Stars shoot new film in Norwich

Helium-filled lights over Elm Hill during filming.

18 December 2007 15:00

Norwich's historic streets have yet again been transformed into a film set as a host of top names were in the city to make a new movie.

The sounds of “lights, camera, action” could be heard today and yesterday down the cobbled thoroughfare Elm Hill as well as the quaint quarters of Cathedral Close and the Cathedral's cloisters for a new feature film My Talks with Dean Spanley.

A crew of 60 or so film makers descended on the city, including veteran British actor Peter O'Toole, Jurassic Park star Sam Neill and Jeremy Northam, for the final two days of a months worth of filming in the region before heading to New Zealand.

During their stint in East Anglia, the crew have shot scenes at Holkham Hall, Peckover House and Elveden Hall.

In Norwich yesterday actors dressed in 1904 outfits could be seen drinking in the Edith Cavell pub and helium filled “air stars” lit up Elm Hill to provide extra lighting as the cameras rolled.

Producer Alan Harris, of Atlantic Film Group, described the area as a “perfect match” for the offbeat tale of reincarnation set in Victorian England.

He said: “As the film is set in the early 1900s, Elm Hill and the Close are great locations because there are not any sky dishes, we can put up a few signs for our scenes and it makes it easy to film because it's quite contained. In London there tends to be construction in the background.”

The movie, which is likely to be released in the autumn next year, is the first to receive money from Screen East's £2.25m content investment fund, which is expected to bring an extra £5.5m into the region on top of the £25m the TV and film industry already generate in the East each year.

Based on Lord Dunsany's now out of print book, the drama, directed by New Zealander Toa Fraser, tells the story about a father and son and their encounters with an eccentric stranger.

Mr Harris said: “Filming has gone really well and people this way have been pretty helpful.

“The main attraction is the beauty and the untouched nature of the region as you can see in places such as Elm Hill.”

Recent box office smash Stardust, starring Robert De Niro, was also partly filmed at Elm Hill and Stranger's Hall Museum and filming for Keira Knightley's latest project, The Duchess, began at Holkham last month.

Norfolk has already doubled its number of filming days from last year and the new film is the latest in a recent rush to put East Anglia on the big screen.

A total of £1m from the Screen East fund has been committed to four films in the region and negotiations are continuing for investment in an upcoming horror film that will be filmed on the Norfolk Broads.

Have you starred in a movie filmed in the region? Call Evening News reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk.

Email A Friend

News: Latest headlines on Evening News 24