Opiate Films (or 'Opiate of the People Films') was created in 2000 in reaction to the British film industry's output of very little other than period and gangster films.
Running as more of a collective of filmmakers, rather than a formal company, it took 3 years for the company to raise the capital to buy its own equipment, members are now free to create films, music promos and TV shows of their own devising, whether live-action, animated, CGI-heavy or musical. With 15 members who work on films regularly, and around 25 members who pitch in occasionally, it is one of the fastest growing film companies in the UK, and the only one to work in its unique way.
Members are not picked because of impressive CVs or previous experience, but of excitement and enthusiasm for film. Some come burdened with ideas, looking for an outlet, whilst others have a particular field they want to work in. Either way, nobody is turned down if they are willing to pitch in, whether helping on other people's films, or providing their own ideas.
The first film to find success was the 2005 short film "Early Retirement" which screened at the Cannes Film Festival. It was written and produced by Paul Cannon, a gifted filmmaker who died in May 2007
Since that success, another short has screened in Cannes, not to mention over 30 films seen at festivals since 2003.
Opiate of the People films have also completed three feature films, the latest of which is Simon & Emily