“Appearing on British Television – the British Film Industry!”

“I think British television has been very good for a long time. When people in Hollywood used to ask me how the British film industry was, I would say: ‘It is alive and well and on television’. 

Dame Helen Mirren, quoted in The Guardian, February 2014 http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/feb/16/helen-mirren-british-television-bafta-murder-women)

I was reminded of this comment by one of our best-loved actresses, when attending the premiere screening of Jimmy McGovern’s latest film drama ‘Common’ at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral last Wednesday evening.   

Produced by the award-winning Liverpool production company ‘L.A. Productions’ in conjunction with the BBC, the feature-length film is everything you would expect from one of our country’s finest and most influential writers. Hard-hitting and shocking, it exposes the potential consequences of the UK’s controversial ‘Joint Enterprise’ legal doctrine, which is designed to combat gang culture. The film makes the compelling argument that ‘Joint Enterprise’ is directly responsible for some young people being unnecessarily imprisoned for crimes they witnessed, but neither committed nor helped to plan.

The following day Media Production students visited the ‘L.A. Productions’ offices in north Liverpool, for an inspiring series of workshops and presentations. 

Members of the production team explained in detail how an idea for a story is developed from an outline couple of paragraphs into a fully-fledged television drama.  The day provided a fascinating and priceless insight into the whole production process, including scripting, casting, working with actors, directing and post production.

This summer, Media Production students will have the opportunity to gain work placements on the new series of ‘Moving On’.  This original BBC drama made by ‘L.A. Productions’ is also created by the EMMY and multi-BAFTA-winning McGovern, and features numerous stars from British television.  http://laproductions.co.uk/the-shows/