Time for a pat on the back.
All Extras NI members involved in either the film HUNGER or the BBC comedy drama formerly known as DESPERADOS (now THE INVISIBLES) should be very chuffed with themselves and will be able to see their hard work on screen very soon!
For those involved in THE INVISIBLES, a new comedy drama series about the best robbers in town, some of you may see yourselves as soon as this evening (Thursday May 1st) as the first episode of six begins on BBC1 at 9pm.
For those involved in Steve McQueen's feature film HUNGER, which follows life in the Maze Prison, Northern Ireland with an interpretation of the highly emotive events surrounding the 1981 IRA Hunger Strike, led by Bobby Sands, you will be happy to know that the film is to open the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes later this month.
Never in our history of providing extras for film and television have we had so many happy extras as we did when we provided all the extras for HUNGER in Oct/Nov 2007 and Jan 2008. The number of people that had to tell us how much they enjoyed their experience on and off set and found it truly rewarding working on the project was astounding. And we are yet to work with another crew that appreciative and respectful to the extras involved.
Laura Hastings-Smith, the producer of Hunger, had this message upon receiving the excellent news about Cannes:
“This honour is the wonderful result of Steve’s vision but is also a well-earned tribute to every single person who worked with us on this film. Again and again, as we have nurtured this film to completion, we have felt so fortunate to have had such a wonderful cast and crew. I am sending this email to all the Heads of Departments but please do pass on the good news to all and everyone – thank you, thank you, thank you.”
So thank you to all the extras that worked on HUNGER – you did Extras NI very proud. And hats off to the film and its crew, we wish the film every success.