New Film Littered With Rochdale Connections

Date published: 23/08/2005

A new film, The Jealous God, is being produced by Rochdale husband and wife production team, Steven and Julie Woodcock at North Country Pictures, their second feature length creation.

The movie is likely to appeal to more mature audiences as it aims to rediscover traditional values – a break from the gung-ho action packed films that are typical of modern productions. The success of similar films has shown that there is a range of people who desire a break from the norm when they go to the cinema.

The production team is not the only Rochdale based connection to be found in the movie. Various scenes were shot in and around the Rochdale area, including the moors above Denshaw, near Milnrow.  The music also has a Rochdale link, with contributions from the Rochdale Music Service, including a performance by local children on one of the tracks. Award-winning Rochdale band, Layered also feature on the soundtrack. As well as all this, Shawforth based actor Eric Potts, who plays new character Diggory Compton in Coronation Street, also appears on the cast list.

Based on John Braine’s novel, The Jealous God, is a morality tale set in Yorkshire in the mid-1960s. It tells the story of reserved schoolteacher Vincent Dungarvan, battling against a strict upbringing and a religious mother, when he falls in love with an attractive young librarian. Other members of the cast include Jason Merrells (Cutting It, Clocking Off) and Denise Welch (Coronation Street, Down to Earth) as well as a dramatic role for Roy Walker!

Steven Woodcock is certainly well schooled in his trade: He has worked at all major British film studios and has assisted various filmmakers from James Cameron (The Terminator, Aliens, Titanic) to Gerry Anderson (Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet). With such experience behind him, Woodcock’s new production should not disappoint.

The film, which is released nationally on 9 September, should provide a great nostalgia trip into 1960s Britain and Rochdale cinema-goers are urged to watch a production which is full of local talent and scenery.