28 July 2005
ARTS MINISTER VISITS ‘JOHNNY WAS’ FILM SET
Arts Minister, David Hanson, MP, turned the spotlight on Northern Ireland as a superb location for the film industry.
Speaking during a visit to the film set of ‘Johnny Was’, a contemporary feature film currently being shot locally, the Minister said: "Northern Ireland is a prime location for film production and it is essential that we continue to market the area nationally and internationally as a production base.
"Film making has huge potential to contribute to the economy and, as Arts Minister, I am keen that people of all ages get opportunities to become involved in various aspects of the industry, that we discover new talent and develop the region’s reputation for creativity."
The film is co-funded by the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission (NIFTC) and has a stellar cast including football star turned actor, Vinnie Jones, Eric La Salle, best known for his part in ER, Samantha Mumba, Patrick Bergin, Lennox Lewis, in his first major acting role, and Roger Daltrey of The Who. The film is being produced by Northern Ireland production company, Borderline Productions, along with Danish producer Nordisk.
Colin Anderson, Chairman of the NIFTC, said: "Johnny Was is another feature film that is shooting here in Northern Ireland and the NIFTC is delighted to be associated with it. Films such as this bring a lot to Northern Ireland and go a long way to demonstrate the talent we have here. It is further evidence that Northern Ireland is an attractive place for international film makers to shoot their films."
The script is an original screen play from Northern Ireland writer-producer Brendan Foley. The story is set in Brixton, London, with a plot that explores whether it is possible to escape your past as characters from Britain, Ireland and Jamaica clash in the world’s least ‘safe house’.
Brendan Foley, who works mainly in Hollywood and London, said he and his fellow producers were delighted to help bring the film to Northern Ireland.
"It is always a battle to get any film made, but we had such great support from the stars and from the NIFTC that Belfast won out over several other potential main locations. The film industry is still at a very early stage of development in Northern Ireland, but the place has the skills, the potential and above all the heart to become a great venue for all sorts of films in the future," he said.
The Minister also said that Northern Ireland would play host to a major conference in the Autumn. The ‘Creative Clusters’ Conference will be held in Belfast from 24-26 October and will attract people working in the development of creative industries.
For more information contact Jill Heron, Press Officer, DCAL on 028 9025 8900 email: press.office@dcalni.gov.uk or Julieanne Crothers-Gibson, NIFTC on 028 9023 2444 or visit the website www.niftc.co.uk.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Minister’s visit was to Maysfield Leisure Centre in Belfast which is the film base.
The Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission (NIFTC) was established in April 1997 as a company limited by guarantee. It is delegated by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to distribute National Lottery funds to film projects and provides a strategic focus for all the resources available to the film sector in Northern Ireland for both cultural and industrial purposes.
The mission of NIFTC, whose honorary president is Kenneth Branagh, is to accelerate the development of a dynamic and sustainable film and television industry in Northern Ireland by integrating industrial, educational and cultural policies and actions.
Click here to print this press release.
