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SEASONS
film commissions
small island.
“When I first went there I was
very sceptical,” he said recently. “But it was fantastic. Not only does it dou- ble as Ireland, but because it’s on a small island everything is within striking distance of everything else. So if the weather wasn’t good for example, we could forget the beach and drive eight miles up the road to the pub. But if you’re in Ireland it might be 70 or 80 miles between locations. So this was all very neat.”
The intimacy of the island, and the community feeling of those on it, has other practical bene-
fits too.
“Closing a road here is, for example, probably easi- er than in other places,” Dugdale adds. “The govern- ment and politicians are so much more accessible here, as everybody knows who is the minister for whichever department,
so there are lots of things we can do and do quickly.
I know, for example, who to phone if a production needs a road closing.
“And although foxes
are illegal on the island we
were able to get the law
changed when they needed to bring some over for All The Little Animals. That’s because all the government departments are singing from the same songsheet. We’re all very sup- portive of this industry. It never ceas- es to amaze me how everyone pulls their weight here. It’s brilliant.”
While past success has been very gratifying, no-one within the Isle of Man Film Commission is content to rest on their laurels. Planning per-
mission has recently been granted for a new film studio complex on the island, with purpose built sound- stages, which should see it provide even more in the way of services for
the budding filmmaker.
Not only that, but the past few
years has seen ancillary companies establish Manx offices. All aspects of
film production can be sourced in this small but thriving community, the beating heart of a vibrant British film industry.
“Films don’t have to go through us if they don’t want financial assis- tance,” Dugdale continues, “although it’s very rare that you get a film that won’t. But we do offer a comprehen- sive production guide and a services directory, both of which have evolved since we started.
“In that period the amount of tal- ent and diversity of the skills on the island has absolutely astounded me; the Manx peo- ple have really risen to the challenge of providing ser- vices for this new industry.”
And this productivity continues unabated. The latest batch of films shot on the Isle Of Man include Dreaming Of Joseph Lees, Secret Society and a Shergar mystery called The Hunted, with Ian Holm and Mickey Rourke.
Most recent visitors include Thomas And The Magic Railroad, with Peter Fonda and Mara Wilson, a new adaptation of Cinderella co-starring Kathleen Turner, David Warner and newcomer
Marcella Plunkett, and Relative Values, an adaptation of Noel Coward’s play with Julie Andrews and William Baldwin. The Isle is alive with the sound of movies. ■ ANWAR BRETT
Deadly Instincts, All The Little Animals, The Hunted and part of Tom’s Midnight Garden were originat-
Photos clockwise from top: a scene from Cinderella; Julie Andrews in Relative Values; John Hurt and Christian Bale in All The Little Animals
Isle of Man’s locations for filmmakers include small villages, the imposing ruins of Peel Cathedral, little hamlets and the world famous TT motor cycle road races Ian Bannen and David Kelly in Waking Ned; poster for Tom’s Midnight Garden; on the set of Thomas And The Magic Railroad