Northern soul movie in production

A film about the Wigan Casino is about to start filming...in Stoke. In fairness, the (as yet unnamed) movie is about a teenager from Stoke, with the city's Kings Hall will be used to re-create the Wigan Casino.

The film is set in 1974 and stars Martin Compston (who played Liam in Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen) as Joe McCain, a bored and restless 17-year-old who has never left the confines of Stoke-on-Trent. He meets Jane, who introduces him to Northern Soul and 'a whole world of exciting music and dance he never knew existed'.

No original soundtrack though - it's set to be new versions of northern classics from the likes of Mark Ronson, Paul Weller, and The Dap-Kings. Filming starts in August,  with the movie due to premier in Edinburgh, followed by an appearance at Cannes.

Comments

[Mike Dobell]

Great to hear a film about Northern is being made.Sorry to say, but it will have to have the right music or it will probably bomb.

[baldi]

Hello to all concerned.
my name is mark,I lived & breathed wigan for 98% of 1979-1981.(oldies).
As far as i am aware most of the original music does not have any legal copy rights out standing.
My point being that surely rather than having modern/popular artists(no disrespect)performing the music,you used the original soundtracks,giving the movie a far more rich and without doubt defining quality .

My other concern being the (KINGS HALL ) being the replication of wigan casino.
a wonderful idea to keep this very cherished and still underground to the wider audience music alive.
I have attended a couple of nighters here casino 30th anniversary being the most memorable,and yes it is a very nice venue.
BUT not quite what we diehards remember(wigan casino)as.

I don't know when the production will complete.
But if you still have time (PLEASE) do something about the balcony , it's to flat.
Some chicken wire /paper machea water colour paint, minimal damage if any(please excuse any spelling errors),Simple application/low cost affordability/maximum effect.
Please don't think of me as being disrespectful or ungrateful,As i admire anyone who takes the time & effort to keep this undeniably heart rendering music alive .

long live this unconparrable
music/scene.

KEEP THE FAITH

mark.

[marty]

obviously they are re-recording the music to make some money out of it, but whiteboy guitar bands ? do me a favour. it completely misses the point doesn't it? how will they achieve that? re-create wigan casino in kings hall and then play the wrong music. why dont they just make a film about slade? i wouldn't have travelled 200 miles from scotland every week to listen to white english boys copying soul music. this is no better than the footsee etc. but i guess it's an original movie project in it's own right and not actually about the northern scene as we knew it.