ABOUT US
In Constant Pursuit of Excellence in Storytelling and Passion of Film Making.
Winterland Pictures Ltd
37 Warren Street
London
W1T 6AD
UK
+44 7939 665188
Winterland Pictures LLC
5417 Boone Ave N
New Hope, MN 55428
USA
+1 763-971-8943
Winterland Pictures is a film and TV production company established in 2014 in Minnesota USA . Expanding internationally, Winterland Pictures now has a base in London UK as well as in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA. The Company is also affiliated with Winterland Studios, a music and audio post studio, established by Todd Fitzgerald and Lionel Hicks in 2004 in Minneapolis MN.
The Winterland Pictures film producers, over the last two decades, between them, have globally produced 18 films, with many of their titles winning festival awards and nominations. The team behind the company are producers Lionel Hicks and Rebecca Tranter. They united in 2016 to bring together seasoned independent filmmakers and their associates in order to work under one banner. They worked on adapting script-to-screen in order to provide the highest possible production value to independent feature film. The company specialises in the development, packaging, and production of commercially viable feature film projects of all genres working—in the first instance closely with the writer—with the aim of bringing only the best of storytelling to the screen.
The team have strong, established working relationships with important industry figures such as casting directors and agents, executive producers, post house facilities, a host of international sales agents, and some of the world’s leading distributors. They also have direct links to international equity investors and film production financiers.
Winterland Pictures continues to grow and develop quality product while maintaining a supportive and creative work environment which respects diversity, new ideas, and hard work. Not only is it the company’s aim to produce entertaining content but to share the exciting movie-making experience and generate a fair profit return for investors.
Given extensive contacts in the film, music and marketing industry, Winterland Pictures has been able to attract the advisory and publicity support of household industry figures, musicians and celebrities—relative to their various projects. This not only ensures that films have an unrivalled level of authenticity, but that they receive elevated levels of publicity and press attention at the time of their release.
Winterland Pictures is therefore in a strong position to package projects with a complete overview from script through to production and sales.
The team carefully select and develop proposed slates of projects that resonate with the ethos of the company—both commercially and creatively. Equally, all projects are slated with the intention to attract internationally recognised talent, industry respected crew, and to satisfy the appetite of production investors and international distributors. Therefore ultimately providing quality entertainment for a worldwide film audience.
MEET THE TEAM
Lionel Hicks
Producer / Partner / CEO
Prior to his work in film, Lionel was a respected Music Producer. Over two decades, Lionel produced many internationally released albums and was responsible for setting up several recording studios in the late 90s. One he still owns to date, ‘WINTERLAND STUDIOS’ in Minneapolis, USA, has worked with artists such as ‘The Black Eyed Peas, Lenny Kravitz, Alanis Morissette, Elvis Costello, Jessica Simpson, R Kelly, James Blunt and Keane to name but a few. Having made the transition to film Lionel has produced fourteen feature films. Notable credits include: the Vampire Horror TEMPTATION (Winner of Best British Horror 2010 by Gorezone Magazine); feature length documentaries LONDON TANGO; AND THE BEAT GOES ON… IBIZA and thriller FOUR which had a theatrical release in 2011. In 2013 Lionel produced sci-fi thriller SCINTILLA (AKA) THE HYBRID which was released worldwide the following year.
Also in 2014, he finished production on the feature comedy drama ALMOST MARRIED which enjoyed a theatrical release in the UK. ALMOST MARRIED was the Winner of Best Feature Film at the Marbella International Film Festival and was nominated for Best Comedy at the UK National Film Awards 2015. The UK television rights were acquired by ITV. In 2015 Lionel finished production on two feature films: I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER starring Christopher Lloyd (Back To The Future), which was filmed in the USA and EXTREMIS starring David O’Hara (Wanted, Braveheart, The Departed), Isabelle Allen (Les Miserable), Neil Pearson and Toyah Willcox.
I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER was released theatrically in December 2016. Lionel has currently finished producing a feature film entitled RIPTIDE in Sydney, Australia, starring Disney star Debby Ryan.
REBECCA TRANTER
Producer / Partner / Head of Development
Rebecca was CEO/Producer of M4 West Media, now partner in Winterland Pictures UK. She has also written, directed and produced her own award-winning short films (TAINTED WINGS, SECRETS OF INNOCENSE) as well as worked with other writer/directors to develop and produce award-winning productions (BENJAMIN’S STRUGGLE, the BBC funded TRAPPED, THE BENT PENNY) in the short film genre.
Now fully focusing on full length feature film, Rebecca has produced the award-winning (Monaco Film festival 2013) and festival hit, the coming of age British feature film “FEAR OF WATER” and well as the horror “SIREN SONG”. On the Television front, she worked with director Chris Bold of the Met School at Ealing Studios on the pilot “FILM SCHOOL”. Keeping with the new era of media she has also been credited as producer of the online horror app, “THE HUNTING”, directed by Allan Plenderleith.
Rebecca has also worked as production and script consultant to short and feature films in the USA as well as in the UK. Rebecca was honoured to take part in the judging panel in the 2014 Monaco International Film Festival’s Angel Film Awards and in the summer of 2015 gave a seminar on filmmaking, “Script to Screen”, at the 2015 SA Film Festival in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas.
A.J. Mazzotti
Executive Producer
With a diverse background spanning three decades, and having traveled/lived/worked in over 20 countries, A.J. brings a unique approach to the role of Executive Producer. His multi-faceted careers have given him a rare perspective in the film industry, and include: Military Intelligence Operative, Author, Marketing Consultant, Professional Speaker, Advertising Executive, Business Intelligence Advisor, Executive Protection Agent, Copywriter, and Private Investigator.
A consummate networker, A.J. has had the opportunity to work with, meet, and/or consult with actors, producers, musicians, and entertainment industry influencers, including: David Costabile (Breaking Bad, Billions), Patrick J. Adams and Gabriel Macht (Suits), Jonathan Cain (Journey), Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty), Luke Bryan, Ed Connolly Jr. (Live with Kelly and Ryan Producer), Tommy Mottola, Pat Benatar, Sabrina Clay (Producer, Dr. Oz), Michael Strahan, Don Henley, and many others.
A.J. is focused on content development, investor relations, and furthering the reach of Winterland Pictures in terms of networking with top talent (producers, directors, and actors) in order to maximize the potential of each film produced.
Todd Fitzgerald, Owner Winterland Studios
Producer/Engineer/Musician
Voting Member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Science
Voting Member of The Grammys
www.winterlandstudios.com
Todd has worked for over 20 years in the Minneapolis music scene, paying his dues at many different studios and working his way up from 2nd engineer to Chief Engineer. This afforded Todd the opportunity to work along side many renowned artists, producers, and engineers. As one of the most successful producers and engineers in the Twin Cities, Todd has recorded hundreds of records across most styles of music, including 4 gold and platinum.
He has worked with award-winning artists, including: Sheryl Crow, Willy Nelson, Tori Amos, The Black Eyed Peas, Will I Am, Fergie, Brian Setzer, Nellie Furtado, Big Shawn, James Blunt, Keane, Keanu Reeves, Donny Osmond, R. Kelly, The Average White Band, American Head Charge, Paul Gray (Slipknot) Jonny Lang, Gypsy, Bernard Allison, Leo Kottke, Nahko Bear and Medicine for the People, Daughtry, Michelle Branch, Billy Squire, Tommy Lee, Al Rapone, Soul Asylum, The Indigo Girls, Sara Mclachlan, Tommy Lipuma, Jim Gaines, Howard Benson, as well as Bobby Z. and David Z.