Hollywood star Billy Zane spotted at Newcastle Greyhound Stadium

Feb 16 2010 by David Whetstone, The Journal

Flutter is the second film to be directed by Giles Borg who also directed the film 1234, released in 2008.

It is being produced by Sarah Boote and co-produced by North East-based Alan Latham.

Tom Harvey, chief executive of Northern Film & Media, said: “We accompanied the Flutter team on a familiarisation visit to the region last year and they loved our wonderful coastline.

“That’s really what sold them and convinced them to bring production to the North East.

“It is really exciting that this film was launched at the Berlin Film Festival at the weekend.

“With the new children’s series Tracy Beaker, crime drama Inspector George Gently, Ways to Live Forever and Bafta-nominated Jade all shot in the region, it’s safe to say that filming is again alive and well in the North East.

“This is a great example of one of our early development investments paying off in style.”

Also starring in Flutter will be Anna Anissimova, Laura Fraser, Luke Evans, Max Brown, Mark Williams and Anton Lesser.

Northern Film & Media’s work promoting the region has taken on greater importance over the last year as other TV groups cut back on their regional presence.

Last year they were handed £1m to help them encourage more film producers to head to the North East.

Development agency One North East, which handed over the cash in the summer, said the money should generate around £5m for the region.