ROCKY WITH A SNOOKER CUE: Movie Legend Rutger Hauer Joins Stellar Cast Of New British & Chinese Movie BREAK

Shooting has just begun on the London and Beijing based feature film BREAK. The film is a collaboration between producer Dean Fisher of Scanner-Rhodes Productions, writer/ director Michael Elkin of Break Films Ltd and actor/producer Terri Dwyer.

Set in and around a London council estate and the local run-down snooker hall, this rags-to-riches film tells the story of gifted, inner-city kid Spencer Pryde. Wasting his talents on petty crime, a chance encounter with a Chinese stranger and former ‘eight ball’ pool champion gives Spencer an opportunity to turn his life around. But life isn’t always that simple, and he has to break away from the peer pressure of his so-called friends, his environment and all the negative influences on his current life. This inspirational, feel-good film has its epic outcome at the World Snooker Championship Final, filmed at the home of professional snooker, Sheffield’s world-famous Crucible Theatre.

BREAK is written and directed by Michael Elkin, tapping into his own colourful upbringing and the interesting characters he has met along the way. Legendary actor Rutger Hauer (“Blade Runner”) joins the cast, alongside rising star Sam Gittins in the leading role of Spencer Pryde. Sam was nominated this year for the Screen International Rising Star Award, for his performance in “Await Further Instructions”. The film also stars BAFTA-winner Adam Deacon, Jamie Foreman, Terri Dwyer, Luke Mably, Sophie Stevens, David Yip, David Chun Cheung, Charlie Wernham and Frankie Fairbrass. (please see Editor’s Notes for screen credits)

BREAK is partnering with the World Snooker organisation, which has brought on board Irish snooker legend Ken Doherty, together with China’s number two-ranked star and World Cup winner Liang Wenbo and rising British professional player Jack Lisowski, in cameo roles.

Producers Dean and Terri said “We are delighted to have World Snooker on board, giving the film integrity and an authentic view of the world of snooker.” And their enthusiasm is echoed by director Michael Elkin “Filming BREAK is fulfilling a lifelong ambition of mine and I am humbled to be surrounded by such a talented cast and crew.”

Emotionally charged and compelling, BREAK sends a clear message – if you have a talent, don’t waste it!

CAST:

SAM GITTINS (Spencer) Sam is a BRIT school graduate from South London. He is a former amateur boxer (and London Junior Novice ABA champion) who has been professionally acting since 2011. In 2012 Sam starred in the critically acclaimed short film, Driftwood which was nominated for several awards and won a 'Coup de Coeur' at Cannes Film Festival 2013. He has since appeared as a guest lead in various television hit shows, notably MR SELFRIDGE, CALL THE MIDWIFE and RIPPER STREET, but is arguably most recognised for his role as the villainous 'GOG' in Sky's The Smoke In which he appears in seven episodes.

LUKE MABLY (Terry Pryde) Luke Mably is an English actor, best known for playing Scott Lucas in Sky One's Dream Team, Prince Edward in The Prince and Me, and 'White' in the 2009 thriller, Exam.

RUTGER HAUER (Ray) Rutger An acclaimed actor, writer, and environmentalist, Hauer has performed in both his native Holland and English-language TV series and films. His career began in 1969 with the title role in the Dutch television series Floris. His film credits include Flesh+Blood, Blind Fury, Blade Runner, The Hitcher, Escape from Sobibor (for which he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor), Nighthawks, Wedlock, Sin City, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Ladyhawke, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Osterman Weekend, The Blood of Heroes, Batman Begins, Hobo with a Shotgun, and The Rite.

JAMIE FOREMAN (Montgomery ‘Monty’ Dag) British actor Jamie Foreman has an array of fantastic movie credits to his name. A seasoned professional, Jamie has appeared in too many productions to mention, but is perhaps best known for his roles as The Duke in LAYER CAKE and Bill Sykes in Roman Polanski's OLIVER TWIST. He joined the cast of Britain's popular soap, EastEnders for which he received four nominations; since when Jamie has returned to the stage, playing the role of Arthur in the West End musical Mrs Henderson Presents. Other notable film credits include, SLEEPY HOLLOW, THE FOOTBALL FACTORY, INKHEART, ELIZABETH, NIL BY MOUTH and THE BROMLEY BOYS.

ADAM DEACON (‘Weasal’) Adam Deacon is an award-winning actor and rapper from Hackney, East London. At the age of 12 Deacon began his acting training at the Anna Scher Theatre. Deacon co-starred in West 10 LDN, a Kidulthood-like TV program made by Noel Clarke. He has also starred in 'Bones' in an MTV show called Dubplate Drama. His next role was in 4.3.2.1, a heist movie, released in June 2010 which also starred Tamsin Egerton, Emma Roberts and Noel Clarke, who directed the film. Adam co-wrote, co-directed and played the lead role in Anuvahood, which was released on March 18 2011 and gained gaining a rising star BAFTA award in 2012. His recent film roles include Payback Season, and The Bromley Boys.

DAVID YIP (Qiang) Yip was born in Liverpool and trained at East 15 Acting School, London. He is the son of a Chinese father, a seaman from the Canton area of China and an English mother from Liverpool. Yip is known for playing the lead role of John Ho in the 1981 BBC drama The Chinese Detective, notable for its front lining of an ethnic British cast. He also played Michael Choì in the soap opera Brookside between 1989 and 1990. He also had a small part in the 1979 Doctor Who story Destiny of the Daleks and played a factory owner in Casualty. His film credits include playing Wu Han in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and CIA liaison agent Chuck Lee in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill. In 2013, Yip joined the cast of feature film All That Remains which was released on the 5th May 2016.

TERRI DWYER (Producer and plays Cathy) Terri has been a well-known face on both small and big screens for over 20 years. She started her acting career as one of the original cast members of Hollyoaks. Since then, Terri's television roles have included Law And Order UK (ITV), Holby City (BBC), Mile High (Sky) Grange Hill (BBC) Doctors (BBC) . Terri has appeared alongside Martin Kemp in the feature film Age of Kill. Other films include Double Take, Breaking Boundaries and British movie Legacy. Terri also starred in Cabin 28 and The Change. Terri has also enjoyed a successful presenting career. She fronted three series of the hit daytime show 60 Minute Makeover (ITV). Coronation Street / Emmerdale Confidential, Loose Women, The Wright Stuff (Five) and This Morning (ITV). Terri has numerous stage credits including West End productions and UK tours.

SOPHIE STEVENS (Shelley) Sophie trained at the prestigious Italia Conti drama school and after graduating filmed five episodes of Doctors (BBC). Since then she filmed The Haunting and will soon be seen as a supporting lead in the feature film The Mack Prince (M DS Films) and recently made a guest appearance in The Royals. Sophie recently finished a run in The Sweethearts (Finborough Theatre), for which she received rave reviews and is about to return to film another episode of Doctors (BBC). Sophie recently returned from LA where she had meetings with the VP's of casting at Universal, Disney, NBC, Warner Bros and CBS.

MICHAEL QUARTEY (Desmond) Michael attended the legendary Anna Scher theatre and under her guidance succeeded in gaining work at the famous Old Vic Theatre, and other prestigious British theatres. His credits include BBC’s EastEnders, The Good Wives Club (2017), Jack Malchance (2010).

SCOTT PEDEN (Ginger) Scott Peden is an actor, singer/songwriter from Glasgow, Scotland. He began his acting career after spending seven years in a specialised unit of the British Military serving in Bosnia, Canada, Switzerland and Germany. Scott got his first break in Ken Loach’s The Wind that Shakes the Barley; but it was his stand out performance in the BAFTA-winning gangland biopic The Wee Man that secured his future as an actor. Since then, he has played the lead in Specky, a film about real life Scottish gangster Stewart ’Specky’ Boyd. Other credits include: Rise of the Footsoldier II and D is for Detroit.

FRANKIE FAIRBRASS (Clark) Frankie is a British actor raised in South London. His passion for acting started at a very young age when he joined a local theatre and dance group. From there he won the role of a ‘barrow boy’ in Oliver Twist at The London Palladium at the tender age of six! Frankie then went on to attend workshops with Sylvia Young and obtained an acting diploma from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. He played the lead role in the indie feature film My Month with Mrs Potter; with upcoming features My Name is Lennie, and Gunned Down.

CREW:

DEAN FISHER (Producer) Successful independent producer Dean Fisher set up Scanner-Rhodes Films in order to develop and produce feature films for theatrical release and broadcast distribution. Scanner-Rhodes has produced a number of feature films to date and successfully marketed many others, earning a reputation for being creative and resourceful in bringing ground-breaking film projects into the mainstream. Dean takes pride in making every penny count onscreen, to ensure that a film’s investment goes towards a high-end product that can rival the biggest films in cinema today. His credits as a producer include THE BROMLEY BOYS, INTERVIEW WITH A HITMAN, CITY RATS, THE MAN INSIDE, THE CONTRACT and ONE CRAZY THING to name but a few.

MICHAEL ELKIN (Writer/Director/Producer) As an actor, writer and director Michael has experienced most aspects of filmmaking, and makes his directorial debut with BREAK. A self-confessed late starter to the industry, he made his television debut as an actor in BBC’s EastEnders. He has since appeared in numerous TV, stage productions and feature films, including the BAFTA winning film The Wee Man and the multi award-winning drama Still life by The Full Monty producer Uberto Pasolini. Always a keen storyteller Michael first began writing short film scripts, feature films and pilots as a hobby. However, after sending one off as a sample to Lambeth Walk Films, who then asked him to write them a feature he decided to concentrate his efforts on script development.

RICHARD SWINGLE (Director Of Photography) Richard Swingle has an established background in Cinematography spanning highly rated commercials and many feature films. He built his experience in the camera department working on films and TV shows that include Doctor Who,’ ‘Merlin,’ ‘Submarine,’ ‘Patagonia,’ ‘I am Slave,’ ‘Chatroom,’ ‘Ironclad’ and ‘Wuthering Heights.’ He also garnered a variety of credits on films and commercials in the USA, Italy, South America, Australia, Morocco, Nigeria, Singapore, Nepal and Romania. His unique shooting style was commended on feature film ‘The Man Inside’ as well as the Luke Goss vehicle Interview with a Hitman. Aside from his Film and Photographic work, Richard has just completed writing his first novel and is a keen adventurer and musician.

GIULIA SCRIMIERI (Costume Designer) Giulia Scrimieri is an experienced London-based costume designer with an incredible eye for ‘period’ detail. Giulia has designed costumes for a broad range of short films, and eight features including the recent summer hit The Bromley Boys and Late Shift directed by Tobias Weber, the UK’s first interactive film. Giulia designed costumes for the feature film Love me Do directed by Martin Stitt, which premiered at the Raindance Film Festival 2015 and was shortlisted in the “Best UK Film” category. Giulia has worked for many high-profile advertising companies, and designed costumes for a spectacular charity event called The Children’s Monologues directed by Danny Boyle at the Royal Court Theatre - with a cast that included Nicole Kidman, Benedict Cumberbatch, James McAvoy. Giulia has been nominated for “Best Costume Design” at the International Filmmaker Festival of World Cinema in Milan for a dance film called Descent choreographed by Antoine Marc. She designed all the costumes for the Pink Floyd’s Division Bell’s 20th Anniversary’s music video and for the music video The Movement, by the Whip. Her further credits include a 1930’s show The World’s Greatest Show choreographed by Arthur Pita (Royal Opera House, Greenwhich Dance Agency), and several theatre shows, operas and contemporary dance pieces. She trained in Fashion Styling at the renowned Istituto Marangoni and then joined Motley Theatre Design to complete a post-graduate course. She then gained her Certificate of Higher Education in Dance at Birkbeck.