Strong Island » Film & Cinematography

Les Miserables film to be shot in Portsmouth

Stuart Barker — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:19:21 +0000

If you’ve been following the News today you will have noticed this story by Elise Brewerton.

Hollywood has come calling in Portsmouth to find hundreds of men to appear as extras in the blockbuster film Les Miserables.

Scenes for one of the most hotly-anticipated big screen adaptations ever will be filmed in the city and men of all shapes and sizes are needed alongside leading men Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. The Australian actors will take the lead roles in the film musical, which has been adapted from the much-loved Victor Hugo novel about poverty, love, heartache and revolution in 19th France.

Location scouts are looking at Portsmouth and Winchester sites and casting begins on Saturday at The Langstone Student Village, Furze Lane, off Locksway Road, Milton, (We’re waiting to hear back from the News to confirm the time). Casting agent Wayne Berko, from Uni-Versal Extras, said: ‘We’re looking for anyone over the age of 16 to play a variety of different roles, from peasant to military guys, in 19th century France.

‘We’re looking for guys who perhaps have military experience, people whose hair isn’t too funky and clearly not from that era. You’ve got to use common sense – if you’ve got purple streaks you’re not going to be used. We are looking to film in Portsmouth and we want to use local people.’

No previous acting experience is necessary and the casting will last only a few minutes while photos, measurements and contact details are taken. Hundreds are expected at the casting which is 10am to 4pm.

A second casting for men and women will take place at Walton Suite, Winchester Guildhall, on February 26 from 10am to 4pm.

Filming begins in March. The film is released in December.

Filmmaking and Digital Editing Workshops at Making Space

Paul Gonella — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:28:18 +0000

Apologies for the self post but I’m holding two workshops at Making Space in Leigh Park soon, one on filmmaking and another on digital editing. There are still a few places left and if you sign up to both courses you get a discount.

www.makingspace.org

The Dead Coast – Official Trailer

Tristan Savage — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:18:51 +0000

Portsmouth based web-series ‘The Dead Coast‘, a drama/horror about life after a deadly virus has hit the shoes of the UK and has released the first official trailer for the show. Check out the Zombies killing it down at the park session.

They’re also looking for local actors/actresses, extras, crew and musicians to help with the production of the series. If you would liked to get involved e-mail thedeadcoast@gmail.com

Portsmouth Film Society Presents ‘The Skin I Live In’

Paul Gonella — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:11:48 +0000

Tomorrow night (Wednesday 7:30pm) Portsmouth Film Society presents ‘The Skin I Live In’ by Pedro Almodóvar. Almodóvar’s latest film is a bizarre and stylish thriller and will be shown at Boathouse No 6 Cinema at the Royal Naval Dockyard.

Ever since his wife was burned in a car crash, Dr. Robert Ledgard, (Antonio Banderas) an eminent plastic surgeon, has been interested in creating a new skin with which he could have saved her. After twelve years, he manages to cultivate a skin that is a real shield against every assault. In addition to years of study and experimentation, Robert needed three more things: no scruples, an accomplice and a human guinea pig.

“The Skin I Live In feels unlike any other Almodovar film – a quasi-horror exercise that’s improbably august and elegant. Yet it’s also uncannily familiar – an Almodovar film to the hilt.” (Jonathon Romney, The Independent 28. Aug. 2011)

With an opening talk by Dr Deborah Shaw, Film Studies lecturer at the University of Portsmouth.

Kindly supported by the School of Creative Arts Film and Media, Portsmouth University. Entry is free for SCAFM students.

The Dead Coast – Behind the Scenes

Tristan Savage — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:54:35 +0000

The Dead Coast is now in rolling in full effect. Zombies have been rounded up and filming has begun for the pilot episode. It looks like serious fun. So gutted is couldn’t get down to show off my zombie skillllllllllllllllllllzzzzzz. Harriets got it down though, and man she wants to go Skating bad.

The Dead Coast are also holding a fundraising event on 5th Feb at the edge of the wedge. Its an acoustic night featuring Hometown Show, Cat Mclean, Caz Batten, Champ of the Day, Jimmy Broomfield and The Lion and The Wolf. Its £3 entry and kicks off at 8pm. Keep up to date with all their events and progress of the pilot over at their Facebook page HERE.

Submissions for The Big Screen

Paul Gonella — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:10:36 +0000

Portsmouth’s Big Screen at the Guildhall is opening the screen to submissions from the general public. Submissions could be an art project that you have been working on, a gallery of photographs of a day out in Southsea, a community project that you are involved with, an animation that you have created, a short film you have made and so on. All content submitted will be reviewed by the BBC who are responsible for the content on the Big Screen.

You can find out more at the Big Screen Facebook Page.

The Dead Coast starts filming

Tristan Savage — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:36:57 +0000

The Dead Coast are filming some scenes for the pilot episode of the webseries next week and are looking for extras to come and get zombified on Tuesday morning and Friday afternoon. If you’re available email thedeadcoast@gmail.com. More info over at Facebook. Brainnnnzzzzz

Logo: Olly T Taylor

Cave of Forgotten Dreams at No. 6 Cinema

Paul Gonella — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:38:30 +0000

Portsmouth’s No. 6 Cinema continues in it’s fundraising with a screening of Werner Herzog’s ‘Cave of Forgotten Dreams’ tomorrow evening. The screening at the No. 6 Cinema in the Naval Dockyard begins with drinks from 6.30 and the film begins at 7.00. It is £10.00 a ticket which includes a glass of wine, soft drink or coffee.

Zombies and Lead Role Required for The Dead Coast

Tristan Savage — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:29:35 +0000

‘The Dead Coast’ is a web-series about a deadly pandemic that wipes out the majority of the UK’s population. A few survivors remain fighting for their lives against hoards of the undead and gangs that now roam the streets. Unable to escape the UK’s only island city: Portsmouth.

Shooting of the pilot episode will begin shortyly and they are on the look out for local actors/actresses who are interested in becoming a part of the cast. They are also looking for people who would be interested in getting “zombied” and being an extra in the pilot episode of the show. Being a Portsmouth based production they hope to use mainly Portsmouth based actors for lead roles and extra positions, local bands for the soundtrack, crew for make-up and filming etc etc.

If you would like to apply for a Lead role or a Zombie extra please get in contact with The Dead Coast at thedeadcoast@gmail.com. I’m so up for this……

Hometown Show’s Holiday Hoedown

Tristan Savage — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:31:49 +0000

“I’ve been performing as Hometown Show singing country-folk touring the UK and US since about 2007. The idea for Hometown Show’s Holiday Hoedown initially came around when Joel Ransom asked me to come down to the Express FM studios in Portsmouth to record a Christmas cover for his radio show.

Myself and Joshua Hibberd began knocking ideas around about a Christmas style chat show. A throw-back to the seasonal specials you used to see on TV such as Noels Christmas House Party where celebrity “guests” would show up. We thought that this would be a good platform to promote some of the wonderful musical talent that there is in Portsmouth, so we asked some of our favourite solo-artists to come down and record a Christmas song for us. Those artists were Jonny Bell, Dan Ogus and Andrew Ricks (Champ of The Day).

We shot the show over 3 days and we’re really happy with how its turned out. I hope you enjoy it.”

- Matthew Harrison (Hometown Show), www.hometownshow.co.uk and Facebook

Hometown Show’s Holiday Hoedown from Holiday Hoedown on Vimeo.