Bert and Bertie explained

Bert and Bertie
Birth Name:Bert: Amber Templemore-Finlayson

Bertie: Katie Ellwood
Occupation:Directors, writers, producers
Years Active:2002–present
Notable Works:Troop Zero, Hawkeye

Amber Templemore-Finlayson and Katie Ellwood, collectively known as Bert and Bertie, respectively,[1] [2] [3] are British film and television directors. They are best known for directing the film Troop Zero. They also directed a block of episodes for the Disney+ series Hawkeye and Our Flag Means Death. Elwood is also known individually as the co-creator of The Getaway franchise, the basis for the crime drama series Gangs of London.

Career

Templemore-Finlayson and Ellwood met in 2005 in London when Templemore-Finlayson was making a short film series to go along with The Getaway video game, and Ellwood was the game's writer.[4] Ellwood had previously worked for Sony Computer Entertainment as an assistant producer and script consultant.[5] Their first project was the short film Phobias. The two have also directed commercials for McDonald's.[6] [7]

In 2019, they directed the comedy-drama film Troop Zero. They were inspired to create it after realizing the social and cultural impact it could have on young girls, saying that they felt "there had never been a film about a group of young girls that go on an adventure to achieve something by working together and succeeding".[8] They convinced producer Todd Black at Escape Artists to help, and after being approved by Escape Artists, producer Ted Hope and his Amazon Originals team let them pitch the film. For the pitch, they created Birdie Scout manuals filled with ideas on how to create the film. They also made a "rip-o-matic" of reference movies to give Amazon Studios a sense of "the comic yet emotional tone of the movie", and chose 20 images defining the film they wanted to create. After its completion, the duo were hired again by Amazon to rewrite and direct Eurydice, a retelling of the Greek myth described as "Terminator meets Thelma & Louise."[2]

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the duo were actively developing the biopic feature A Special Relationship written by Simon Beaufoy and set to star Rachel Weisz as Elizabeth Taylor. The heavily-researched film was set to chronicle Taylor's journey from actress to activist through her friendship with her assistant Roger Wall.[9]

In July 2020, it was announced they would direct a block of episodes for the Disney+ series Hawkeye, which premiered in November 2021.[10] [11]

In February 2021, it was announced that the two would direct Queen Bitch & The High Horse, a film about the largest municipal fraud in American history.[12] Cate Blanchett and her production company Dirty Films will produce, along with New Republic Pictures.[13]

In August 2022, it was announced that the duo has signed to direct a feature film adaptation of the Disneyland attraction Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.[14]

In November 2022, Templemore-Finlayson was set to direct Keke Palmer in the action-comedy Moxie, without the involvement of Ellwood.[15]

Templemore-Finlayson and Ellwood directed two episodes of the first season of the Apple TV+ series Silo. Templemore-Finlayson will direct four episodes of Silos second season.[16] They directed two episodes of the 2023 Apple TV+ series Lessons in Chemistry.

Personal lives

Templemore-Finlayson and Ellwood are from London, and are based in Los Angeles and London as of January 2019. Templemore-Finlayson grew up in Johannesburg, and Ellwood grew up in Leicester, England. They like to call themselves "the Berts".[17]

Their influences include the Coen brothers, Guillermo del Toro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc Caro and Tim Burton.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleDirectorsWritersProducersNotes
2006PhobiasShort film
Antonio's BreakfastShort film, credited as Amber Templemore-Finlayson
GlueCo-producer, credited as Amber Templemore-Finlayson
2009The TaxidermistShort films
2012Worm
2016Dance Camp
2019Troop Zero
TBAQueen Bitch & the High Horse
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Moxie

Television

YearTitleNotes
2020Kidding"The Acceptance Speech", "A Seat on the Rocket"
The Great"And You Sir, Are No Peter the Great", "Moscow Mule"
2021Hawkeye"Echoes", "Partners, Am I Right?", "Ronin"
2022Our Flag Means Death"We Gull Way Back", "Act of Grace"
2023–presentSiloBoth: "The Relic", "The Flamekeepers"
Bert: Four episodes of season 2
2023Lessons in Chemistry"Living Dead Things", "Primitive Instinct"
2024"Years", "Gone"

Video games

YearTitleNotes
2002The GetawayBertie only, credited as Katie Ellwood
2015Just Cause 3

Awards

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2006British Academy Film AwardsBest Short FilmAntonio's Breakfast[18] [19]
2009Rhode Island International Film FestivalFirst Place: Best CinematographyThe Taxidermist[20]
2009Palm Springs International ShortFestBest Live Action Over 15 Minutes[21]
2012Leeds International Film FestivalSpecial Mention: Best British ShortWorm[22]
They were also named one of Varietys 2019 Directors to Watch.[23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Serba. John. January 20, 2020. Stream It Or Skip It: 'Troop Zero' on Amazon Prime, an Indie Comedy That'll Test Your Twee Tolerance. live. July 10, 2021. Decider. https://web.archive.org/web/20200121011544/https://decider.com/2020/01/20/troop-zero-on-amazon-prime-stream-it-or-skip-it/ . 21 January 2020 .
  2. Web site: Morfoot. Addie. January 4, 2019. 10 Directors to Watch: Bert and Bertie Combine Forces on Underdog Comedy 'Troop Zero'. live. July 10, 2021. Variety. https://web.archive.org/web/20190104195814/https://variety.com/2019/film/features/10-directors-to-watch-bert-and-bertie-troop-zero-1203099229/ . 4 January 2019 .
  3. Web site: Kit. Borys. July 17, 2020. Marvel's 'Hawkeye' Disney+ Series Lands 'Troop Zero,' 'Comrade Detective' Directors (Exclusive). live. July 10, 2021. Hollywood Reporter. https://web.archive.org/web/20210524142020/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/marvels-hawkeye-disney-series-lands-directors-1303629/ . 24 May 2021 .
  4. Web site: Bert and Bertie. January 17, 2020. Bert&Bertie's Great Girl Adventure. live. July 14, 2021. Talkhouse. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929194253/https://www.talkhouse.com/bertberties-great-girl-adventure/ . 29 September 2020 .
  5. Web site: Lambie. Ryan. February 26, 2008. Katie Ellwood interview. live. July 10, 2021. Den of Geek. https://web.archive.org/web/20201021061519/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/katie-ellwood-interview/ . 21 October 2020 .
  6. Web site: Gariano. Francesca. November 14, 2021. McDonald's new emotional Christmas ad 'Imaginary Iggy' is seriously a tearjerker. live. November 18, 2021. TODAY.com. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20211115041037/https://www.today.com/food/mcdonald-s-new-emotional-christmas-ad-tearjerker-t238912 . 15 November 2021 .
  7. Web site: Kiefer. Brittaney. November 12, 2021. McDonald's Sweet Christmas Ad Reminds Adults to Embrace Their Childlike Imagination. live. November 18, 2021. Adweek. https://web.archive.org/web/20211112070524/https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/mcdonalds-sweet-christmas-ad-reminds-adults-to-embrace-their-childlike-imagination/ . 12 November 2021 .
  8. Web site: Stewart. Sophia. January 28, 2019. Sundance 2019 Women Directors: Meet Bert & Bertie – "Troop Zero". live. July 10, 2021. womenandhollywood.com. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20190203081828/https://womenandhollywood.com/sundance-2019-women-directors-meet-bert-bertie-troop-zero/ . 3 February 2019 .
  9. Web site: Ritman. Alex. British Film Duo on Capturing Zeitgeist With Elizabeth Taylor Biopic. The Hollywood Reporter. November 10, 2019. March 23, 2024.
  10. Web site: Kit. Borys. July 17, 2020. Marvel's 'Hawkeye' Disney+ Series Lands 'Troop Zero,' 'Comrade Detective' Directors (Exclusive). live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200717232411/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/marvels-hawkeye-disney-series-lands-directors-1303629. July 17, 2020. July 11, 2021. The Hollywood Reporter.
  11. Web site: Boone. John. December 10, 2020. Marvel Debuts New Trailers for 'Loki' and 'Falcon and Winter Soldier,' Announces 'Fantastic Four' Movie. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201211010602/https://www.etonline.com/marvel-new-disney-plus-series-movies-157652. December 11, 2020. July 11, 2021. Entertainment Tonight.
  12. Web site: D'Alessandro. Anthony. February 5, 2021. Bert And Bertie To Direct 'Queen Bitch & The High Horse' For New Republic Pictures & Cate Blanchett's Dirty Films. live. July 10, 2021. Deadline. https://web.archive.org/web/20210205180136/https://deadline.com/2021/02/cate-blanchett-bert-and-bertie-queen-bitch-the-high-horse-new-republic-pictures-cate-dirty-films-1234688388/ . 5 February 2021 .
  13. Web site: Rubin. Rebecca. February 5, 2021. Cate Blanchett to Produce Embezzlement Drama 'Queen Bitch and the High Horse'. live. July 10, 2021. Variety. https://web.archive.org/web/20210205180246/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/cate-blanchett-queen-bitch-high-horse-1234900993/ . 5 February 2021 .
  14. Web site: 'Hawkeye' Directors Bert & Bertie To Direct Big Thunder Mountain Movie For Disney, LuckyChap and Scott Free. Deadline. Kroll. Justin. August 16, 2022. August 16, 2022.
  15. Web site: Hot Package: Keke Palmer And 'Hawkeye' Director Bert Team On Action Comedy 'Moxie'. Deadline. Kroll. Justin. November 18, 2022. March 3, 2024.
  16. Web site: Grobar . Matt . August 16, 2023 . Range Signs 'Silo' & 'Hawkeye' Director Bert . August 16, 2023 . Deadline . en-US.
  17. Web site: Ritman. Alex. November 10, 2019. British Film Duo on Capturing Zeitgeist With Elizabeth Taylor Biopic. live. July 10, 2021. The Hollywood Reporter. https://web.archive.org/web/20210710223401/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/british-film-duo-capturing-zeitgeist-elizabeth-taylor-biopic-1253685/ . 10 July 2021 .
  18. Web site: Wilkes. Neil. February 19, 2006. In Full: BAFTA 2006 Winners. live. July 10, 2021. Digital Spy. https://web.archive.org/web/20210710234828/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a29334/in-full-bafta-2006-winners/ . 10 July 2021 .
  19. Web site: Hernandez. Eugene. February 20, 2006. "Brokeback Mountain" Wins 4 BAFTA Awards, Including Best Picture. live. July 15, 2021. IndieWire. https://web.archive.org/web/20210510144403/https://www.indiewire.com/2006/02/brokeback-mountain-wins-4-bafta-awards-including-best-picture-77139/ . 10 May 2021 .
  20. Web site: August 9, 2009. 2009 Film Festival Award Winners Announced. live. July 10, 2021. Rhode Island International Film Festival. https://web.archive.org/web/20090812151145/http://www.film-festival.org:80/awards09.php . 12 August 2009 .
  21. Web site: Admin. June 29, 2009. 2009 Palm Springs International SHORTFEST Announces WINNERS. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714160139/https://www.cinemawithoutborders.com/1928-2009-palm-springs-international-shortfest-announces-winners/. July 14, 2021. July 14, 2021. cinemawithoutborders.com.
  22. Web site: November 25, 2012. Thomas Vinterberg's The Hunt and Other Winners of 2012 Leeds International Film Festival. live. July 14, 2021. VIMOOZ. https://web.archive.org/web/20210508072126/https://www.vimooz.com/2012/11/25/thomas-vinterberg-s-the-hunt-and-other-winners-of-2012-leeds-international-film-festival/ . 8 May 2021 .
  23. Web site: Debruge. Peter. November 27, 2018. Variety Names 10 Directors to Watch for 2019. live. July 14, 2021. Variety. https://web.archive.org/web/20181128031911/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/variety-10-directors-to-watch-list-2019-1203038156/ . 28 November 2018 .