Set on the day in 1901 when Andrew Carnegie sells his business empire ‘Carnegie Steel’ to JP Morgan for $480 million, making him the richest man in the world. Watching some children playing in central park, opposite his New York mansion, he recalls his early childhood from humble beginnings as the son of a poor weaver in Dunfermline and his journey to become the richest man. It’s not easy to become so successful and someone has helped him along the way but only he knows who.
Glengate Films Ltd has been created to facilitate the production of the film.
We are currently seeking co-producers and other creatives to help bring this fascinating and inspiring story to the big screen.
David’s passion is to tell the story of Andrew Carnegie by producing a film about his life. This passion was ignited after winning a “best achiever” Carnegie Medal at school. Growing up in Carnegie’s hometown of Dunfermline he researched the life of Andrew Carnegie and later in life became a Trustee for the Funds set up which Carnegie said would bring “sweetness & light” to the people of Dunfermline.
David’s day job is as a Real Estate Investor with 23 years experience investing in commercial real estate mainly in the UK. The £1.4Billion Fund David works on provides shareholders with income and capital returns and David enjoys nothing more than creating capital performance through real estate acquisitions and asset management. This real estate investment role provided the skills to become the chairman for the investment committee which manage the funds bestowed by Carnegie. Carnegie gave his vast fortune away when he decided that “to die rich is to die disgraced”. This investment and trustee role has strengthened David’s connection to Carnegie and David recalls at his first Trustee meeting asking his fellow trustees why there has never been a film about Andrew Carnegie’s life. Since then the research has continued with the aim to develop the spark of the screenplay to share Carnegie’s story with the world.
As a writer / composer / lyricist Ian has written several musicals –CAVALLO, DORIAN GRAY – THE MUSICAL, BLUDE RED and a shorter adaptation of WHISKY GALORE – A MUSICAL! both performed at the Edinburgh fringe in 2006. In 2007 his musical FLING! written with Suzanne Lofthus, was one of the ten finalists in MACMUSICAL – 10 ON A HIGHLAND QUEST screened on BBC2. He has also written music for productions of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE and for Scottish Youth Theatre HOW TO CREATE AN AVATAR.
The full length adaptation of WHISKY GALORE – A MUSICAL! ran at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in the 2009 season to become their best-selling show ever and was nominated for two Critics’ Awards for Theatre in Scotland. It was revived by PFT in Oct/Nov 2011 as part of their 60th Anniversary Celebrations to launch their Autumn season. In 2011 he also wrote Music and Lyrics for ‘11’ performed at the Edinburgh Fringe. In 2014 Whisky Galore a Musical! was published by Stagescripts Ltd and has been performed throughout Scotland by various amateur companies.
His next project was CARNEGIE – THE STAR SPANGLED SCOTCHMAN, a new musical based on the life of Andrew Carnegie which was produced at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2016 and is also now published by Stagescripts.
He is currently developing a new musical comedy, with Ken McPhee, called ‘HYMN IDOL’.
In 2016 Ian wrote the song ‘Help a Child Belong’ to support the Foster in Fife campaign.
The song will also feature in Voice in a Million in March 2018, which is performed at Wembley Arena.
He also wrote the song ‘I WANNA DANCE’ for Kat G.
As an actor and singer he has appeared in leading roles in several musical’s including CAROUSEL, DAMN YANKEES, CHESS, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, JEKYLL AND HYDE, CALAMITY JANE THE MAGIC FLUTE, CLARINDA and sung on the original cast recording. CRUSADE, THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL, BBC’S – FUTUREWORLD, Theatre in Education and Youth Theatre Work.
In 2017 he directed Fiddler on The Roof for EMT at the King’s Edinburgh and is available for work as a freelance director.
Ken Started his career in Dundee working in Theatre, developing plays and musicals for theatre and touring shows in Scotland.
He moved to California in the 1980’s and lectured in theatre and film before working with film and television production companies in both network and cable.
