Shooting begins in Bristol on Eight Minutes Idle
Call centre comedy stars British rising talent Tom Hughes and Ophelia Lovibond
BRISTOL - Tuesday 22 March 2011
South West Screen is delighted to announce that principal photography has begun in Bristol on Eight Minutes Idle, the second film to be made under iFeatures, the agency's groundbreaking micro-budget filmmaking scheme.
An exciting cast of rising British talentis headed by Tom Hughes (Cemetery Junction, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) and Ophelia Lovibond (No Strings Attached, 4.3.2.1., Nowhere Boy). Rounding off the young ensemble are Montserrat Lombard (St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold, The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus), Divian Ladwa (Saxon), Jack Ashton (Holby City) and Antonia Thomas (Misfits). Pippa Haywood (Tamara Drewe) and Paul Kaye (The Infidel, Match Point) also have cameos.
Eight Minutes Idle is a warped urban comedy about life in a Bristol call-centre, directed by BBC New Filmmaker finalist and multi award-winning shorts director Mark Simon Hewis, The film is based upon Matt Thorne's award-winning novel, and the script was co-developed by Thorne with the well-respected novelist Nicholas Blincoe, also the co-founder of the New Puritans literary movement. Producing the film is Sarah Cox, whose company ArthurCox delivered the BAFTA-winning 2010 animation Mother of Many.
Tom Hughes will star as Dan Thomas, a man who has always taken the path of least resistance - in his work life, home life and love life. But when Dan finds himself kicked out of the family home, he's faced with no option but to secretly move into the call centre where he works.
Suddenly, everything Dan has previously taken for granted; a well-stocked fridge, clean clothes, his friends, his self respect, even his beloved cat; are either disappearing or conspiring against him. When he meets his unique and determined office colleague Teri (Ophelia Lovibond), he finds the one person who is possibly worse off than him. As his work/life balance spirals dangerously out of control, Dan is forced to break out of old habits and dare to do something he has never done before - to really care about someone other than himself.
An ArthurCox/iFeatures production, Eight Minutes Idle is a South West Screen, UK Film Council and BBC Films presentation in association with Matador Pictures and the Bristol City Council. The BBC has acquired UK Free TV rights, and Content Film, a division of Content Media Corporation plc, is handling worldwide sales.
iFeatures Executive Producer Chris Moll said: "It's a tribute to Nicholas and Matt's script and to Sarah and Mark's cinematic vision that the production has assembled such wonderful ensemble cast of upcoming and established comic talent. The other star, of course, is Bristol itself and this is a film that sets out to capture the very soul of a city we all love."
Steve Jenkins, Head of Films for the BBC, says: "A vital element of the iFeatures scheme is developing new talent, for which the funny and inventive script for Eight Minutes Idle is a perfect vehicle. Who knew that life in a Bristol call centre could be this strange..."
Eight Minutes Idle commenced principal photography on 21 March at a dedicated production set built at The Bottle Yard production space, and other locations across Bristol. Shooting will continue for four weeks.
South West Screen's iFeatures scheme, backed by BBC Films, Matador Pictures and Bristol City Council, was launched in October 2009 with the aim of providing a pathway to features for the city's most outstanding creative talent as well attracting some of the best emerging filmmakers from across the UK and Europe to the city of Bristol. Three films were greenlit in November 2010 and the first of these, In the Dark Half, completed shooting in late 2010 and is now in post production. Eight Minutes Idle is the second film to go into production, and will be followed by the third, Flying Blind, currently in pre-production. All three films are due to premiere in Bristol in 2011.
For more information or images, contact Tara Milne tara.milne@swscreen.co.uk / 0117 952 9971
Notes for Editors
iFeatures
In October 2009 South West Screen asked filmmaking teams across the UK to submit their idea for a feature set in Bristol; in December 2009 an incredible 550 filmmaking teams did so and, after a rigorous assessment process, twelve teams embarked on the initial development phase in February 2010. The first stage of development was overseen by industry professionals and supported by Skillset and NESTA, and included master classes and workshops featuring writer/director Laurence Coriat (Wonderland, Me Without You) producer/screenwriter Peter Ettedgui (Kinky Boots, Unmade Beds), and award-winning director Asif Kapadia (The Warrior).
In March 2010, six teams were selected for the second stage of development, which included a series of dedicated workshops on directing, casting, pitching and distribution, featuring contributions from director Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl), producers Dean O'Toole (4.3.2.1), David Shear (Head of Theatrical Distribution at Revolver Entertainment) and Toby Whale (Whale Casting). The teams were assigned mentors from some of the brightest lights of the UK filmmaking industry including Doug Chamberlain (Toy Story), Kirk Jones (Nanny McPhee, Waking Ned), Jesse Armstrong (In the Loop, Four Lions) and Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire, The Full Monty).
The final three iFeatures films were greenlit in November 2010 and the first of these, Alastair Siddons's In the Dark Half, completed shooting in January 2011. Eight Minutes Idle is the second film to go into production, and will be followed by the third film, Kasia Klimkiewicz's Flying Blind. All three films are due to premiere in Bristol in 2011. www.ifeatures.co.uk
South West Screen
South West Screen is the development agency for film, television and digital media in the South West of England. Our mission is to make the South West an international centre of excellence for the creative and media industries and our work includes investing in talent, reaching audiences, developing skills, promoting our region, growing businesses, market intelligence and fostering innovation. Current projects include the Creative Industries iNet, the iFeatures microbudget filmmaking studio, The Bottle Yard production facility, White Horse Pictures rural cinema pilot scheme in Wiltshire and the Test Valley, the Talent Development Fund, and a number of training and skills initiatives. www.swscreen.co.uk
The Bottle Yard
The Bottle Yard is the South West's first dedicated production space and location facility, with 300,000 sq. ft. available just 15 minutes from Bristol city centre in Hengrove, South Bristol. Open for business now, the space has so far accommodated production for Five Daughters (BBC TV), Excluded (BBC TV), Dirk Gently (BBC TV) and Alistair Siddons's feature In the Dark Half. The Bottle Yard is is a partnership initiative supported by Bristol City Council and the South West RDA, managed and promoted by South West Screen. www.thebottleyard.com.
ArthurCox
ArthurCox is a BAFTA winning Bristol-based animation and production company run by Sarah Cox that specialises in all things moving; creating work from commercials all the way through to short films, archive films and mobile apps. We have a talented team of Directors who write, design, animate and edit, and so the studio outputs a broad and strong diverse style of filmmaking which you can see by visiting www.worldofarthurcox.com
BBC Films
BBC Films is the feature film-making arm of the BBC. It aims to make strong British films with range and ambition, bringing the best of British talent to audiences. BBC Films is firmly established at the forefront of British independent filmmaking, and co-produces around eight films a year, working in partnership with major international and UK distributors. Christine Langan is the Head of BBC Films, responsible for the development and production slate, strategy and business operations.
Recent titles include Andy de Emmony's West is West and Rowan Joffe's feature debut Brighton Rock, which are both currently in cinemas; Nigel Cole's Made in Dagenham, Stephen Frears' Tamara Drewe, Debs Gardner-Paterson's Africa United and Max and Dania's StreetDance, which was Britain's first-ever 3-D movie.
Forthcoming films include James Marsh's documentary feature Project Nim, Ralph Fiennes' contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare's Coriolanus, Cary Fukunaga's re-telling of the Brontë classic, Jane Eyre, Justin Chadwick's true-life drama The First Grader, Lynne Ramsay's adaptation of the bestselling novel We Need to Talk About Kevin and both David Mackenzie's romantic thriller, Perfect Sense and his romantic comedy, You Instead.
UK Film Council
The UK Film Council is the lead Government-funded agency for film in the UK providing a unified approach and support structure for film in the UK.
Since being set up in 2000, the UK Film Council has invested over £160m of Lottery funding into more than 900 films and shorts which have entertained over 200 million people and helped generate over £700 million at the box office worldwide, generating £5 for every £1 of Lottery money it has invested.
The UK Film Council's support develops new filmmakers, funds ambitious new British films and gets a wider choice of films to audiences throughout the UK. It also invests in training British talent, promoting Britain as an international filmmaking location and raising the profile of British films abroad.
13 British feature films funded by the UK Film Council were selected for the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival including the People's Choice award winner, The King's Speech and the runner-up, The First Grader. The BFI London Film Festival will show 10 feature films and six short films funded by the UK Film Council.
Since 2000, the UK Film Council has funded such films as Bend it like Beckham, Bright Star, The Constant Gardener, Fish Tank, Gosford Park, Happy-Go-Lucky, In the Loop, The Last King of Scotland, Man on Wire, Nowhere Boy, Red Road, St Trinian's, This is England, Touching the Void, Vera Drake, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Tamara Drewe and Streetdance 3D, the UK's first 3D film.
Current and forthcoming films backed by the UK Film Council include Tom Hooper's The King's Speech, Nigel Cole's Made in Dagenham, Mike Leigh's Another Year, Peter Mullan's Neds, Joe Cornish's Attack the Block, Rowan Joffe's Brighton Rock, Lynne Ramsay's We Need to Talk about Kevin, Justin Chadwick's The First Grader, Andrea Arnold's Wuthering Heights, Ayub Khan-Din's West is West, Debs Gardner-Paterson's Africa United, Clio Barnard's The Arbor, Gillian Wearing's Self-Made and John Akomfrah's The Nine Muses.
Matador Pictures
Established in 1999, Matador Pictures has become one of the UK's leading independent feature film production companies. Films it has produced, co-produced or executive produced have garnered over 120 awards, nominations and festival selections. 2010 saw five films released theatrically in the UK or US, including Jackboots on Whitehall with the voices of Ewan McGregor, Rosamund Pike and Tom Wilkinson; Jonathan Lynn's Wild Target starring Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt; Philip Ridley's Heartless; and Princess Ka'iulani, a romantic historical epic set in Hawaii starring Q'Orianka Kilcher, Shaun Evans, Barry Pepper and Will Patton. Recent films include Killing Bono, a comedy with Ben Barnes and Robert Sheehan, released by Paramount on 1st April 2011; and last year's EIFF closing night film, Third Star by BAFTA winning director Hattie Dalton starring Benedict Cumberbatch, due for release in May 2011 and Huge by Ben Miller, starring Noel Clarke and Johnny Harris, due for release in July 2011. Films currently in production include Age of Heroes, a WW2 action adventure.
Content Film, a division of Content Media Corporation
Content Film is the worldwide film and library sales arm of Content Media Corporation plc. Content specializes in high quality and commercial feature films, and is able to assist film producers in securing finance. Content handles worldwide sales, marketing, and publicity on all titles. The Feature Film Library arm also manages international sales on 200 titles.
Recent Content titles include Sundance's THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD by Super Size Me's director Morgan Spurlock, the bare Knuckle Fight Doc. Sundance selected KNUCKLE, the action thriller THE NUMBERS STATION starring Malin Akerman; the now in production action horror OUTPOST: BLACK SUN, the violent medieval action IRONCLAD starring James Purefoy and Paul Giamatti amongst a superb ensemble cast combined with an award winning crew; from Hitman director Xavier Gens comes THE DIVIDE, a post apocalyptic action thriller full of twists and turns; the highly commercial family comedy THE DOG SQUAD: 3D directed by Les Mayfield;, the World War II action AGE OF HEROES starring Sean Bean and Danny Dyer; the explosive action thriller THE TECHNICIAN.
Completed films include Jake Scott's 'Welcome To The Rileys' starring James Gandolfini and Kristen Stewart, the powerful story inspired by real life events 'I Am Slave' directed by Gabriel Range and produced by an awarded winning team premiered at the Toronto FF; the environmental and controversial documentary from 'Dig!'s award winning director Ondi Timoner 'Cool It' premiered in Toronto and features the fascinating Bjorn Lomborg; 'Matching Jack' from award winning director Nadia Tass and starring James Nesbitt; Rock n' Roll documentary narrated by Jonny Depp 'When You're Strange: A Story About The Doors', 'The Messenger' with Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson, winner of the Silver Bear in Berlin for Best Screenplay, winner of 3 NBRs, nominated at the Golden Globes ® and the Oscars ®, Academy Award ® winner Andrea Arnold's 'Fish Tank' - winner of the Jury Prize in Cannes; 'The Winning Season' with Sam Rockwell and Emma Roberts; the Academy Award ® Winner for Best Foreign Film 'Departures'; Bobcat Goldthwait's 'World's Greatest Dad' starring Robin Williams; 'Extract' starring Jason Bateman and Mila Kunis from cult director Mike Judge; Peter Greenaway's 'Nighwatching', the cult UK horror 'Outpost', Paul Verhoeven's 'Black Book' and Jason Reitman's 'Thank You For Smoking'.
Some of the latest library titles include the documentary hit 'American Grindhouse', the erotic comedy drama 'Sirens' starring Hugh Grant, the Nick Broomfield collection which includes 'Kurt and Courtney', John Cazale's documentary 'I knew it was you', 'The Pervert's Guide to Cinema' directed by Sophie Fiennes, the acclaimed 'Shooting Dogs', intense suspense thriller 'The Killing Room' with Academy Award ® nominated Chloe Sevigny, 'August' starring Josh Hartnett, Academy Award ® nominated 'The Cooler' starring William H Macy, Alec Baldwin and Maria Bello, Sigourney Weaver, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Gene Hackman's 'Heartbreakers', 'Open Range' directed and with Kevin Costner and many more.
Content attends all major markets and festivals including Cannes, Venice, Toronto, AFM, Sundance and Berlin. Content is being managed in an executive capacity by Jamie Carmichael, President of Content Film, a Division of Content Media Corporation.
NESTA
NESTA is the UK's foremost independent expert on how innovation can solve some of the country's major economic and social challenges. Its work is enabled by an endowment, funded by the National Lottery, and it operates at no cost to the government or taxpayer. NESTA is a world leader in its field and carries out its work through a blend of experimental programmes, analytical research and investment in early-stage companies.www.nesta.org.uk
Skillset
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media, with responsibility for 60 per cent of the UK Creative Industries. This comprises TV, film, radio, interactive media, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging, publishing, advertising and fashion and textiles. SSCs are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenges by sector. They are independent, UK-wide organisations, are employer-led, and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the industry.
