Northwest Vision and Media, create the bigger picture
Shameless makes its mark
SHAMELESS MAKES ITS MARK
FRANK Gallagher put his pint down and picked up a glass of bubbly. It wasn’t to his taste, but that didn’t stop the head of the Gallagher household knocking it back and joining in the party. And what a party it was!
The Northwest’s television industry, together with cast and crew of Channel 4’s long-running urban series, Shameless, celebrated in style the landmark opening of a permanent set for the drama.
Built on an industrial estate in Wythenshawe, Manchester, the new base sends out a clear message that Channel 4 are in full support of writer Paul Abbot’s successful creation. And North West Vision, the regional screen agency for film, TV and digital media in England’s Northwest, were delighted to join in the celebrations.
Explaining the decision to build the 66,000 square foot set, which has potential to last for eight years, John Griffin, Series Producer, says Channel 4 had asked for a radically increased output.
“Having a permanent set allows us to be more efficient, whilst continuing the excellence that viewers have come to expect. We can also take total control of the environment now, and we have more scope and flexibility,” says John.
At the set’s champagne reception, creator Paul Abbot and actor David Threlfall, aka Frank Gallagher, cut the ribbon to the new estate, before casting their hand prints in cement outside Yvonne’s shop.
Actress Kelly Hollis, who plays Yvonne, spoke of her delight at the new workplace: “It’s great, there’s no leaks in the roof and being in one location will make a huge difference when filming starts. I’m really grateful to be working here, I think we all are.”
Filming for the extended fifth series, totalling sixteen episodes in all, begins filming on Monday (April 30).
Susan Williams, North West Vision’s Greater Manchester Film Officer, believes the production team will benefit enormously from having a permanent set. “It’s been great to assist the Shameless crew on previous projects when they’ve been out filming on location, but this brand new set looks fantastic and it’ll allow them to get on with things much more efficiently,” says Susan.
Shameless previously filmed most of its content in the West Gorton area of Greater Manchester. The brand new set includes replicas of the original estate and took three months to build. Interiors have also been constructed on site, including the infamous Gallagher household and local pub The Jockey.
Actor Gerard Kearns, who plays Ian Gallagher says he’ll miss the old ways of working. “To be honest, I’ll miss being out on actual location, but the set is brilliant. I love working in Manchester and as for Oldham, where I’m from, it’s the heart of the world! I’d like to carry on acting for as long as possible but at the same time, I hope that one day I’ll have the opportunity to give something back,” he says.
Speaking of his part as a British soldier in the recent Channel 4 war drama, Mark of Cain (also partly filmed in Greater Manchester), Gerard adds: “They did a very clever job with it and managed to show both sides of the story, which was a great achievement.”
Fresh from completing the London Marathon, Rebecca Akinson, who plays Karen McGuire says: “It’s really exciting, there’s some new writers on board this time around and I love working in the Northwest. I’m at home here, and it sounds like madness, but I find the rain really comforting, so I couldn’t be happier anywhere else!”
The fifth series of Shameless will begin on Channel 4 in January
2008.
