Chorley Film Has Sky High Success

CHORLEY filmmaker, Martin Talbot, is to have his first short film broadcast on Sky TV, after being tipped for success by Propeller, the dedicated short film TV channel.

Due to air on Monday 14 January at 9.24pm on Sky channel 195, Martin produced the short film, Tiz, after winning funding from Northwest Vision and Media, which works on behalf of the TV, film, radio and digital content industries to grow a world-class media economy in England’s Northwest.

“Tiz was the first short that I produced with the support of Northwest Vision and Media. I have produced several other short films since then, but I’ll always have a special affinity to Tiz,” explains writer and director, Martin.

Vision and Media’s Head of Production Development, Helen Bingham, says Martin’s film idea showed instant potential. “We get hundreds of scripts sent to us every year, but when we read Martin’s idea for Tiz, and he explained the techniques he was planning to use to film it, we knew it would be a success,” says Helen.

“We awarded Martin, and his production company, Visual Concepts, funding of £2500 to produce the 10-minute film under our Mini Digital Shorts Film Scheme, which every year helps northwest writers and directors produce their own original work,” she adds.

Showcasing the comic talents of Mike Harding, Tiz tells the story of Gregg, a love-struck Supermarket shelf stacker with a stutter – who finds the simplest words, can be the hardest to say.

“The main challenge in making the film was finding a supermarket that would allow us shoot inside,” explains Martin, who eventually persuaded an independent store owner with a penchant for short films to let the crew invade his shop during opening hours.

“We shot our scenes while the locals did their shopping around us. Some of the cast even ended up serving behind the meat counter!” says Martin.

“I’ll never forget the look of confusion on the manager's face when he returned at 10pm to lock up, only to discover us shooting a semi-naked actress strutting around his tinned vegetable aisle!”

Martin has since gone on to secure further funding from Northwest Vision and Media to make his second short film Northern Cowboys. This will be screened at the Cornerhouse on Tuesday 19th February at 6.30pm. Check our website in the next week for more details.

· For more information, contact Martin Talbot at martinjtalbot@mac.com or log on to www.propellertv.co.uk