The DDA Group celebrated this past september 50th anniversary, was launched in 1970 by Dennis Davidson and Michael Dalling who left to run his own publicity boutique, later merged with Rogers & Cowan. Bruno Chatelin had the privilege of working with both on a couple of occasions: Michael ran the publicity for the launch of filmfestivals.com in 2000. and Bruno had also worked with DDA on Cliffhanger presentation in Cannes 1993 and Twelve Monkeys while running Sony theatrical distribution arm in France then 2Oth Century Fox (which he merged with UGS)...
Dennis accepted a very deep, open and very colorful conversation with Bruno Chatelin around the following questions.
your personal background leading from cinema to film?
How did you meet Michael Dalling?
the Story of DDA from London to Los Angeles
why did you launch DDA, who were your first clients
working for both majors or indies what are the differences ?
Your film Editorial line
Your most successful stories from Cannes, Berlin...
where are festivals going
in which way do online events affect your work and efficiency
your view on Cannes online and afm online versions...
which festival has played the most important role, highest contribution for a film your company was promoting?
Explain the motivations behind the Award in Tallinn
WATCH THE VIDEO INTERVIEW
READ IT ALL IN HIS BOOK
From his humble beginnings as a 16-year-old cinema management trainee in the north of England, Dennis Davidson went on to found DDA in 1970, which became one of the global leaders in film and entertainment communication. During his extraordinary career, Dennis has long dealt with the biggest, most colourful names in the business. Whenever such iconic figures as Madonna, The Who, U2, Nicole Kidman, The Spice Girls and Sylvester Stallone made a splash at the Cannes Film Festival, Dennis and his team were invariably pulling the strings behind the scenes. He went to Buenos Aires with Freddie Mercury and Queen and brought The Rolling Stones and Bruce Willis to Berlin. He has worked with directors from Oliver Stone to Terrence Malick and with producers and moguls from Lew Grade to Chuck Roven. Geoffrey Macnab writes about the insights, wisdom and anecdotes that a lifetime in cinema has given Dennis Davidson.
Now, with almost six decades in the industry, Dennis had added production to his resumé. To celebrate DDA’s 50th anniversary, Geoffrey writes the story of a life lived to the fullest.
Net proceeds will be given to the NHS and Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund in honour of Dennis' parents.
