Urban Thriller Gets Cooking Under Microwave Scheme

Film London has announced the start of principal photography on 'Shifty', the second film to go into production under its micro-budget feature film fund, Microwave. Filming began on on 6 August on location in Borehamwood.
Following breakout success with high-profile Nike commercials and music videos for the Audio Bullies and Ministry of Sound, Eran Creevy makes his feature film debut as writer and director of Shifty, produced by Ben Pugh and Rory Aitken of Between The Eyes.
Riz Ahmed (The Road to Guantanamo) takes the title role in a screenplay charting an action packed 24 hours in the life of a young Asian crack cocaine dealer. The sudden return home of his best friend sets in motion a chain of events which sees Shifty’s life quickly spiral out of control. Stalked by a customer desperate to score at all costs and with his family about to turn their back on him for good, Shifty must outrun and outsmart a rival drug dealer, played by Jason Flemyng (Layer Cake), intent on setting him up for a big fall. As his long time friend Chris, played by Daniel Mays (Atonement), confronts the dark past he left behind him, Shifty is forced to face up to the violent future he’s hurtling towards. BAFTA-nominee and acclaimed stage and screen actress Francesca Annis (Revolver, The Libertine) also stars.
Microwave is a ground breaking initiative for London-based film-makers to produce ten micro-budget feature film projects. The scheme challenges film-makers to shoot a full length feature film for up to £100,000 with cash and in-kind support. Microwave provides an intensive approach to film-making, with an emphasis on tightly focused scripts, short production schedules and is open to documentary, fiction and artists’ moving image.
In addition to her role as marketing consultant for the scheme, Mia Bays has joined as Microwave production executive taking over from Sol Gatti-Pascual.
Mia produced the recent documentary feature Scott Walker – 30 Century Man exec produced by David Bowie and released by Verve Pictures this year in the UK. She also produced the 2005 Oscar®-winning BAFTA-nominated short Six Shooter by Martin McDonagh and acted as marketing and distribution consultant on Oscar®-winner Tsotsi, the acclaimed Blindsight and the cult micro-budget feature Running Stumbled by John Maringouin which she just opened at the ICA cinema in London.
Backed by the BBC, the Microwave scheme provides up to £75,000 of direct funding per project together with a unique professional mentoring programme from leading industry figures including director Asif Kapadia (The Warrior) and producer/writer Peter Ettedgui (Kinky Boots).
Between The Eyes Film run by producing partnership Ben Pugh and Rory Aitken, contributed an additional £40,000 to the production budget raised from independent financiers.
Film London and its partners also offer a range of support including in-kind support from leading facilities and service companies, competitive locations fees from many of London's local authorities, and a 'revenue share' model which will return a generous percentage of any revenue back to the film-makers.
There will be a theatrical window for the films prior to their BBC broadcast. Completed projects will also have the opportunity to showcase at the annual London UK Film Focus sales event as well as at major international markets.
For further information: www.filmlondon.org.uk
(DS)