Bid made for place on 'movie map'

by Nic Rigby
BBC News website, Norwich

Stardust, starring Claire Danes, used Norwich as a location

A major new film is being planned which its makers hope will put the East of England on the 'movie map', arts body Screen East has revealed.

Laurie Hayward, Screen East's chief executive, said he hoped the new film, set in Cambridgeshire, could be the Full Monty movie for the East.

The success of The Full Monty film brought Sheffield to the attention of an international audience.

Mr Hayward said the new film would be "in the not too distant future".

In an interview with the BBC News website, Mr Hayward said: "Until we have given the East of England the 'Full Monty' effect I will feel we have under-achieved."

I think it will do very well because we've got some unique locations in the region Laurie Hayward, Screen East's chief executive

Following investment in award-winning film Brothers of the Head which was shot around Deepdale Staithe in Norfolk, Screen East looked to other projects local to the area.

"That was a stepping stone for us. We are hoping to announce in the not to distant future a film that will hopefully be made in Cambridgeshire," he said.

Mr Hayward added that he hoped the new film would bring the area to the attention of an international movie audience and put the region on the movie industry map.

He said: "I think it will do very well because we've got some unique locations in the region which are absolutely intrinsic to the story."

He added that the new movie would be "a slightly whimsical film" but could say no more as it had not been contracted yet.