It’s not often we get the glitzy buzz of a premiere in the second city. But this week we are in luck with Clubbed, a film about… good old Birmingham in fact, receiving its national premiere in its hometown. Based on BAFTA award winner Geoff Thompson’s autobiography ‘Watch My Back’, the film stars and eclectic and curiosity-inducing cast ranging from Colin Salmon to Neil Morrissey to Michelle Marsh.
‘Clubbed’ is a flashback to the Midlands in the 1980’s, revealing both the violence and vibrancy of inner city culture, like a Brummy ’24 Hour Party People’. It showcases many quintessential locations such as the red brick architecture of Digbeth, a gym in Sparkbrook and a working men’s club in Edgbaston. In fact, the film’s makers loved our mighty fine city so much they are thinking of coming back here for their next project. ‘TWENTY8K’.
The underworld drama sees Danny, played by relatively unknown Mel Raido, humiliated when he is beaten up in front of his children in a random act of violence. Emasculated and finding himself sinking into insecurity and depression, he decides to take his life into his own hands and meets with a group of club doormen, who help him regain his lost confidence. A darker side of his lifestyle becomes apparent when Danny finds himself entangled with the sordid affairs of the club’s gangland owners.
Screen West Midlands, who helped fund the film, have supported writer Thompson from the start of his career, pushing local talent to a national scale. “Screen West Midlands – specifically Lee Thomas – have always championed my work, right from my first short film ‘Bouncer’, so I was delighted when they helped to finance my first feature film Clubbed. The whole process has been very challenging but utterly fantastic and being on set for five weeks watching this amazing cast and film technicians bring my words to life was one of the best experiences I have ever had”.
Success could mean greater support in the future for budding writers and aspiring filmmakers based in the Midlands. So drag those arses off your sofas for once and into the cinema, it’s like giving to charity, but you get something out of it. Something material I mean, obviously with charity you get the ‘accomplishment of doing something worthwhile/moral satisfaction etc’.
The film premieres on Tuesday 13th January and opens on Friday 16th January nationwide.
I have some top inside gossip about this.
There is a scene on top of a car park, involving a woman standing in front of a car as two fellas get out. This then happens again and again. Although, on reflection they may have just been re-shooting the scene. It was night time and I was watching out of my window, very exciting it was. With anyluck i might be in the background, bare.
xx
i was very shocked to see this movie come out you see i work in the school were some parts was shoot me and my daugther who did attend at the school was also in the film we was only in it for 2 min , the playground shoot , cant belive we never got cut out as i was playing up at the time asking for costumes and make up i had just finched working ing kitchen i was on a hyper one had such a laugth that day would love to do it again kids have left the school now but im still their one of the ladys passed away last year who allso was in the same part , so bougth many good memeries back to my safe and her family so i thank you my daugthers who are now at big school want to now any job ,such a good experiance for them ,thank you to all the clubbed team from the mad-one kerrie,kayleigh ,chelsea