Film firm back from Cannes

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/15322208.Film_firm_back_from_Cannes/#

Film firm back from Cannes
Laura Knowlson LauraBizPress Business editor

THE upcoming production from York film company Mad As Birds has just been pitched at an international film festival in the same month that filming finishes on its latest psychological thriller starring Hollywood superstar Gerard Butler.

The company, which has an office in Tower Street and a base in Wales, saw its comedy Poms launched to buyers at Cannes Film Festival last month.

The film, which is about an over 60’s cheerleading squad, has already secured finance for production, and features a cast list headed by Diane Keaton and Jacki Weaver.

Last month also saw Mad As Bird wrap filming following a six week shoot in Scotland for its thriller Keepers.

The film, which was pitched to buyers at the American Film Market in November last year, sees Scottish actor Gerard Butler return to home soil for a mystery based on real life events surrounding three lighthouse keepers.

Mad As Birds was launched in 2013 by York-based producer Andy Evans and Welsh writer Celyn Jones. It was set up to make its first feature Set Fire To The Stars, starring Elijah Wood, which was based on the rise to fame of poet Dylan Thomas, and went on to win three BAFTA Cymru Awards.

Mr Evans said: “From summer 2014 to summer 2016 we were developing a slate of film and television projects.

“We spent two years writing scripts, bringing in cast and directors across five feature films and two television series.

“We launched the majority of that slate last summer not knowing what would sell first.

“We really work hard on the scripts. That is the one reason Gerard Butler is doing Keepers, because the script was so good. Also he hasn’t done a film in Scotland for a long time, or played a Scotsman for a while.

“We thought if we are going to go out into the market as a new company, with four guys in their forties, what is going to be out selling point. We thought lets just make sure that the product is very good and we have kept that momentum going.

“We want actors think that when they get a Mad As Birds script, they should read it.”

As well as Keepers and Poms, Mad As Birds is working on a Second World War thriller Six Minutes to Midnight, co-written by Eddie Izzard and Celyn Jones, and HETV series Minotaur.