The company’s partnership with UTA Independent Film Group and its veteran producers’ experience and dedication to producing masterful films bodes well for its future success.
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