Last-minute preparations are in hand for the UK premiere screening of a new multi-million dollar US blockbuster drama in Neath this week, with support from the Welsh Government.
Da Vinci’s Demons, an historical fantasy written by critically-acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy co-writer David S Goyer, had two international premiere screenings in Florence and Cannes before hitting the small screens across the US last week.
The STARZ show is due to be launched in the UK on the FOX digital channel this Friday following a special UK premiere at the Gwyn Hall, Neath, on Thursday (April 18), in recognition of local contribution to the show.
Most of the show was shot on location around south Wales, using many of the local historic castles and monuments, and at a specially-constructed studio built within a former car factory site on Swansea Bay using local craftsmen and suppliers.
The Welsh Government worked with the production team to ensure the show came to be made in Wales, in face of tough opposition from alternative locations such as Canada and Eastern Europe.
Lead actor Tom Riley, who plays the young Leonardo da Vinci, will be attending the screening at Neath with Hollywood writer David S Goyer, BBC Worldwide and Adjacent Productions executives and key members of the production team, including local-born Julie Gardner, and Ed Thomas.
Also in the audience at the Gwyn Hall will be some of the thousands of local businesses, college students, craftspeople, organisations and individuals who contributed to the making of the show. It has been estimated that the series created more than 2,500 part-time and 160 full-time jobs.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart, who is also due to attend the event, said she was delighted that Wales was hosting the UK premiere, following in the footsteps Florence and Cannes where it was also premiered.
Mrs Hart said: “It is very fitting that the UK premiere is hosted in Wales where so much of the filming and post production work took place. I am delighted the Welsh Government is co-sponsoring this event to celebrate the success of the first series and to acknowledge the involvement of so many local people and organisations.
“Da Vinci’s Demons has provided a great boost for Wales and our creative industries sector as well as providing great exposure for the Swansea Bay area specifically. Its success will reflect on the expertise and capability in Wales and the abundant talent we have here.
“The Welsh Government worked closely with BBC Worldwide to bring the production to Wales while a funding support package ensured post production work was also carried out in Wales.”
The Minister added the worldwide release of Da Vinci’s Demons has come at an opportune time, when the sector is being actively promoted worldwide by the Welsh Government which is encouraging and welcoming new productions to Wales.
The Wales Screen Commission supported the production ensuring there was a pipeline of Welsh talent working on the production, maximising the economic benefits for Wales.
Glynneath-born Julie Gardner, the show’s Executive Producer for Adjacent Productions, who is now based in Los Angeles, said the support and flexibility shown by the Welsh Government was instrumental in attracting Da Vinci’s Demon’s to Wales.
The former Dr Who Executive Producer said: “We looked all over the world for possible locations for Da Vinci’s Demon’s but it was the creativity and experience of the production talent that made Wales the obvious choice. It’s less a case of bringing Hollywood to South Wales and more truthful to say that Wales has shown Hollywood how high the bar can be raised in television production. The Welsh Government and Neath Port Talbot Council have been incredibly helpful and we have even started to seek out the new generation of creative talent in the colleges and universities in the area.”
Neath Port Talbot Council Leader Cllr Ali Thomas said “It gives me tremendous pleasure to see the Gwyn Hall hosting the UK premiere of this exciting new television series. The venue itself is part of a tradition that has long helped the area punch above its weight within the world of culture and the arts.”
“I would like to commend the efforts of all those who have worked to attract a production of such magnitude to South Wales. The benefits of this success have been felt not just in the creative industries sector locally but also through the involvement of many other businesses.”
Da Vinci’s Demons will be broadcast internationally via BBC Worldwide Productions, Starz Entertainment and FOX International Channels across 200 Channels in 120 countries
Da Vinci’s Demons went on air in the US on Starz on Friday April 12 and will debut on UK television on FOX April 19th at 10pm available on Sky, Virgin, Talk Talk Player and BT Vision.
http://www.starz.com/originals/davincisdemons
http://www.foxtv.co.uk/Da-Vincis-Demons