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'Every film should be shot in the North East'

WOOLF COMEDY PRODUCTIONS LTD Some of the lead actors from Night and Day in a behind-the-scenes shot wearing costumes from the film. The character Jennifer Saunders is playing stands on the left and is leaning over two actors sitting on a sofa. The character played by Timothy Spall is standing on the right and holding up a glass WOOLF COMEDY PRODUCTIONS LTD
Night and Day's cast includes US actress Haley Bennett alongside British stars Jennifer Saunders, Jack Whitehall and Timothy Spall

A stellar cast of actors has been in the North East shooting a new movie. They and the crew say the region should be used a lot more by filmmakers.

Described as an unromantic comedy, Night And Day is inspired by a Virginia Woolf novel of the same name.

US star Haley Bennett plays the lead role and is joined by a host of well-known British names including Lily Allen, Jennifer Saunders, Timothy Spall, Jack Whitehall and Sally Phillips.

It tells the story of Katherine Hilbury (played by Bennett), a young woman who does everything she can to avoid love and marriage in order to pursue her passion for astronomy.

Set at the start of the 20th Century, the action takes place against a backdrop of women fighting for the vote, advances in science and technology, and a crumbling patriarchy.

Lily Allen plays feisty Mary Datchet and believes the fight for women's rights still resonates today.

"We have obviously come a long way since 1910 but there is still a way to go so I am hoping it will inspire people to keep pushing forward," the singer songwriter says.

Director Tina Gharavi on the set of Night and Day wearing headphone and looking into monitors which show the actors in the scenes which are being shot
Director Tina Gharavi said the North East locations helped her vision for the film

Sunderland-born musician Nadine Shah is making her film debut as a suffragette and says the role is "pretty exciting" for two reasons.

Firstly, she admires the campaigning woman she is playing and is "eternally grateful" to the suffragettes.

Secondly, she can commute to the set from her dad's house in Whitburn.

Director Tina Gharavi, an American Iranian who has lived on and off in Tyneside for more than 30 years and is a full-time lecturer at Newcastle University, lobbied hard for the film to be shot in the region.

From Northumberland to County Durham, good use has been made of the authentic locations the North East has to offer.

Filming has taken place all over including at Beamish Museum, Neville Hall, the Newcastle home of the Mining Institute, and Ryhope Engines Museum.

A group of male and female extras on the set of Night and Day at Beamish. They are in costume with the men wearing bowler hats or caps and suits and the woman wearing a wide hat a jacket and a dress. Most are carrying briefcases
One of the locations for filming was Beamish

It was love at first sight for Gharavi as soon as she saw the original Victorian steam-powered pumps in action at the former waterworks in Sunderland.

"This happens to be my favourite location," she says, adding: "I was looking for a universe to put [the characters] into that was believable.

"Not just a set or a room or a location where you feel it has been fabricated.

"This is what it was back then. It is like going back in time. It is like a time machine.

"There was a moment, I was like 'this has got to be in the movie'. And they were like 'but how does this fit into the story?' and I was like 'we will make it work'.

"This is not what it is in the Virginia Woolf book but it is emotionally truthful. I fought for this.

"I said, 'if this isn't a location we use, I am not sure I am the director for you really'."

A behind-the-scenes shot from Night and Day which shows a group of actors in costumes, some who are sitting around a table and some who are standing up. The photo also shows crew members with a camera and holding an audio boom to record what is happening
The story is set at the start of the 20th Century

The period drama is a visual love letter by Gharavi, and it seems the rest of cast are equally enamoured with this part of the world.

Playing the mother of lead character is national treasure Jennifer Saunders who is rueing the day she agreed to once again don a corset.

"It is not my favourite item of clothing," she says, adding: "Why am I doing this? I did Lady Windermere's fan on stage and I swore that would be my last corset. I thought this was set after the war!"

The costume may be uncomfortable but the location has been much to her liking.

"I love it," Saunders says, adding: "Honestly I think everything should be made up here.

"The countryside is perfect, there is so much that is unique about here.

"The coastline is spectacular, you've got all this wild Northumbrian wilds, castles galore, country houses galore, and Newcastle which has got the most extraordinary architecture.

"And the people are just so lovely, and helpful and charming and different."

A behind-the-scenes shot from Night and Day with the view from a monitor showing the actress Lily Allen in character and looking to the right of the screen and with a clapperboard beside her head.
Singer songwriter Lily Allen hopes the role she plays will help the continuing fight for women's rights

Her onscreen husband Timothy Spall already knew the North East well from his work on Auf Wiedersehen Pet, his role as Barry making him an "honourary Geordie".

"I'm honoured by the honour," Spall says, adding: "People just hold the show that I did here with such affection.

"Over the years it has just grown and grown and grown. It's lovely actually. People are pleased to see you.

"I've always loved coming to the North East."

Actor Timothy Spall on the set of Night and Day. He is sitting in a blue chair and wearing a black suit jacket with a grey waistcoat and a black tie. He has a large moustache
Timothy Spall said he had always loved coming to the North East

Comedian Jack Whitewall modelled his look for William Rodney on another well-known face from the 1990s - Newcastle United's Philippe Albert.

"That is what I was trying to channel with this moustache," he says, adding: "This is a real moustache. I have grown that all myself. I thought I looked very debonair to be honest but my father told me I looked like Ned Flanders from The Simpsons.

"Not a particularly good review but I think it is a strong look."

This has been Bennett's first trip to the region and the American says it has been a revelation.

"It's just so incredibly dynamic," she says, adding: "There was this myth that it was really grim here and it is not grim at all.

"It is full of life, everyone is full of life and colour. And honestly I think I could live here. "

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