About
Hungry Lion Film Productions began life as Hungry Lion Theatre Company co-founded in 1998 by Kenneth W. Caravan and Anthony Maddalena specialising in multi-cultural theatre projects. Over the years, Hungry Lion have staged a number of plays on the London fringe including “This Island’s Mine!” Set in the tough world of the Kingston ghetto, during the turbulent Jamaican national elections of 1976 the play follows the fortunes of the Barrington family who are forced to flee to the countryside for safety. It received positive reviews with one critic from The Stage Newspaper commenting on how the producers had created “ a rich gallery of earthy believable characters…” With its cast of 16 it was one of the largest Afro-Caribbean plays ever staged in London. An adapted screenplay is in the works and the film is slated to be the second feature film from Hungry Lion Films.
Kenneth W. Caravan Co-Producer: studied acting at Anna Sher Theatre school. In his earlier career he played “James” in "Exploring Society" (BBC Radio 4), as well as appearing in various productions for both the Young and the London Old Vic Theatres, including “Thomas” in “Le School Trip” directed by Griff Rhys Jones. His first film experience came from appearing in Hugh Hudson's - "Revolution"- as a supporting artiste. He later joined the Film Artistes Association (BECTU) in 1986 and enrolled at Central Casting Ltd where he went on to appear in numerous major Television and Film productions.
In 1992 Kenneth gained representation with top theatrical agent the late, Hazel Malone, whose extended client list over the years had included numerous international British stars including Susan George, Jenny Agutter, Richard O'Sullivan, Diana Dors, and Malcolm Mcdowell. While reading a biography of another of her clients, Robin Askwith, Kenneth discovered that she had a habit of twirling her hair on the telephone while securing deals for her clients and that way back in 1967 while finalising the contract for Mark Lester to play the title role in "Oliver" her fingers had become so entwined with her hair, that they had to be literally cut free!
Kenneth's featured parts include Seventeenth Century botanist, “William Withering” in “Floral Pharmacy” (BBC Television), and he was partnered opposite Andy Serkis (Caesar in "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" and Gollum -"Lord of the Rings") as “Doug” in Stephen Poliakoff's “Shooting the Past” (BBC).
While working with directors on films such as Richard Attenborough's "Chaplin", Kenneth Branagh's, "Henry V" "Hamlet" and "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein", Ang Lee's "Sense and Sensibility", Bob Rafelson's "Mountains of the Moon" and David Hare's "Strapless" he gained an excellent schooling in film craft, instilling in him a burning desire to bring his own ides and inspiration to the screen. As co-founder of Hungry Lion, in its initial incarnation as a theatre company, he gained further valuable experience as a producer-director-actor and co-writer working on a number of plays on the London fringe.
Anthony Maddalena, Co-Producer: Starting out as a playwright Anthony wrote his first play “Pill Head”, a cautionary tale about a teenage drug abuser, at the age of 15, coming Runner Up at the Royal Court Theatre Young Writer’s Festival in Chelsea , London.
In 1998 he co-founded Hungry Lion Theatre Company, and co-directed and co-wrote numerous plays on the London fringe gaining valuable skills and experience. In the meantime he also pursued a career as an actor appearing as “Malcolm” in “Macbeth” at the Riverside Studios (2006) and in various bit parts on TV including “Rebecca” (Carlton TV), and in the films “Wilde” and “Britannic.”
In 2007 he was commissioned by Thee Black Swan Theatre Company to write a play about the Haitian Slave Uprising of 1791 entitled “Black Spartacus” and was awarded Script Development Funding from Arts Council England. It has since been adapted into a 4 part mini-series for radio and was aired on Galaxy FM last year. The play is available for download on the Wireless Theatre Company website. One critic commented: “The author was most successful at juggling the issues while presenting fleshed out characters.” Like Kenneth he has learnt a lot from working with some fine directors and plans to put this knowledge on to the screen in projects with the Hungry Lion.