The Stars Of Digital Shorts Wales 2010 Begin Production

Ray Winstone, known for his work in Nil by Mouth, Sexy Beast and Edge of Darkness, has begun shooting his latest short film in Cardiff titled Jerusalem.
Directed by prize winning Director Ryan Andrews (Family Picnic), the short film is one of five projects from Wales most exciting new film-making talents, selected for the new short film scheme, Digital Shorts Wales 2010.
Jerusalem is a short film about the events surrounding the great Artist William Blake’s only ever public exhibition of paintings which occurred in London's Soho in 1809. Told through the eyes of his devoted wife Catherine, it explores the tragedy of a genius misunderstood and ridiculed in his own time and depicts how they are ultimately redeemed by the faith and love they have for one another.
Amanda Drew, whose credits include Enron, stars as Catherine alongside Ray Winstone, who takes the lead role of William Blake. The film is written by Philippa Goslett (Little Ashes).
Funded by the UK Film Council and the Film Agency for Wales, managed by Lifesize Pictures and produced by Cardiff-based It’s My Shout Productions, Digital Shorts Wales is the premier vehicle for digital short film production in Wales, aimed at established Welsh film-making talent - directors, writers and producers, living and working in Wales - who want to make a compelling short film as the next step in their film career.
The open call for applications at the end of 2009 threw up almost 100 high-quality submissions from the best Welsh talent, with the successful projects having to undergo a rigorous selection and development process, to whittle down the field to a short-list of twelve production teams. These twelve selected projects then went into a further intensive two month development period - at the end of which five were chosen to make up the production slate for Digital Shorts Wales 2010.
Alongside Jerusalem, the Digital Shorts Wales 2010 Slate included; A Shade of Grey, The Bright Lights, Jackdaw and Nadger.
Digital Shorts Wales 2010 Scheme Producer Mark John commented of the five films selected: "We were looking for original story-lines with a powerful visual edge that could engage, excite, inspire, move and challenge an audience - great scripts, with a strong directorial vision - films with a powerful emotional impact. Above all, films with passion, that could cut through all the chatter and white noise and make an impact on audiences, here in Wales and further a-field. And I’m confident that’s exactly what we’ve got with these five films and the fantastic talent behind them."
Digital Shorts Wales 2010 Executive Producer Roger Burnell, from It’s My Shout, who has helped shape the early careers of some of our leading acting, writing and directing talent added: "Having worked closely with talent throughout my professional career, it is extremely rewarding to see such strong examples of Wales' excellence coming through this highly selective process. I’m really excited at the thought of seeing how these great scripts translate onto screen."
Adam Partridge of the Film Agency for Wales concluded: "The programme aims to identify outstanding film makers with distinctive voices. Almost 100 high quality submissions were received and the chosen five have worked hard to earn their place on the slate. The programme is funded by the UK Film Council and The Film Agency for Wales and managed by It’s My Shout Ltd. As the sole strategic agency for film in Wales, it is our role at the Film Agency to identify and nurture Welsh filmmaking talent and we are therefore delighted to be working with the high calibre of those involved with Digital Shorts Wales, all of whom have a real opportunity to make an impact on screen."
(BMcN)