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Robert Sidaway (actor)

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Robert Sidaway
Born(1942-01-24)24 January 1942
Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England
Died16 August 2024(2024-08-16) (aged 82)
Occupation(s)Film producer, writer, actor

Robert Sidaway (24 January 1942 – 16 August 2024) was an English writer, producer, director and actor. His credits as writer or producer for film and television include Rainbow (1996), Battle of the Brave (2004), Best Of British (1987–94) and Into The Rainbow / The Wonder (2017).

As a stage actor, Sidaway appeared in several West End theatre productions and numerous provincial and international tours, including Number 10 and The Magistrate, both with Alastair Sim. On screen, he performed in film and television, including two Doctor Who serials: as Avon in The Savages (1966) and Captain Jimmy Turner in The Invasion (1968).

Early life

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Sidaway was born in Wolverhampton, the son of industrialist Ronald "Bill" Sidaway, Chairman and Managing Director of Ductile Steels, and Beryl Cynthia Webb. He was educated at Tettenhall College, Wolverhampton, and Trent College, Derbyshire.

Acting career and theatre production

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Sidaway commenced his theatrical career in repertory at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, in 1958, and at the Oxford Playhouse in 1959 before he studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.[1]

Sidaway subsequently appeared in numerous UK provincial and international productions, including at: Chesterfield Civic Theatre (1962); Pitlochry Festival Theatre (Scotland) (1963); Flora Robson Playhouse (Newcastle upon Tyne) (1964) in The Importance of Being Earnest; Leatherhead Theatre (1966) as the title character in Mother Goose and The Mate in Dick Whittington; Theatre Royal, Windsor (1966) in Pride and Prejudice; Richmond Theatre (1966) in Macbeth; O’Keefe Centre (Toronto) (1967); and Chichester Festival Theatre (1969) in Antony and Cleopatra, The Country Wife, The Caucasian Chalk Circle and The Magistrate.

West End productions as actor

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Sidaway (centre) in stage play Number 10 with Michael Denison and Alastair Sim (1967)

Television and film productions as actor

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Sidaway with director Douglas Camfield during the filming of the Doctor Who story The Invasion (1968)
Sidaway in recording sessions for the animated series Chuck The Eco Duck, 14 April 2010

Theatre production

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During the early 1970s, Sidaway worked in public relations and marketing for London theatre managements, in particular for producer John Gale, and from 1972 he was involved in No Sex Please, We're British at London's Strand Theatre. It became the world's longest running comedy play.

Sidaway subsequently moved into theatre production and produced and presented such productions as:

Anastasia was written Marcelle Maurette and Guy Bolton, directed by Tony Craven and starred Nyree Dawn Porter, Peter Wyngarde, Elspeth March, David Nettheim, David Griffin and Ray Gatenby. It toured selected UK theatres, including the Theatre Royal, Brighton before opening at the Cambridge Theatre, London on 15 October 1976.

Writer and producer for film and television

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Sidaway's first film production work was for the Central Office of Information on documentaries and weekly news programmes. He also wrote television drama series for both BBC and ITV, including Crossroads.

In 1977 Sidaway co-created and co-produced the documentary series The Game Of The Century which consisted of six 30-minute programmes leading up to the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina. It was first shown on BBC1 commencing on 23 April 1978.[3] He also co-wrote (with Bob Wilson) the accompanying book based on the series.[4]

Two further sports documentary series followed, The Game of The Century, World Cup ’82 (BBC) and A Choice of Champions (CBS), made for the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Between 1981 and 1984 Sidaway produced and co-wrote The Optimist, a silent comedy series for Channel 4 (UK). The pilot was independently financed and shot in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in 1981 and was subsequently commissioned for a further six episodes by Cecil Korer, Programme Purchaser and Commissioning Editor for Light Entertainment at Channel 4. The first season was shot entirely in Los Angeles and was previewed on Channel 4's opening night (2 November 1982). The series commenced on 14 April 1983, following which a second series of six episodes was commissioned and filmed on location in London in 1984. The episode "The Fall Of The House Of Esher" was nominated for the Rose d'Or, Montreux in 1985.[5][6]

In 1985 Sidaway co-produced the Irish location shoot for the American soap Search for Tomorrow for NBC. At this time he was working extensively in Los Angeles on film and television projects.

The Optimist was co-produced with Charisma Films and until 1987 Sidaway was Head Of Production for Charisma, developing films such as Sellers On Sellers, based on the life of Peter Sellers and Extra Time (later written as United).

Best of British and Winchester Pictures

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In 1985 Sidaway produced the one-hour special Around The World In Seven Minutes And Four Times On Saturday, about the Pathé News and Movietone News cinema newsreels and their lead commentators Bob Danvers-Walker and Leslie Mitchell.[7][8]

He subsequently formed Best of British Films & Television Limited and for four years co-created, co-wrote and produced 67 half-hours of Best Of British (BBC 1), a history of British film narrated by John Mills and Anthony Quayle which commenced on 22 April 1987.[9] He also co-wrote a book based on the first series which looked at the classic films of the Rank Organisation.[10]

In 1990 he co-created, co-wrote and produced 13 episodes of The World Of Hammer for Channel 4, a history of Hammer Film Productions narrated by Oliver Reed.[11] The company also produced documentaries and video specials, including Genesis - A History, a ninety-minute co-production with BBC on the music band Genesis, and Wicked Willie, the animated series.[12]

During 1989 Sidaway formed Winchester Pictures, a rights and development company for feature films and TV movies, and wrote and developed remakes of Hell Drivers, The Day The Earth Caught Fire and Four Sided Triangle as well as supervising development of Legacy, a film based on the sci-fi thriller "Quatermass and the Pit".

During 1992–1993 he worked at Twentieth Century Fox on The Day The Earth Caught Fire with co-producer with Ezra Swerdlow.

Having founded Winchester Pictures in 1989, Sidaway took Winchester Entertainment to the Alternative Investment Market in 1994 and was Head Of Production for the public company.

During 1994-95 Sidaway produced and co-wrote Rainbow, the family entertainment feature film starring Bob Hoskins, Dan Aykroyd, Jacob Tierney and Terry Finn. Shot on location in Montreal from September to December 1994, this was the first theatrically distributed all digital feature film. The film was made in association with Sony High Definition at Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles and was released during 1996. He also co-wrote the novel based on the original screenplay.[13]

Independent productions

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During 1995 Sidaway co-founded "The International Football Hall Of Fame" to develop and finance a unique football concept, worldwide media business and Manchester-based visitor attraction. Developed in association with Granada Media Group and Mirror Group Newspapers, the first election took place in 1997-98.

During 1999–2000 he co-wrote the TV series Dark Knight (Channel 5) and developed further film projects.


Between 2000 and 2008, some of the films on which Sidaway was Producer or Executive Producer included:

Nouvelle France starring Gérard Depardieu, Irène Jacob, Vincent Pérez, Tim Roth and Jason Isaacs; My First Wedding starring Rachael Leigh Cook; Modigliani starring Andy Garcia; School for Seduction starring Kelly Brook and Emily Woof; Day Of Wrath starring Christopher Lambert; Joy Division starring Ed Stoppard and Bernard Hill; The Piano Player starring Christopher Lambert, Dennis Hopper and Diane Kruger;Silence Becomes You starring Alicia Silverstone and Sienna Guillory; Save Angel Hope starring Billy Boyd, Eva Birthistle and Bernard Hill; and Forest of the Gods a Lithuanian-language film based on the classic novel starring Steven Berkoff.

From 2008 to 2010 acted as audio-visual producer and writer on over 60 short films examining climate change and green technologies.

In 2008 created the character of Chuck the Eco Duck and subsequently wrote and produced the pilot about the continuing tales of a caring, socially minded duck and his adventures on the farm and across the world. In 2010 wrote and produced the first series of 13 episodes. In addition wrote and produced the first audio series of 14 shows, which were first broadcast on Fun Kids radio in the UK.

During 2011 and 2012 developed and wrote the film "Iron", based on the birth of the industrial revolution at Ironbridge Gorge. During 2013 Sidaway was an editor and consulting producer on the documentary "Medjugorge - Myth Or Miracle".

David L. Snyder, Douglas Trumbull and Sidaway in Beijing, January 27, 2015

On 27 January 2015, Sidaway presented a screening and discussion on high frame rate film making to industry leaders in Beijing, China. He organized for respected film production designer David L. Snyder and innovative film maker Douglas Trumbull to be present. Trumbull's experimental short UFOTOG was shown in 4K, 3D, 120 fps.[14][15][16]

Into The Rainbow / 奇迹：追逐彩虹 / The Wonder: Chasing Rainbows

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In 2011, Sidaway created and wrote the story for the action fantasy feature film originally titled The Wonder and wrote the original drafts of the screenplay during 2012.

The film was first announced during the American Film Market in October 2012 with Willow Shields starring.[17]

The film shot on location in Qingdao, China and Auckland, New Zealand between October and December 2015 as a co-production between the two countries.

It stars Willow Shields, Wu Lei, Joe Chen, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Archie Kao and Christy Chung.[18][19][20][21]

The film was shown at the TIFF Kids International Film Festival during April 2017.[22][23][24]

The film received its U.S. Premiere with a Gala Screening at the Savannah Film Festival on 4 November 2017.[25][26]

Sidaway also co-wrote the book based on the original story.

Difei Zhou and Sidaway on location for The Wonder in Qingdao, September 29, 2015

Friendship Films

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Friendship Films was initially established in 2015 to produce The Wonder and thereafter to develop and produce various film and TV projects.[27]

During 2018, Sidaway created, wrote and produced the documentary series Cult-tastic: Tales From The Trenches With Roger And Julie Corman, which consists of thirteen 50-minute episodes on the career of filmmakers Roger Corman and Julie Corman. It was filmed over a four month period in Los Angeles, California and features over 130 movies. The series is a co-production between Shout! Studios (the production arm of Shout! Factory) and Ace Film HK in association with Friendship Films.[28][29]

Death

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Sidaway died abroad on 16 August 2024, at the age of 82.[30]

Film and television productions as writer and/or producer

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Production Year
The Game of the Century 1978 writer/producer 6 episodes
The Game of the Century 1982 writer/producer
The Optimist 1981-1984 writer/producer 13 episodes
A Choice of Champions 1984 writer/producer
Search for Tomorrow 1985 co-producer
Around the World in Seven Minutes and Four Times on Saturday 1985 producer
Best of British 1987-1994 creator/writer/producer 67 episodes
Wicked Willie 1990 producer
When the Quiff Was King 1990 producer
Keepers: The Glory and the Tears 1990 executive producer
Great English Golf Courses 1991 producer
Genesis: A History 1991 producer
The World of Hammer 1994 creator/writer/producer 13 episodes
Rainbow 1996 writer/producer
Dark Knight 2000 writer
The Piano Player 2002 associate producer
Nouvelle France 2004 producer
Modigliani 2004 executive producer
Silence Becomes You 2005 co-producer
Forest of the Gods 2005 executive producer
Joy Division 2006 executive producer
Day of Wrath 2006 executive producer
My First Wedding 2006 producer
Chuck the Eco Duck 2009 creator/writer/producer 14 episodes
Medjugorje: Myth or Miracle 2013 consulting producer
Into the Rainbow / The Wonder 2016 story/writer/producer
Cult-tastic: Tales from the Trenches with Roger and Julie Corman 2018 creator/writer/producer 13 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Hadoke, Toby (9 September 2024). "Robert Sidaway obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Production of A Public Mischief". Theatricalia. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Radio Times listing 1978-04-23". Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  4. ^ Conrad, Derek; Sidaway, Robert; Wilson, Bob The Game Of The Century Fontana Books. April 1978. ISBN 0006350542
  5. ^ "Channel-4". Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  6. ^ "British TV Comedy". Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Radio Times Listing". Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Radio Times Listing". Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Radio Times Listing". Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  10. ^ Sellar, Maurice; Sidaway, Robert; Sidaway, Ashley; Jones, Lou Best Of British Sphere Books. April 1987. ISBN 0722177127
  11. ^ "IMDb listing". Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  12. ^ "IMDb release date". Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  13. ^ Sidaway, Robert; Sidaway, Ashley; Beecham, Caroline Rainbow Red Fox Books. April 1996. ISBN 0099713012
  14. ^ "Mtime MAGI魅影3D技术中国首发". Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  15. ^ "PARC MEDIA电影推介会 MAGI3D技术发布". Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  16. ^ "MIGA魅影3D技术中国首发 奥斯卡视效大师助阵". Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  17. ^ "Karl Urban, Willow Shields to Star in 3D Fantasy 'The Wonder'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  18. ^ "'The Wonder' 3D fantasy heads for China shoot". Screen Daily. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  19. ^ "Archie Kao Joins China-New Zealand Fantasy Film 'The Wonder'". Variety. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  20. ^ "Howick Beach set to make the big screen". Times Newspapers. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  21. ^ "SMI Culture Launched Five Sci-Fi Film Productions and Held Wrap Party in China for The Wonder 3D, the First of its Big-Budget 3D Films". Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  22. ^ Sonya Davidson (15 March 2017). "TIFF Kids Film Fest is coming to Toronto and here's what we're excited to see!". Toronto Guardian. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  23. ^ "Into the Rainbow". TIFF Kids International. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  24. ^ Small, Courtney (2 March 2017). "Smurfs, Ballerina, and more play 20th Anniversary of TIFF Kids International Film Festival". Cinema Axis. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  25. ^ Bruce Haring (2 October 2017). "SCAD Savannah Film Festival Lineup Set". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  26. ^ "SCAD Savannah Film Festival Schedule". Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  27. ^ "Friendship Films". Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  28. ^ "Shout! Factory Announces Original Roger Corman Documentary Series". Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Roger And Julie Corman Docu Series". Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  30. ^ Lambert, Doug (20 August 2024). "Doctor Who and Crossroads actor Robert Sidaway dies". ATV Today. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
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