Editing HandMade Films (section)

=== Foundation ===
HandMade Films was formed by former [[The Beatles|Beatle]] [[George Harrison]] and business partner [[Denis O'Brien (producer)|Denis O'Brien]] in 1978 to finance the controversial [[Monty Python]] film ''[[Monty Python's Life of Brian|Life of Brian]]''.<ref name="grdn"/> Harrison had been introduced to O'Brien by actor [[Peter Sellers]] in 1973. Soon afterward the two went into business together.{{sfn|Harry|2003|p=211}} The HandMade logo was drawn by Python's animator [[Terry Gilliam]].<ref>''An Accidental Studio'' (2019)</ref>

When the original financiers of ''Brian'', [[EMI Films]], pulled out of the project less than a week before filming was to commence, the creators had to find other financing.<ref name="screenonline">{{Screenonline title|id=499846|name=Handmade studio biography and associate films}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Davies|2009|pp=362–363}}; {{harvnb|Doggett|2009|p=262}}.</ref> Harrison, a friend and fan of the Pythons, mortgaged [[Friar Park|his home]] in order to finance the feature.<ref name="grdn"/> [[Eric Idle]] of the Pythons later called it "the most anybody's ever paid for a cinema ticket in history".{{sfn|Doggett|2009|p=262}} ''Life of Brian'' grossed $21 million at the box office in the US.{{sfn|Harry|2003|p=211}}

Harrison explained: "The name of the company came about as a bit of a joke. I'd been to [[Wookey Hole]] in [[Somerset]]&nbsp;... [near] an old paper mill where they show you how to make old underpants into paper. So I bought a few rolls, and they had this watermark 'British Handmade Paper'&nbsp;... So we said&nbsp;... we'll call it Handmade Films."{{sfn|Harry|2003|p=211}}