Friends, family and Gerry Anderson himself – thanks to cutting-edge technology – will appear in a documentary film from Anderson Entertainment and The Format Factory due in 2022
Anderson Entertainment has announced plans for a new documentary on Gerry Anderson. Perhaps best known for the iconic Thunderbirds, he was also the man behind such cult classics as Stingray and Space:1999. And his career extended across decades, into the modern era with shows like Space Precinct and the reimagined Captain Scarlet. The first in-depth documentary on the life and times of a true pioneer who made some of TV’s best-loved shows will be produced by the award-winning independent production company The Format Factory. And it has the full backing of Anderson Entertainment, the production company founded by Gerry Anderson.
The documentary will cover the highs and lows of the life of a man who changed the face of television. His difficult upbringing, the death of his older brother and his damaging experiences of anti-Semitism. And his massive success, revolutionary innovations in filming and puppetry and how he made – and lost – a fortune.
Viewers will hear about Anderson’s complicated relationships with family, friends and fellow workers. They’ll learn of his hatred of the puppets that made his name, and the years when he fell out of favour. Then the revivals, tributes and theatre adaptations that found him a brand-new audience. And, of course, how the era of DVDs, Blu-Ray and streaming has seen his shows rediscovered to enormous acclaim.
The film will look at the lows and highs of Anderson’s professional and personal lives
Above all, this will be a celebration of a television pioneer. One whose death after living with Alzheimer’s inspired heartfelt tributes from fans young and old across the world.
The documentary will include contributions from family members, friends, colleagues and many of the people who worked in and were inspired by Gerry Anderson’s shows. But it will also include contributions from Gerry Anderson himself. The film uses cutting-edge technology in a way this innovator would have loved. Because it not only uses extracts from over 30 hours of previously unreleased audio recordings. It also brings them to life through digital wizardry and artificial intelligence. The result is a never-before-seen interview with Gerry Anderson – in person!
The Format Factory hopes to begin shooting the single-film documentary in the summer of 2021 with a release date of 2022 – the tenth anniversary of Gerry Anderson’s death. It will be produced by award-winning producer / director Benjamin Field. And it has already attracted interest from a number of potential buyers.
The production will combine previously unheard recordings of Gerry Anderson with new technology to create a cutting edge recreation
The Format Factory’s Benjamin Field laid the scope of the project’s ambitions. “It’s hard to believe that a comprehensive, insightful documentary on the life and times of Gerry Anderson has not yet appeared, but we aim to do full justice to a major television pioneer. It will be an appraisal of a great and sometimes flawed man – honest, unflinching, but always fascinating. With Gerry Anderson how could it be anything else?”
Writer, director, producer and MD of Anderson Entertainment – and Gerry Anderson’s son – Jamie Anderson shared his enthusiasm for the production. “This is a project that I have long hoped to see reach the screen. The continuing popularity of Dad’s many great creations has driven a project for which The Format Factory, an award-winning content creator and production company, is the perfect producer. Ben and his team’s plans to combine research and insight with high technology and modern audio and video techniques are both innovative and exciting. I can’t wait to see the result!”
