Mini Biography
Writer, artist, musician and film director Gerard Michael MacCarthy was born in Dublin, Ireland where he completed a scholarship Masters in Anglo-Irish Literature and Drama in 1988. He has lived and worked in Russia since 1989.
From 1989-1991, Gerard worked as a consultant to establish Russian Video as one of the first private, independent television and film production companies in Russia following the fall of Communism.
His co-production and line production credits include 'Prodigal Son', a feature length drama-documentary for the BBC about composer Sergei Prokofiev, with live performances at St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre conducted by Valeriy Gergiev; 'Nine Days in Leningrad' for Ireland's Windmill Lane Pictures; and a Russian remake of Francois Truffaut's 'A Bout de Souffle' (Breathless) entitled 'Nicotine'. He was was involved in bringing Michele Placido to Russia to star in Vladimir Bortko's controversial war-film `Afghan Break'.
In 1992, as writer/director and co-producer, he made his feature film debut with the Russian language 'Micha' (Lestnitsa Sveta) shot at Lenfilm Studios in St.Petersburg. He was the youngest ever director to have made a feature film at Lenfilm as a result of which he was made an honourary member of The Russian State Film Foundation. 'Micha' was commercially released in Europe, and was invited to international film festivals including Rio de Janeiro, London, Berlin, Madrid, Tokyo, Vancouver, and Cannes. It was nominated for the Prix Europa.
From 1993-1995 Gerard was Media Consultant to Saatchi and Saatchi Internationals start-up operation in Russia, producing and line producing the first commercials filmed in Russia while also producing, scripting and directing information films for USAID, and the St. Petersburg Government-Sobchak / Kissenger Commission.
As an artist, Gerard is one of the founders of the Aeternae group created in St.Petersburg in 1995.
In 1996-97 together with TVIN Media, he established Russia's first agency specializing in product placement, Alliance.
In 2005, Gerard established Infiniti Film and Media. Infiniti is currently adapting two US scripts for production in Russia, while also producing Gerard's own music project, Curbcrawler (curbcrawler.com, myspace.com/curbcrawler). Gerard is also currently rewriting the feature script for 'Moscow Velocity' which Infiniti will co-produce with London based Swipe Films in Moscow in June 2007.
Together with Gabrielle Kelly, Gerard established the International Film Workshop late in 2005. During 2006, the IFW has attracted over 70 Russian students attending master-classes by top level Western experts in areas such as film-direction, acting for camera, film production, voice training and creative collaboration.
As an actor, Gerard has appeared in small roles in several films and popular television series in Ireland and Russia including 'Glenroe', 'Remington Steele', 'The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne'.
Mini Biography By:
Gerard Michael MacCarthy