Business Is Booming

Film-makers flock 'up-north'


by empire |
Published on

The cliched images of northern England - working mens' clubs, atmospheric moors and abandoned factories - are providing the perfect, gritty locations for an ever-increasing catalogue of films. The area's appeal is partly due to the surprise box office popularity of The Full Monty and Brassed Off but, of course there is also the fact that prices are lower and locations cheaper in the North. Damian O'Donnell's East is East is the next northern story to come to the British cinema, set in the Manchester of the 1970s. It will be closely followed by Blow Dry in which Alan Rickman plays a Yorkshire hairdresser. Two major productions coming out in the near future are The Dancer, starring Julie Walters and Season Ticket with Kevin Whately and there are plenty of other projects in the pipeline. Twentieth Century Fox has also recently chosen the region to film parts of its expensive remake of Around the World in 80 Days. Andrew Patrick, the chief executive of the North-West Film and Television Commission said recently in The Observer: "We have definitely noticed that the ebb and flow of business between the metropolis and here is beginning to flow up rather than down."

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us