Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
02/11/2009

Coastal Brings Feature Film To North East

The Newcastle-based company behind TV dramas Wire in the Blood and Place of Execution, Coastal Productions, is making a move into feature films with a story about a boy with leukaemia who wants to live out all his dreams before he dies.
Starring Greta Scacchi, Ben Chaplin, Emilia Fox and Phyllida Law, Ways To Live Forever, is based on the award-winning debut novel by Teeside writer Sally Nicholls. Her novel won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2008 and has already been translated into 12 languages.
Principal photography begins on November 2 on location in the North East of Engalnd, demonstrating Coastal's continuing commitment to the region.
Funding for the £2 million project comes from Life & Soul Productions and El Capitan Pictures in Spain, with additional support from Northern Film & Media's North East Content Fund.
The film tells the heart-warming story of 12-year-old Sam (Robbie Kay), a boy who loves collecting fascinating facts, wants to know about scary movies and spaceships, try his first beer and kiss a girl. He also wants to know what happens when you die.
Determined to find the answers to his questions and tick off the items on his wish list, Sam writes a diary with the help of his friend and fellow leukaemia sufferer Felix (Alex Stel who played the lead in Danny Boyle's Millions). His record of events and observations is funny, sad and life-affirming.
Executive Producer Sandra Jobling, who set up Coastal Productions twelve years ago with actor Robson Green said: "We are very excited about facilitating on this feature film, and particularly proud that the Spanish and English Production companies readily embraced the idea of shooting in the North East, where the original novel is set.
"Having encouraged the North East-based associate producer Will Nicholson to go to Cannes in May to explore possibilities, a relationship between Spain and the North East flourished. The initial plan was to shoot a week of exteriors here. But with Will and I showing the way of what was possible, they decided to come and shoot the whole film here.
"Ways To Live Forever is such an amazing story, with plenty of laughter as well as tears. We are thrilled to be working with such a high profile cast and talented production team who are all committed to making a film of the highest quality."
Robson Green added: "From its humble beginnings twelve years ago, Coastal is now proudly embarking on its first film. We're so excited to bring a feature to the North East and to show off our region on the international stage. It's a tribute to the wealth of talent we have in this area."
Producer Martyn Auty (A Touch of Frost, Heidi, A Foreign Field) said: "Life & Soul Productions is committed to projects with strong positive values. Sally Nicholls' brilliant book fits our aims exactly and we are sure her story, brought to life by our great cast, will resonate with the audience as they join Sam on his journey to make every last minute count."
Director Gustavo Ron (Mia Sarah) who also wrote the screenplay Ways To Live Forever, added: "The North East of England is the perfect setting, with its natural and beautiful locations and amazing skies. I believe it will bring its soul to the film."
Tom Harvey, Chief Executive of Northern Film & Media, said: "We're delighted to help Coastal facilitate bringing this feature to the region with a £150,000 investment from our North East Content Fund. This project will create jobs, bring inward investment to the region and help raise its profile as a centre of commercial and creative production. Northern Film & Media is delivering on its promise to help bring production back to the North East across film, TV, games, interactive media and music."
(KMcA/BMcC)
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

21/02/2023
Atomos Brings C2C Functionality To Zato CONNECT
With the release of a free-of-charge firmware update, Atomos is bringing Camera to Cloud (C2C) functionality to Zato CONNECT. Zato CONNECT is by far t
01/09/2023
FOR-A Brings Koala To Market
FOR-A is bringing to market Koala, a completely innovative approach to camera tracking. The device, designed and built by FOR-A Europe and available i
30/08/2023
Chyron Brings Innovation In Newsroom Production To IBC2023
Chyron is to showcase innovative functionality across its news production solutions at IBC2023 (Stand 7.A45), with a focus on powerful new data-handli
24/09/2009
Northern Film & Media Invests In Production
The screen agency for North East England, Northern Film & Media, has said that it has fulfilled its promise to bring production back to the region. Th
09/05/2023
Lightware Visual Engineering To Attend Integrate Middle East 2023 And InfoComm Asia 2023
Lightware Visual Engineering is to display its latest technologies and products at two upcoming professional AV industry trade shows, Integrate Middle
07/12/2012
UK's Future Film Industry Boost
The BFI today announces the 24 regional partners that will help deliver its pioneering BFI Film Academy Network programme in 2012/13. The BFI Film Aca
30/09/2004
£1.8 million fund breathes life into east London film
East London’s film and television sector is set to flourish under a new scheme from Film London and its partners to boost the businesses and freelance
28/09/2009
North East Film Makers Given Chance To Shine
North East writers, directors and producers are being given the opportunity to show their flare and creativity through an annual short film scheme, St
16/06/2008
Get 'The Edge' With The North East Border Region's €10,000 Film Award
The Louth, Newry & Mourne Film Commission is inviting filmmakers in the region to get 'The Edge'. The commission, which is tasked with promoting the N
20/03/2007
London Celebrates Local Film-making Talent
ITV Local London, ITV’s regional broadband TV service in the London area, is entering into a partnership with Film London, in order to raise the profi
19/04/2023
Triveni Digital, PBS North Carolina And Device Solutions Win Prestigious Award
Triveni Digital has announced that the company, PBS North Carolina, and Device Solutions Inc. are the recipients of the 2023 NAB Technology Innovation
04/08/2006
Skills schemes set to boost new talent in London more investment in training and development
Film London today announced the launch of two new rounds of funding schemes to develop the capital’s film, TV and animation professionals and support
23/10/2008
Mayor Of London Pledges His Support For Film In The Capital
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has held his first meeting with prominent figures from the film, television and production industries. The film summit h
12/10/2010
RTS North West Announces Shortlist For 2010 Awards
The Royal Television Society has announced the shortlist for its 2010 awards in the North West - one of the UK's most respected and celebrated awards
23/06/2009
Talent Premiered At Edinburgh Film Festival
North East film making talent is to be showcased at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival through a series of screenings alongside work fr