Hollywood star to lead latest Wales Creative IP Fund production

17/01/06

Hollywood actress Faye Dunaway is the latest star to begin work on a new film in Wales supported by the Wales Creative IP Fund, managed by Finance Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Academy Award winning star of Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and the Thomas Crown Affair is filming a horror film entitled Flick in Cardiff this week alongside Liz Smith (Nanna in The Royle Family).

The film is the latest project to receive support from the £7million Wales Creative IP Fund which has already invested or sanctioned nearly £3 million of investment into three films, two TV productions and a new media project since April, 2005.

Flick, which is the work of David Howard, a Cardiff born and educated writer/director, is being filmed in and around Cardiff and Pontypool for 10 days with Faye Dunaway playing the role of one-armed Lieutenant McKenzie.

The production is further supported and co-financed by the Film Agency for Wales, with support from the Arts Council of Wales lottery funds, and Cardiff and Caernarfon-based post-production company, Barcud Derwen, as well as private equity.

Andrew Davies, Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, said: “The Wales Creative IP Fund is proving a real success in stimulating growth in the creative industries in Wales and attracting productions to Wales. Flick is just the latest example of a production taking advantage of the finance and facilities available in Wales.”

“Indeed, the fund has invested or sanctioned nearly £3 million into a growing list of projects which in turn are pumping millions into the economy through Welsh television, film and new media facilities. We are showing the world how great our creative industry is and we can be justly proud.”

The Wales Creative IP Fund is designed to boost the creative industries (film, TV, new media and music) in Wales by investing in new projects in return for a stake in their profits.

Its existence has attracted major productions to Welsh locations, including the Brecon Beacons, Gower, Cardiff and the Tywi Valley.

The Fund is managed by Finance Wales, a wholly owned subsidiary company of the Welsh Assembly Government created to provide commercial funding to Welsh SMEs.

Monster Films, producers of Flick, was established with a dedication to the development and production of original scripts for the horror and thriller genres. Producer Rik Hall and David Howard established Monster Films in London in 2002 before opening an office in Cardiff last July.

Rik Hall, producer of Monster Films, said: “We moved our business to Wales in 2006 and we’ve been impressed with the level of support available from the Wales Creative IP Fund and the Film Agency for Wales. Creative Business Wales and the Wales Screen Commission have also been instrumental in keeping the production in Wales”.

“The Wales Creative IP Fund is a great tool to stimulate the growth of the creative industries in Wales. Working alongside funding organisations such as the Film Agency for Wales and Wales-based production companies such as Barcud Derwen, we believe we are bringing valuable investment into Wales through the use of production crews and facilities here.”

Linda James, Wales Creative IP Fund Manager, said: “The provision of gap finance for productions such as Flick is vitally important in ensuring such productions can go ahead. As well as our investment flowing into the Welsh economy, the Wales Creative IP Fund has been able to provide expert advice and market knowledge to the producers in bringing this film to fruition. It is also encouraging that the two public providers of film finance have been able to collaborate in support of a Welsh writer/director.”

Pauline Burt, Chief Executive of the Film Agency Wales, said: “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to facilitate this production, particularly given it is a debut feature of a clearly talented Welsh writer/director and a Cardiff based production company. We are intent on supporting key talent and furthering their future careers wherever possible – as demonstrated by the fact that we are already looking to support David and Rik with their next production”.

Flick will be released worldwide by AV Pictures later in the year.