Bit more news on Charlie Noades. I must say I thought they'd already filmed it but hey-ho!!! From
The Liverpool Echo:
Call for city film industry
Apr 23 2007
by Neil Hodgson, Liverpool Echo
A LIVERPOOL TV and film production company has appealed to businesses to help it establish a home-grown media industry.
North Star Productions is led by award-winning actor Neil Fitzmaurice and his brothers Tony, Ian and Peter.
The Liverpool-born actor has starred in TV hits including The Office, Phoenix Nights, Peep Show and most recently, the ITV drama Mobile.
North Star was also behind the film Going Off Big Time, shot in Liverpool and premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.
Their latest project is a family comedy entitled Charlie Noades RIP which they will start shooting in Liverpool this September and premier in 2008 at the Cannes, New York, Berlin and Venice film festivals.
A short preview was screened to an invited audience of 100 Merseyside business and finance leaders as part of a funding drive, at which Neil told them the project could be the catalyst for even bigger things.
He said: “We don’t have a film industry in this city. It doesn’t exist. We have companies who come to Liverpool to film and then leave a few days later.
“But everything we need to produce a film is now here in Liverpool. There are some wonderful post-production facilities.”
He explained the potential for investors: “Billy Elliot was shot on a £3m budget and has so far made £165m, and there are fantastic opportunities in Charlie Noades RIP like product placement within the film.”
Part of the screening was a slick computer-generated re-creation of the overhead railway in 1950s Liverpool, which Neil said could incorporate backers’ brands on the original advertising hoardings.
Tony Fitzmaurice said: “We need the support of the business community in this city, and we will only get that if we put out a deal that it is beneficial to them.”
Neil emphasised the importance of Charlie Noades RIP: “This film will be a major contribution to the economy, because on the back of this we are hoping to create a major film industry in Liverpool.
“We need to create it up here and keep it up here. We want to speak to people with the vision we have got.”
Liverpool businessman and celebrity hairdresser Herbert was among the first on the night to express interest in featuring his brand, and a spokeswoman for North Star added: “Since then we have had many verbal offers and requests for information.”