Toilers film producers still hopeful for States money
PRODUCERS of a film adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel Les Travailleurs de la Mer are remaining hopeful of support from the States, despite the relevant committee appearing to rule out any investment.
Economic Development has written to all States members advising that it does not intend to provide any film production finance for the movie, which has the working title Toilers of the Sea.
Joy Mellins and David Shanks have been working on getting their £15m. budget in place for three years and have so far secured funding commitments of 60% of that, without resorting to seeking finance in the UK.
‘We haven’t sought funding from elsewhere as yet,’ Mrs Mellins said.
‘Because as soon as we do, we’ll come under pressure to film it in the UK. We don’t want to go down the Potato Peel Pie route.’
The States provided some funding for the 2018 adaptation of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, but many Guernsey residents were subsequently critical of it not having been filmed in Guernsey.
The funding issue will be discussed in the States today, prompted by a question to ED president Neil Inder from Deputy Gavin St Pier, who wants the committee to consider obtaining funding from Policy & Resources.
‘I’m certainly not unequivocally endorsing it,’ Deputy St Pier said. ‘I’m not privy to all of the proposal in detail, nor the financials and level of risk.
‘I simply want to understand better why we’re not providing any support to the film industry, as some other jurisdictions are.’
Deputy Inder chose not to comment yesterday because he wanted to give his response to the formal parliamentary question in the assembly itself. His answer may be followed by further questions from States members which arise from it.
‘We are still hoping to get money from the States,’ Mr Shanks said.
‘We’ve reached a critical point in the negotiations. Many investors have made it clear they want to see a commitment from government before finally committing their funding.’
‘We’re not asking the States to fund the entire film, or anything ridiculous like that,’ said Mrs Mellins, ‘and we are guaranteeing that all the money invested will be spent on island. So with that, and the prospect that the film may make a profit, it’s a win-win really, for Guernsey.’
They said they were happy that the various States departments concerned were continuing to examine the prospect of part-funding the project but Mrs Mellins said she had ‘lost track of all the acronyms that are considering it’.
‘I hope they see the short- and long-term benefits,’ she said.
