1st February 2007
North Wales Living
The shadowy world of ancient Celtic folklore is to come alive in a film shot in beauty spots across North Wales. The rugged landscape of Snowdonia and rolling hills around Ruthin and Llangollen provide the backdrop for Hawk - a short which industry insiders
believe could make it onto the big screen and give the region some welcome
exposure. Made by a team of young film-makers, who all grew up or studied in North Wales, the production tells the story of Rowan, a young boy who grows up in the hills with only his reclusive grandfather for company. When tragedy strikes and he is left to fend for himself, the child retreats into a fantasy land of gods and beasts, based on half-remembered local mythology.
The film's currently at the post-production stage, where computer graphics are being added, but could be shown in the shorts category at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, due to take place in May. From there, its makers hope to show it at other film festivals across Europe, in the hope of raising the funding and support to make a full-length feature film.
Hawk will premiere at a North Wales location and in London. Producer and conceptual artist Sean McArdell, 29, who grew up in Barmouth and studied film at Wrexham's North East Wales Institute with director Michael McMahon, said: "Wilderness is a key feature of the film and the locations are a vital ingredient in storytelling. "The Snowdonia hills offer a breathtaking, rugged backdrop, with a strong sense of forgotten history - perfectly suited to the themes of Hawk. "North Wales has a real wealth of stunning filming locations. We aim to do for the region with our projects what Peter Jackson did for New Zealand with Lord of the Rings."
This is not the first time North Wales has made it to celluloid; just three years ago Angelina Jolie filmed parts of the Tomb Raider sequel in Snowdonia. But where Hawk differs is that it is a genuinely Welsh production, and tells a local story. More than 30 cast and crew members spent three weeks filming in the region - with the results being ruthlessly cut down to under half an hour.
Those in the know are so impressed that they are already touting its makers
as potential "next big things" within the industry. The privately-funded project, which had a budget of £50,000 and is being mentored by veteran producer John Peveral - who won an Oscar with The Deer Hunter - is ambitious both in scale and attention to detail, and aims to challenge the conventions of short film production. It has alredy earned mentions in several specialist publications and scored a first when BBC Wales broadcast its trailer on television - the only short so far to achieve this and an impressive feat for a film which is not yet finished.
Michael, originally from Rhyl but now based in London, said: "These days anyone can get a digital camera and assemble a crew and make a short film. But Hawk was an altogether bigger undertaking."
More information is available at
www.hawkthemovie.com
Back to News Articles
