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MADDINGCROWD
MADDINGCROWD
AFTA North in associa- Btion with The City of Liverpool Film Office
and the Moving Image
Development Agency (MIDA) were recently at Cannes
once again promoting the city and its talent to the world’s film industry.
This is the third consecutive year that BAFTA North had a high profile presence at the festival exhibiting the work of creative new talent from the North of England. Main focus was Going Off Big Time, the first indigenous feature film production made in Liverpool since Frank Clarke and Chris Bernard’s wonderful Letter to Brezhnev in the 1980’s. Shot in modern day Liverpool, it’s a vibrant and funny debut feature film from a newly formed creative team of producer Ian Brady, director Jimmy Doyle and writer Neil Fitzmaurice.
There’s to be a Charity Gala Screening of Going Off Big Time at Liverpool’s Odeon Cinema, London Road on June 11 in aid of the Liverpool based charity Weston Spirit. The Charity Gala Screening forms part of the closing celebra- tions for WoW 2000, Liverpool’s first international writing festival which takes place in the city from
June 7–11. The formal screening (black tie, red carpet) will be attended by the creative produc- tion team, including members of the cast and crew plus many local dignitaries and celebrities.
Back in April, BAFTA North, together with Red Production Company, held an exclusive Script to Screen evening for Queer As Folk 2. Writer Russell T Davies, producer Nicola Shindler, Gub Neal, Head of Drama, Channel Four Television and Catriona McKenzie, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Channel Four, were on hand to dis- cuss the making of this highly suc- cessful series.
Some special events to savour: On June 9 an evening at the Voodoo Room in conversation with acclaimed Liverpool writer Frank Cottrell Boyce (Brookside, Butterfly Kiss, Hilary & Jackie) and Birkenhead director, Alex Cox (Sid and Nancy, Repoman). Roger Shannon, Head of Production, Film Council, (ex-MIDA Director) chairs a discussion with the director and writer which will centre on their first feature film collaboration, Revenger’s Tragedy, to be filmed this summer on Merseyside.
Meanwhile, that same evening at the Unity Theatre, director
Stephen Frears and writer Neville Smith will be present for a retro- spect of their 1971 collaboration, Gumshoe, starring Albert Finney. Joining them for the Q & A will be Liverpool born producer Norma Heyman, who later collaborated with Frears on Dangerous Liaisons. Roger Shannon chairs the discussion
Then, on June 10 at the Unity, there’s a special evening with some of our best local writers: Joe Ainsworth (Brookside, And The Beat Goes On, The Lakes, BBC;) Maurice Bessman (Brookside, Holby City, Doctors) Jan McVerry (Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Playing the Field, Clocking Off) and Barbara Phillips (Brookside)
They’re joined by BBC, Head of Drama Series, Liverpool born Mal Young, who’ll chair a panel with discussing the diverse cultural issues that writers face when trying to get their work commissioned. ■
cademy vice-president, ALord Puttnam attended
the BAFTA Scotland premiere of his latest film, My Life So Far,
which was shot in Scotland amidst the splendid scenery of Argyll. Accompanied by Director Hugh Hudson, the other half of the famous team who made the Oscar winning Chariots of Fire he was delighted to be reunited with the very young Scottish cast of the film.
Arriving at the Odeon Cinema in Glasgow, Lord Puttnam told the assembled press how much he had always enjoyed working in Scotland. Four of his films have been made here but he also announced that this aptly named film is to be his final production.
Saying that he had never been on stage with quite so many stars before, David took time to intro- duce the excited youngsters to a highly amused audience of BAFTA Scotland members and screen industry professionals.
My Life So Far is based on the autobiography of Sir Denis Forman, who later became chair- man of Granada Television and was also Chairman of the Royal Opera House. It stars Colin Firth
and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as the parents of young Fraser (played so well by young Robert Norman from Edinburgh) and fea- tures a large ensemble cast of great Scottish actors.
The film is dedicated to the memory of young Scottish actor and star of Chariots of Fire, Ian Charleson, Both Ian’s mother Jean and his brother Kenneth were guests at the premiere.
Cast, crew and guests enjoyed meeting each other and renewing old friendships at the post screen- ing party in Glasgow’ s showpiece Corinthian bar. The event was gen- erously sponsored by Scottish Screen and the Scottish Tourist Board and everyone was delighted by Lord Puttnam’s tribute to the Scottish film industry and to Scotland as a great location.
On behalf of the Scottish Screen industry, BAFTA Scotland wishes David all the very best in his new life. The meaning of Robert Burns’ quote: “Tae see oorsels’ as ithers see us” has not been lost on David Puttnam!. ■
FOR REGIONAL BAFTA MEMBERSHIP DETAILS
Please call Jo Douglas on 020 7734 0022
e-mail jdouglas@bafta.org
BAFTA NORTH
BAFTA SCOTLAND
Photos opposite page from top left: Michael Palin with BAFTA East Coast Vice Chairman TV, Gillian Rose and Exec Director, Julie Ann Marshall; Peacekeepers star Matthew MacFayden with director Peter Kosminsky (centre) and writer Leigh Jackson; Dewi Rhys Williams with the Best Actor BAFTA Cymru Award Pete Toyne with Maureen Sinclair, Director BAFTA North and Phil Redmond, Head of Mersey Television
Photos this page: Charlie Hunnam, Aiden Gillan and Craig Kelly
Hugh Hudson and Lord Puttnam at the Scotland premiere of My Life So Far with young admirer, and Lord Puttnam with little Robert Norman who plays young Fraser
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