Olympics Movie Attracts Film Agency For Wales Funds

Cardiff based film production company Severn Screen (previously known as Garage Light Films) has secured £150,000 from the Film Agency for Wales to fund a zombie movie based around the 2012 Olympics. The yet to be named movie is expected to create some 40 creative industry jobs, including four trainee positions in sound, art, hair and make-up.
The movie will be produced by Welsh born and based Kate Crowther, a Director of Severn Screen in association with Sheffield based Warp Films. Kate Crowther is an experienced TV producer of projects including Ar y Tracs for Ruth Jones’ Tidy Productions and the BBC Wales series Belonging. The Film Agency’s support will provide the company with its first opportunity to realise the first of a number of feature films on its slate, diversifying the company’s output and revenue streams.
The film will be shot and posted in Wales with principal photography due to begin in September. Music will come from Welsh composers, Strange Village, who include two members of the Super Furry Animals. The group composed the music for Pen Talar and Ar Y Tracs. The feature is set to support a further 40 creative industry jobs, including four training positions in sound, art, hair and make-up.
Co-financing includes early interest from UK distributor, Revolver. Their recent titles have included the acclaimed cricket documentary 'Fire in Babylon', hard hitting gangland drama 'Sin Nombre' and hip youth titles such as 'Kidulthood' and 'Chatroom'.
Kate Crowther said: “This is the first project in a proposed collaboration between ourselves and critically acclaimed Warp Films. As a newly established company, an alliance such as this gives us greater visibility in the international market, as well as allowing us to expand the talent base we are working with. By backing a project such as this, the Film Agency for Wales are supporting our ambition to work with exciting new talents such as Chris Boyle, whilst remaining in, and working from Wales.”
Film Agency for Wales Chief Executive, Pauline Burt added: "There seems to be solid market enthusiasm for the material as zombie films continue to enjoy a resurgence in popularity and Warp have a particularly strong track-record in tapping the audience that this film targets. This is a great opportunity for Severn Screen to build on their growing partnership with Warp, whose business model has enabled it to become one of the strongest UK production outfits, which in turn should assist Severn Screen in building their own market profile and gain momentum for other productions on their diverse slate. There is additional Welsh benefit with the involvement of post-production house, Dragon DI who also worked on Warp’s Wales-based feature Submarine, which launched Craig Roberts’ acting career, as well as crew and the majority of the locations being Wales based. We are delighted to be on board.”
(BMcN)