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FIELDS FOREVER
FIELDS FOREVER
vince the producers we could accommo- date them and accede to their demands. I think we passed some kind of test,” she ventures.
“And they
weren’t disappointed.
Liverpool is a very
film friendly city and
that includes the
police and the engi-
neer’s department
and all the services
vital in helping with things like clos- ing roads.
“The advantage that Liverpool has over other places is that we have developed our own infrastruc- ture so we have our own industry,” continues Saunders.
“We’re not reliant on facilities elsewhere. Having Brookside and Hollyoaks based here is the corner- stone. They are like a seedbed of tal- ent. There
isnowa
significant
local free-
lance sec-
tor and
film-making
expertise
which
means the
city is
attractive
to those
outside
who know
you can
come here every easily and pick up all your crew who are based here.
“The experience of a number of independent production companies have matured and a number of signifi- cant players have returned home.”
One is Alex Cox, director of Sid And Nancy and Repo Man, who is hoping to develop a disused church in Toxteth into a base for his produc- tion company, Exterminating Angels. It aims to have editing and recording facilities that could be hired by other companies who would thus avoid having to go to Manchester for post- production work. He is due to film Revenger’s Tragedy in the area later this year.
Another key player is Colin McKeown, producer on Liam, In His Life and Al’s Lads, and with a fourth feature, Joe Macbeth, scheduled for this year. He is also producing a pilot for the BBC, Nice Guy Eddie, written
by local writer Joanne McAndrew and starring Ricky Tomlinson.
And, into the bargain, he has plans to establish a film academy in a former primary school and is bidding for European Objective 1 funding.
“We find that the creative talent that comes out of Liverpool remains very loyal to their own city and even if they have moved on will still try and encourage people to come here.” says Lynn Saunders.
“An example is Jimmy McGovern, whose current project is the film about Bloody Sunday and at his sug- gestion they may use a couple of loca- tions here. And I remember when
Frank Cottrell Boyce presented the screenplay for Hilary And Jackie with 120 locations and was asked, ‘Where are you going to film that?’‚ he said, ‘Liverpool, of course’.”
The Film Office is now looking to consolidate on their considerable achievements to date. Future develop- ment will, however, hinge on the out- come of present discussions on the role of all 27 film commissions or offices around the country within changes brought about by the year- old Film Council. ■ IAN SOUTAR
Photos: Al’s Lads Al Capone, Al’s Lads limo; Samuel Jackson and Robert Carlyle in 51st State (all photos by Mike Slade); work queue in Liam