Team
MICHAEL KNOWLES
PRODUCER
Michael has just completed production on ‘Spider Island’ in Mauritius for Vertigo, his eleventh feature as producer https://deadline.com/2025/04/spider-island-comedy-horror-rose-williams-tim-mcinnerny-1236366327/ .
Michael Knowles’ previous feature, Book of Love starring Sam Claflin and Veronica Echugui was released in Feb 2022 and has been sold worldwide by XYZ. The film was No.2 in Amazon US and won an Imagen award for Best Primetime Movie. Michael also wrote songs for the film with Peter EJ Lee.
The Pebble and the Boy starring Patsy Kensit was released in the UK in 2021 in over 100 cinemas. Running Naked starring Mathew McNulty, Andrew Gower, Rahkee Thakrar and Tamzin Merchant was released in early 2021. The film was directed by Emmy and Oscar nominated Victor Buhler. Victor and Michael co-wrote the script with Jennifer Knowles.
The drama Away starring Timothy Spall & Juno Temple was released in 2017. It premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival, was nominated for the Michael Powell Award & was selected for Best of the Fest. Away won a ‘Hitchcock’ Award in October 2016 at the Dinard Film Festival.
The mystery/ horror The Messenger starring Robert Sheehan, Lily Cole and Joely Richardson was released through Metrodome in the UK.
Michael’s prior producing projects include Birthday, starring Stephen Mangan, written by Joe Penhall (The Road) & directed by Roger Michell (Notting Hill) that aired on Sky Arts in 2015 and won the FIPA d’Or; Best Laid Plans starring Stephen Graham & Maxine Peake was released through Sony Pictures in 2012 and 2009’s A Boy Called Dad starring Ian Hart was selected for the Rome Film Festival & sold to the BBC.
Michael was nominated for a BAFTA for ‘Talking with Angels’.
Michael has recently been awarded a doctorate from Staffordshire University..
ANDY PATON
PRODUCER
Andy has worked in most areas of film and is experienced in all areas from pre-production to production and post production. He has worked across numerous genres and styles from experimental film to shorts to music video production and of course feature films with work supported by the BFI, UK Film Council and Creative England.
Andy’s last feature Running Naked has screened on streaming services across the UK, USA and the world.
In the last 12 months he has produced projects for Apple TV, Showtime, BFI and
Religion of Sports. “We are all super excited about the future of NoW, this is an amazing project to be working on..”
LIZ ELLIS
DEVELOPMENT PRODUCER
Liz is an experienced multi-platform producer/presenter and writer from Blackpool, Lancashire. She’s worked in commercial and BBC Radio and Television around the UK, and currently hosts a BBC weekend network radio show across 5 counties in the Midlands.
She’s always written alongside her career, and started working with NOW in 2021 as a screenwriter – with a comedy feature optioned to the company. Currently Liz works across several of our scripted and documentary projects being developed for audio as well as screen.
RAY BOUCHER
FINANCE
Ray Boucher has worked in financial services for more than 25 years, initially for a high street bank providing financial solutions for High Net Worth clients. In 2000 Ray set up his own firm of Independent Financial Advisers to concentrate on Socially Responsible Investing for both corporate and retail clients, controlling and tracking the impact of wealth within global investments. Ray started his journey in film funding and finance with A Boy Called Dad and was very pleased and proud to be involved with a project that created a quality British Film. This was about 16 years ago and since then has been able to support Michael Knowles in numerous excellent film projects eventually becoming a co director of NoW-Films (North of Watford Films Ltd) After retirement in 2022 Ray is now able to enjoy travel, Paddle Boarding, walking and spending more time supporting Mike and North of Watford Films. Very proud of the initial journey to film success with Running Naked, The Pebble and the Boy and Book of Love with many more to follow.
DAVID QUANTICK
WRITER
David Quantick is an Emmy-winning author, broadcaster and screenwriter. He wrote the TV film Snodgrass, starring Ian Hart as John Lennon, and the award-winning radio sitcom Whatever Happened To Baby Jane, starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders.
David is also the author of the critically acclaimed novels All My Colors, Night Train and Ricky’s Hand. He won an Emmy for his work on Veep, and has written on The Thick of It and Avenue 5. His debut feature as a screenwriter, Book of Love, won an Imagen Award in 2022.
ANNA KENNEDY
CASTING DIRECTOR
Anna Kennedy is a Casting Director with over 20 years’ experience in casting for Film & Television. Anna has cast award winning work with both new and established directors and prides herself in scouring the globe to cast the perfect person for every role.
Since setting up Kennedy Casting in 2008, Anna has cast many reputable projects including ITV Drama Without Sin & Amazon Original Film, Book of Love.