North West Vision and Tubedale Films partner to develop feature films on Merseyside

North West Vision is investing £145,000 over the next twelve months into a slate partnership with Liverpool-based Tubedale Films in order to stimulate a step change in the development and production of features on Merseyside.
The deal is the first of its kind from a UK Regional Screen Agency and will see Tubedale bringing a substantial £225,000 of matching funding from a variety of sources to develop projects that are market focused and substantially intended for production in the region.
Tubedale is headed up by well-known Liverpudlian actor/director David Morrissey, his brother, Liverpool businessman Paul Morrissey, and producer Carl Clifton. David Morrissey’s recent roles in the BAFTA nominated TV series ‘State of Play’ and ‘Blackpool’ have served to underline his critical acclaim as one of the UK’s brightest talents. He is soon to be seen in ‘Stoned’ (Stephen Woolley’s film about Rolling Stone Brian Jones) and will star opposite Sharon Stone in ‘Basic Instinct 2 – Risk Addiction’ which is currently filming in the UK.
Carl Clifton was formerly Head of International Sales at Polygram and Universal Pictures International and had a stint running FilmFour’s international division. Paul Morrissey is a successful entrepreneur and patron of the arts. Other Tubedale principals include finance and administration director Stuart Hatwell and acclaimed novelist Esther Freud whose Hideous Kinky was adapted for the big screen and starred Kate Winslet. The company will also be appointing an experienced Head Of Development to manage the slate.
Tubedale previously co-produced Patrice Leconte’s international hit film ‘L’homme du train’ and is currently co-producing a New York-set English language remake of Leconte’s 1989 critical and commercial success ‘Monsieur Hire’.
The investment by North West Vision is being made through its ERDF-sponsored Merseyside Film and Television Fund, which is intended to strengthen Liverpool’s filmmaking activity in advance of its appointment as European Capital Of Culture in 2008. As well as development finance, the fund also offers production financing and company development support for both indigenous and incoming production companies looking to co-produce in the region.
Alice Morrison, Chief Executive of North West Vision, said: ”Tubedale has an exceptional creative team and a very clear vision of how it can help shape a successful film production sector on Merseyside. Developing and attracting the newest and best talent is key but their internationalist approach is also refreshing and completely in tune with the way that Liverpool is positioning itself in preparation for 2008."
David Morrissey of Tubedale Films commented: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Northwest Vision in this initiative. With European City of Culture status on the way the current and future opportunities for developing and producing films on Merseyside are really exciting. We’re thrilled to be part of that. ”
(GB)