A co-production between Heroic and Blue Bear Film & Television, this engaging, joyous children’s adventure will be adapted by local BAFTA and Emmy-winning writer, Helen Blakeman (Dustbin Baby, Hetty Feather).
The Girl … is one of 15 projects so far to be supported by the Film Office’s Film & TV Development Fund that was set up in response to COVID-19, using funding from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund.
More than £158,000 worth of funding has been awarded to a mix of established local producers such as Lime Pictures, Hurricane Films and Leopard Pictures, as well as work from newer female and BAME-led companies such as Pencil Trick Productions and Redbag Pictures.
- Hurricane Films will use the funding to support its first foray into TV drama, working with writer Nick Saltrese (A Prayer Before Dawn, Hollyoaks) on the high concept, Liverpool-set mystery horror series 12 Canning Square. The company is also developing The Last Date, a follow-up to its upcoming feature film release The Last Bus starring Timothy Spall, and also scripted by Joe Ainsworth (Holby City).
- Pencil Trick Productions is co-developing YA female football-themed TV drama Lily with Tigerlily Productions and Liverpool Everyman alumni, Lizzie Nunnery. It is also in early development on Gavin Scott Whitfield’s debut feature film Spent Light. The company is a recent recipient of a sought-after British Film Institute (BFI) Vision Award for emerging producers.
- Sefton-based Redbag Pictures’ producer Barrington Paul Robinson is assembling a slate of BAME-led projects including upcoming theatre writer/director Nathan Powell’s comedy-drama feature film Belly Full, set in and around a Caribbean takeaway. Robinson is also part of BFI NETWORK’s inaugural Insight programme for emerging producers working towards their debut feature.
Other Liverpool-based talent under commission through the Fund include writer/directors Helen Walsh (The Violators) and Daniel Fitzsimmons (Native), both of whom are developing second feature films; documentarian Martin Wallace and TV writer Roanne Bardsley (Hollyoaks, Free Rein).
Writer Helen Blakeman commented:
“As I enter the sixth and final series of my BBC Drama, Hetty Feather, I’m really excited to dive into an entirely new field with an animated adventure. The Development Fund has enabled Heroic to realise a long-held ambition to grow our own slate of imaginative screen content here in the City Region.”
Producer Barrington Paul Robinson commented:
“The Development Fund’s support shows how heavily committed Liverpool Film Office and the LCR Combined Authority are to supporting a diverse range of indigenous creative talent.”
Chris Moll, Fund Advisor for the LCR Film & TV Development Fund commented:
“The awards announced today demonstrate the breadth and depth of talent in the Liverpool City Region’s screen sector. It also shows a determination to face down the challenges posed by COVID-19 and to bring forward a pipeline of new content that can create jobs and investment for local crew and businesses as production resumes over the coming months.
The Fund remains open until 30 September and we continue to welcome approaches, particularly from regionally based writers looking to forge new collaborations, and from producers committed to developing creative talent from the BAME, LGBTQ+ and disabled communities.”
Liverpool City Region Film & TV Development Fund
Liverpool City Region Film & TV Development Fund is a £250,000 fund, accepting applications for the development of ambitious and distinctive content across all feature film and TV programming genres including scripted and factual. Managed by the Liverpool Film Office, it is part of a package of funding made available by the Metro Mayor and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority through its Strategic Investment Fund to support the city region’s vital Film, Television and Music industries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NB: This is a news story – this fund has now closed.
Fund Guidelines and Application Portal can be found at liverpoolfilmoffice.tv/development-fund
Categories: News
