CITY FAN WINS NOMINATION FOR EDINBURGH FILM FESTIVAL PRIZE

Good friend of this messageboard and City fan Jonny Owens new film.

Jonny says it will be in cinemas in Cardiff in October and he would love to see friends off the board for a few pints before and after the showing.

The Cardiff opening screening will be midweek to hopefully avoid a clash with a game.

Valleys film Svengali wins nomination for Edinburgh Film Festival prize ahead of world premiere later this month

2 Jun 2013 05:12



The big screen version of web comedy Svengali has appeared online as it has been revealed the film has been nominated for a Michael Powell Award at Edinburgh.

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Jonny Owen and Roger Evans in a scene from Svengali
It's the cult online sitcom which proved a massive word-of-mouth hit and had hordes of celebrity fans clammering for cameo roles.

And now the star-studded trailer for the big screen version of Svengali – the web comedy about a naive Valleys lad struggling to make it big in the London music biz – has appeared online, along with the news that the film has been nominated for a prestigious movie gong.

With a cast list boasting the likes of Sherlock and The Hobbit actor Martin Freeman, Bafta-winning Vicky McClure, Maxine Peake and Creation Records supremo Alan McGee, it’s been shortlisted for a Michael Powell Award – a prize which honours the best British feature – at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival, which is where it’ll get its world premiere later this month.

And for Merthyr actor Jonny Owen, for whom the transition from YouTube sketch to the cinema has been a long-term labour of love, the last few years have provided more than their fair share of surreal moments.

“I met Mick Jones from The Clash recently – who was a lovely man – and he was telling me how much he loved the internet series, but as he was talking all I could think was, ‘I used to have posters of you on my wall, mate’,” laughed Svengali’s 41-year-old co-writer and creator, who plays the lead role of indefatigable dreamer Dixie.

“Getting Martin onboard was a huge deal too because he was right in the middle of making The Hobbit in New Zealand at the time, so we ended up getting him to shoot his scenes whenever he came back to the UK for a few weeks break.”



Not that the Sherlock star, who plays Dixie’s permanently annoyed record store boss, needed much convincing, having been a big fan of the series from its early days.

“Martin loved the virals and asked if he could be in it through a mutual friend of ours, rock writer Paolo Hewitt,” said Owen, he and Freeman bonding through their shared passion of all things Mod-related.

“I wouldn’t say we’re anoraks about it – Baracuta G9s perhaps,” he laughed, referencing the slim-fit retro jackets beloved by men with feather-cut hairstyles everywhere.

“Martin certainly knows his music and loves everything from northern soul to Stax and Motown, much like myself.

“Although we did disagree on which was Paul Weller’s best period, largely because he’s a Style Council man and I’m more in The Jam camp.”

But it was acting alongside the late Brian Hibbard in his last ever film role – the Ebbw Vale-born Twin Town and Flying Pickets favourite having passed away last June from prostate cancer, aged 65 – which had the biggest effect on Owen.

“It was an honour to share the same set as him,” he said.

“Brian was the best actor I have ever and will ever work with and he’s magnificent in this film as Dixie’s dad, Eric.

“We discussed his illness before shooting started but he was determined to do it – in fact, he was the life and soul during all the times we filmed down in Wales and I’ll be eternally grateful that he agreed to do it.

“To think it’s the last performance he’ll ever give is very sad, but he absolutely steals every scene he’s in. In short, I loved the guy,” Owen added.

* Svengali will be shown as part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival on June 21 and 22, and gets a full national release later this year.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/valleys-film-svengali-wins-nomination-4038295

Good friend of this messageboard and City fan Jonny Owens new film.

Jonny says it will be in cinemas in Cardiff in October and he would love to see friends off the board for a few pints before and after the showing.

The Cardiff opening screening will be midweek to hopefully avoid a clash with a game.

Loved the web series and can't wait for this.

We know Jonny's thoughts on the rebrand, now if ever there was an opportunity.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/valleys-film-svengali-wins-nomination-4038295

Good friend of this messageboard and City fan Jonny Owens new film.

Jonny says it will be in cinemas in Cardiff in October and he would love to see friends off the board for a few pints before and after the showing.

The Cardiff opening screening will be midweek to hopefully avoid a clash with a game.

Well Done Jonny

I just opened one of my pm's and had an invitation of him to the opening in Cardiff.

Cracking, that wee cinema on Lothian road hosts a lot of the films at the festival. I'll have to go and see it!

Just waiting for my invite as well Annis Dont think i will get one

Can't wait to finally see it

They filmed scenes at my pub for a week. Jons character'Dixie'is from Mountain Ash. A fantastic week and I was fortunate enough to share a couple of scenes with Brian Hibbard in his last ever acting role before he sadly passed away last year

I enjoyed Svengali and the way it was teasingly released on you tube . Wasn't too keen on his other project or the pilot I seen anyway.

great! will take a look!

Just watched episode 1
"What the fucks that?"

"It's a cassette like"




Are there more online? Typed in Svengali and only getting the one episode!!

Just watched episode 1
"What the fucks that?"

"It's a cassette like"




Are there more online? Typed in Svengali and only getting the one episode!!

As soon as the film deal was signed, they had to pull the plug on the other episodes appearing on YouTube. Copyright issues. If you google it i think other episodes are on Vimeo

Basically, you moved to a different beat