Mark Murphy, Solar Productions CEO, wrote, directed and produced For Love Or Money, a screenplay he describes as an ‘unromantic comedy’.
Originally titled The Revenger, the story follows its protagonist, Mark, throughout a series of twists and turns. At the outset, it appears that life could not be rosier for Mark, a young wheeler dealer who stands to make around £20 million from a business deal. However, he has kept this information secret from everyone, including his best friend, Tim.
Adding to his good luck, following a chance encounter at a funeral, Mark gets another shot with Connie, the love of his life since they were at school together. The two fall head over heels in love, subsequently becoming engaged. However, Mark faces a dilemma, which casts doubts on his impending nuptials. He has not told anyone about the business deal, not even Connie, nor the fact that he is about to become extremely wealthy.
This moral quandary soon falls by the wayside. In a shocking twist, Mark discovers a series of incriminating texts between Connie and his old classmate, Johnny. Mark realises that Johnny knows all about the money. Not only that, but so does Connie. It suddenly becomes clear that all is not what it seems. Connie does not love Mark, but rather has been persuaded to marry him by Johnny, so that the two of them can steal half of his fortune.
Mark is determined not to be made a fool of. However, rather than confront the two of them, he embarks on an elaborate scheme of his own. Joining forces with his best friend Tim, and Connie’s former best friend, Kendra, Mark sets out on a mission to see just how far Johnny and Connie will go in order to get their hands on the money.
In the comedy film, Mark is played by Robert Kazinsky. Born in Haywards Heath, Sussex, in 1983, Robert Kazinsky trained at the Guildford School of Acting. Born Robert John Appleby, he took his grandfather’s middle name as his surname when he began his acting career. Kazinsky appeared on Israeli TV commercials before making his acting debut in the UK in 2005, appearing on the CBBC programme The Basil Brush Show.
Robert Kazinsky is best known for playing the role of Don in Captain Marvel; Casper Rose in Dream Team; and Sean Slater in Eastenders. He also starred in Pacific Rim as Chuck Hansen, and Macklyn Warlow in True Blood. In addition, Kazinsky also appeared in Warcraft as Orgrim Doomhammer and played Jimmy Pritchard in the Fox TV series Second Chance.
In 2012, director George Lucas offered Robert Kazinsky a part in his World War II movie Red Tails. Kazinsky made his film debut in the movie playing a pilot. He subsequently guest starred in the TV drama Brothers and Sisters, playing Dr Rick Appleton.
Samantha Barks played Connie in For Love Or Money. Barks was born on the Isle of Man in 1990. At the age of 16, she moved to London alone to pursue an acting career, enrolling at the Arts Educational School in Chiswick.
A keen tap dancer since the age of three, Samantha Barks also trained in ballet and modern dance. A talented singer, she came third in the BBC talent show I’ll Do Anything in 2008. She subsequently released three studio albums: Samantha Barks, Looking in Your Eyes and Into the Unknown.
Samantha Barks made her film debut in 2012, staring in Les Misérables as Éponine. Her performance earned her an Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer. She also shared a National Board of Review Award with her fellow castmates.
Samantha Barks appeared in the musical comedy Groove High opposite Jonathan Bailey. She also starred in the London revival of The Last Five Years in 2016. In 2018, she played the lead role of Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman: The Musical on Broadway. Since 2021, Samantha Barks has played Elsa in the West End production of Frozen.
Ed Speleers plays the character of Johnny in For Love Or Money. The English actor and producer is perhaps best known for starring in the title role in the 2006 movie Eragon. He also starred in the TV series Outlander as antagonist Stephen Bonnet, as well as playing Jimmy Kent in the hit TV series Downton Abbey. More recently, Edward Speleers played Rhys Montrose in the fourth season of You and starred as Jack Crusher in the third season of Star Trek: Picard.
In an interview with the British Comedy Guide, Mark Murphy, director and writer of For Love Or Money, explained that the story was loosely based on his own personal experiences, when he had the unpleasant realisation that a producer he trusted was acting in a less than scrupulous way and was forced to get the police involved. Murphy changed the dynamic from a business to romantic relationship, indicating that he found writing the script ‘a cathartic release’. Working with casting agent Lucy Jenkins, Mark Murphy approached Robert Kazinsky for the lead part. Murphy described Kazinsky as perfect for the role. They then managed to secure Samantha Barks for the part of Connie ‘after a lot of schedule juggling’.