When Sophie Came Home...
Today (Sunday 29th September) marks the release date on ITV of the much-anticipated drama series ‘Joan’ chronicling the real life 1980’s exploits of Britain’s most notorious jewel thief, Joan Harrington.
The show’s award-winning star, Sophie Turner, is most widely known for her role as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones as well as Hollywood franchises such as X-Men but this leading actor role sees a return to not only the UK but also to mainstream drama.
Crucially, the show gave Sophie an opportunity to come home – she grew up in a small village in Warwickshire, (attending school in Warwick and learning her craft at Playbox Theatre ) and her highly publicized private life has of late been a drama in its own right. However, with the show being produced in the Midlands, it gave her the chance to spend time amongst family and friends as well as being supported by a protective production company, cast and crew.
The show was based at our Camden Street Studios in Birmingham and shot extensively across the Midlands including Walsall, Malvern and Leamington Spa with sets built at another of our production bases in Coventry. The show’s director, Richard Laxton, at the Royal Television Society screening in Birmingham earlier this month, said how welcoming and easy it was to shoot here in the Midlands whilst recognizing that this is essentially a London-set show. However, as you will see from the first episode, it turns out you can double London here in the Midlands with cinematic results. ?
However, what is really frustrating is the lack of credit the region gets in playing this role in the media. As you will read from the links below, the national media either actively don’t want to reference this fact or don’t think its important to mention the role our region’s facilities, crew and crucially returning talent play in the narrative. ?
One could argue that this is just another example of how the London-centric production bubble gets reaffirmed and the region’s contributions to the TV production landscape gets ignored. So often we see talk in the media press of the fact that ‘production is broken’ and the well-being of its workforce is being constantly undermined and unsupported and yet here is a show which looked to address this and delivered for the region but which the production and region doesn’t get the credit for.
I am tired of having to call journalists to get them to correct their references to where production happens – Birmingham is not just Digbeth, Birmingham is not the West Midlands, and Coventry is not Birmingham. Moreover the Black Country has its own individual city and town identities as I am sure those in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall will attest.
Reading the extensive number of interviews and profile pieces of the show and Sophie Turner’s involvement, it’s clear that the opportunity to promote the region and its media credentials is being lost – from Hello, Tatler and Harpers Bazaar to The Times, Radio Times and Variety, the show is gaining national and international coverage but getting little to no reference of its role. And quite rightly, having seen the preview first episode a couple of weeks ago, I can vouch for the fact that Sophie turns in a convincing, compelling performance that belies her 28 years and the award-winning production designer, Lucienne Suren , art, costume, make-up and locations departments have done both the show, the region and the 1980s proud!
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More importantly, Joan, highlights an important and exciting opportunity for cast and crew alike to do something long overdue….to come home. To sleep in one’s own bed surrounded by friends and family. If it’s ok for Sophie Turner to do this, to prioritise her own mental health at a time of intense media scrutiny and becoming a new mum, shouldn’t it be possible (indeed actively supported by producers, directors, production companies and wider stakeholders) for all those cast and crew who left the region to pursue careers to do the same?
Founder Director @ZANNA CREATIVE LIMITED | Executive Lead @Create Central
1 个月Spot on Mark! x
Junior Costume Maker | Costume Assistant | Pattern Cutter
1 个月Totally agree. It was such a great experience working on a production like this at home. And a drama as highly promoted as Joan should really be bringing more attention to our region and what is possible here.
CEO, Film Producer, Screenplay Writer at Checklist Films Ltd and Checklist TV Ltd
1 个月I hear your frustration loud & clear Mark.
Head of Screen BOA Stage & Screen Academy
1 个月Grateful for your dedication Mark Hughes-Webb in making sure the region gets the recognition it deserves ??