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PRODUCTION UK

UKFC backs world’s first user generated film

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The UK Film Council’s Premiere Fund in association with Screen West Midlands will back Faintheart, the world’s first user generated feature film and winner of MySpace’s MyMovieMashUp competition. The MySpace online community watched over 800 short film submissions and voted for winning short film Goodbye Cruel World by BAFTA winning short film director Vito Rocco who will now direct Faintheart.

The film is a potential crowd-pleaser, set as it is in the geeky world of battle re-enactments. Richard, a sales assistant, spends his weekends with his geeky mates styling themselves the "Bloody Broadswords" – Norse warriors dedicated to upholding their honour. However when his long-suffering wife and son decide that they’ve had enough, Richard must step out of fantasy and into reality to win his family back.

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Allan Niblo, James Richardson and Rupert Preston (WAZ, Outlaw [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, Its All Gone Pete Tong) for Vertigo along with Arvind Ethan David and Rachel Connors (French Film, Sugarhouse) and Judy Counihan (No Man’s Land [+see also:
trailer
film profile
]
, Antonia’s Line) for Slingshot, plus James Fabricant for MySpace.com take on producing duties.

The UKFC has awarded £325,000 to the £1 m production with Screen West Midlands, MySpace.com, Film4, Vertigo and Slingshot co-financing the rest. Vertigo is handling the UK release. Shooting will take place in the West Midlands.

The film’s cast includes Eddie Marsan (Miami Vice), Ewen Bremner (Hallam Foe [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
, Trainspotting), and Jessica Hynes (Shaun of the Dead). In keeping with the film’s user-generated status, much of the cast are non-actors chosen from nationwide auditions.

Sally Caplan, Head of the Premiere Fund, said, “We are pleased to be supporting a project that is innovative in both creation and content. Reflecting our commitment to new talent and to film in the digital age, this is an excellent first-time feature film script emerging from the digital arena.”

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