DAVID GATES

Company Director | Executive Producer

David has many years’ experience in the Financial Services Industry and was Chairman of Capital Planning (UK) Ltd, a successful IFA (Independent Financial Adviser) company which was sold to the Tenet group of companies. Before that he had careers in banking and the Civil Service and, when he was 20 years of age, went to the Falkland Islands as a peripatetic teacher on a three-year contract with the FI Government. He has published a book, ‘Islands in the Sky’, describing his adventures whilst there. Recently, he was an Executive Producer on the feature film 'The Obscure Life of the Grand Duke of Corsica' starring Timothy Spall, OBE, (Mr Turner) and Peter Stormare (American Gods) which was acquired by US distributor Vertical for US and UK rights in May 2021. 

PETER DUNPHY

Company Director | Producer

Peter Dunphy joined Shadowline Media from Gizmo Films where he was Managing Director between 2012 and 2020. He has over 25 years’ experience of finance & investment including SEIS, EIS, private equity fund and debt finance. He has built several international businesses and completed successful exit strategies. He has been CEO of a global business services group and worked as private equity Investment Director for Dragons Dens’ James Caan. He has produced 16 feature films including the acclaimed documentary ‘Bicycle’, 'Mad to be Normal' with David Tennant 'Funny Cow' with Maxine Peake, ‘Surviving Christmas’ with Edward Fox and Gemma Whelan and 'Two Graves' featuring David Hayman & Dave Johns of Palme D'Or winning 'I Daniel Blake'. He is a regular speaker on film finance at investment conferences and film festivals such as Raindance and New Renaissance. He is an elected Councillor of the City of London and former Chairman of the Licensing Committee.

JAMES ANDERSON

Head of Development | Producer

James has very recently joined the team and brings with him a wealth of business and creative experience. A former radio journalist, accountant, business entrepreneur and, most recently a film writer and executive producer.

He owns a completely bespoke consumer litigation company which was featured in the Financial times and Yorkshire Post for its work in fighting for the consumer in credit rating errors. His company is the first of its kind in the UK to offer this specialised legal service. He also originated the concept and script for one of the films on our slate ‘Angelina: The Queen of Coffee’ and has shown his commitment to the project by self-financing the film so far and helping with its extensive creative development.

MARK MORRIS

Investment Consultant

Mark is a award-winning entrepreneur and a talented business development technician who leads by example. His sales and marketing skills are utilised by multiple successful start-up companies ranging from fashion to capital investment that offer high-value products and solutions to markets across the globe. Mark recently joined the team to focus on the creation of investment materials and technologies to develop investor relations.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markmorrisinvestor/

MICHAEL GELARDI

Michael’s career in music and entertainment began as soon as he left St. George’s College, Weybridge when he set up his own classical rock band, “Misty” in the late 1960’s, having studied classical piano/organ from the age of 8. He was its leader and keyboard player as well as composer/arranger. Ever since that heady time Michael has been in the entertainment business full time. Having done his apprenticeship with renowned band leader and music agent Geraldo, he founded his own entertainment agency in 1973, which he developed successfully over the following 6 years. Then in 1979 he was approached by the world’s leading Hotel & Leisure company, Trusthouse Forte PLC, to whom he subsequently sold his business, on being invited to establish the Entertainment Division of that conglomerate, becoming the youngest MD to report to the Main Board of a Footsie 100 company.

Over 16 years he built this company, Grosvenor Theatrical Productions Ltd., to be one of the largest such organisations in Europe. With the take-over of Forte PLC by Granada, Michael duly departed the company and is currently once again the owner of his own business as Chairman of Michael Gelardi Associates Ltd., in addition he is Director of Entertainment with the well-known “Jazz and Cigar” Boisdale chain of restaurants. He was for 12 years Vice President on the Council of The Entertainment Agents’ Association of Great Britain and during which time he was also appointed Treasurer of the European Federation of the Performing Arts representing all performing arts associations in the EU.

In 2011, he became an Associate Member of the Buell Consulting group, an elite business consulting team offering its services to the hospitality and leisure industry and in the same year was appointed Board Director of Music Festivals PLC, producer of several major music festivals such as the Hop Farm Music Festival in the UK and Benicassim in Spain.

He also has recently been a bit of a restaurateur in his own right, co-owning a well-known bar/restaurant in Bournemouth. There are plans afoot to release an album recorded but never released by Misty in conjunction with its former manager, Michael (now Lord) Grade. Michael Gelardi is busy writing his autobiography which he plans to publish at the same time.

Michael knows just about everyone in the business and is a valuable addition to the team.

Website: www.michaelgelardiassociates.co.uk LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/michael-gelardi-58900b8b