Town bids to host premiere of major war movie
THE EYES of the world could be drawn to a North Yorkshire market town, with advanced talks underway for it to host an international movie premiere with live action performances which could draw in as many as 20,000 people.
It has been revealed by the Nidderdale Chamber of Trade that negotiations are underway with “Hollywood movie makers”, producing a Second World War action film to hold the weekendlong event in the summer of 2020 in Pateley Bridge.
In what is believed to be a world first, the ‘A-list’ cast will perform scenes from the film at the screening, amid dramatic sets which will be built inside a stadium large enough to seat thousands of guests.
While celebrities are expected to be flown in by helicopter, plans are already underway to see the sky filled by passing Spitfires for the event.
The chairman of the Nidderdale Chamber of Trade, Keith Tordoff, said: “This is really exciting news, that the Nidderdale Chamber of Trade could bring something truly unique, and a first in the world of film, a World War Two film premiere, which will also be acted out on the night.
“I think this will be the biggest event in the recent history of Nidderdale, possibly in a century. It’s on such a scale that it will truly help add to Pateley Bridge’s reputation as a tourist destination for a long time.
“People follow things like this long afterwards.”
The live performance is expected to be carried out in a similar fashion to the 2012 Olympics short, which featured Bond star Daniel Craig and the Queen. This saw pre-recorded footage played on screens to the crowd, before giving way to a live performance on the night.
Thanks to the work of the Chamber earlier this year, when it hosted a screening of a historic silent film of life after the First World War during a 1940s weekend, Mr Tordoff was able to build ties to figures in the British film industry involved in the movie.