09/12/2024 Blog

For this week, I mainly focused on completing location permission slips and finalising cast and crew.

For location permissions, I successfully gained approval for:

• University Centre Grimsby, DN34 5BQ

• The Regal Activity Centre, DN32 7DS

• Ayscough Street, DN31 1TG

The most important location, in which was secured last minute, was The Regal Activity Centre. This is due to, not only its history, but its current building state. Since its opening in 1938, the Regal Cinema in Grimsby has become a beloved historical landmark in the area. It was built to replace the Royal Theatre on Victoria Street and began screening films shortly after its completion. By 1992, however, competition from multiplexes forced many independent cinemas such as The Regal out of business, the building was then taken over as an Odeon cinema, eventually closing it’s doors in 2002 before becoming the Activity Centre, which still has some of the original cinema build available to view!The "paused in time" cinema build is actually what drew me in to filming here! The sense of abandonment, yet vibrant history and character, linked perfectly with my script ideas. The owner of the building offered me a tour of the old cinema and I instantly knew how this area could add to my creative filming factor!

The University Centre and Ayscough Street helped add to the character's (Alana) storyline and made the setting description and search simpler. Alana is an independent college student, studying fine art and graced with an inquisitive personality and style!

Once permissions were secured, I continued looking through actor applications. I was very intrigued by 3 applications, including an actor I have previously worked with on other projects. As mcuh as I advertised nationwide for actors, I made the conscious decision to limit the distance of my serach to my region, not only to not exceed funding limits but to also promote local acting in Lincolnshire.

Looking towards the following week, I look to focus on making sure all location work is completed and up to date (including risk assessments), actors assigned to roles with terms discussed and begin my camera shot list!