Casting Agency News
Mike clinches major role in Lenny Henry film - Read News Item
Children promote BBC Local Radio on TV - Read News Item
BBC Producers search for talent - Read News Item
Two children star in last ever series of Grange Hill - Read News Item
Mike clinches major role in Lenny Henry film
Thirteen-year-old Mike Coventry is the star of a new film directed by Lenny Henry.
Mike plays Danny Carmichael in the film called Colour Blind, which has been backed by the Anthony Walker Foundation and Liverpool Football Club, and will be rolled out to schools across the country in a bid to tackle racism. The project features a cast of Liverpool actors including Neil Fitzmaurice, Cathy Tyson, Louis Emerick, Lynn Francis and Kenny Thompson, who played Joseph in the Liverpool Nativity.
Lenny Henry, who has become friends with the Walker family, said : “I was touched by Anthony’s story and I wanted to help. The film is sad and funny and has redemptive qualities at the end. I want people to laugh and make them cry too. We’ve got an amazing cast; they have made my job easy.”
In the story, Danny is a 12-year-old and who is beginning to adopt his father John's ideas on life, particularly his racist attitude. No great student, Danny’s real love is football; he comes alive on the pitch. Deep down Danny senses that his behaviour towards Joe (the black boy) is wrong.
This is Mike’s second major role in the past six months. Mike spent from July to December last year filming the new series of Grange Hill at Lime Pictures in Childwall. He plays the part of Duckett, a larger than life character who gets up to some mad things in the new series.
Principal Diane Lamont , said : “Mike showed that he had great talent from an early age. I’m not surprised that he has been chosen for such contrasting roles because he has a natural acting ability and is always keen and quick to learn new skills. Spending time with Lenny Henry was a fantastic opportunity for him. He is now looking forward to meeting up with him again at the Premier.”
Children promote BBC Local Radio on TV
More than twenty children from the Lamont Drama School and Casting Agency have filmed an advert for BBC Radio Merseyside which is being shown on BBC television.
The children all auditioned for their roles with three pupils being selected for speaking parts. They were eight-year-old Rory Rushton (pictured bottom left), ten-year-old George Hughes (pictured bottom left), and nine-year-old Oishi Sikdar (pictured bottom right).
The children spent the day at Matthew Arnold Primary School in Liverpool filming the trailer with BBC Radio Merseyside DJ Tony Snell.
Principal, Diane Lamont, said: “The children had a great time at both the auditions and on the filming day. They are all looking forward to seeing themselves on TV.”
BBC Producers search for talent
More than 50 children from the Lamont Drama School and Casting Agency recently took part in audition workshops for BBC producers as part of a nationwide search to find new CBBC presenters. Four children went on to the final stages at London’s Television Centre.
They were :-
Sam Bennett (aged 10) from Formby
Sam Patching (aged 11) from Southport
Amelia Gilby (aged 11) from Crosby
Lydia Seed (9) from Aughton
Along with a group of other children from around the country, the four had a great day presenting and interviewing in the BBC’s Blue Peter garden. Amelia Gilby and Sam Patching were later chosen as the new presenters.
CBBC producer Olga Droogleever, said “It was a real pleasure to spend time with all the children. They obviously really love their drama and it showed in their performances. They were relaxed, confident and overall very impressive”.
Amelia’s first assignment is to report on BBC’s Newsround. She is has also been asked to front a feature on the making of Grange Hill in Childwall. She said: “I’m interested in journalism so I’m really looking forward to looking around the Newsround studios and meeting the presenters.”
Sam Patching’s first report will take him to Wales. He has been asked to do a behind-the-scenes report on the upcoming new BBC television drama series Young Dracula. “I can’t wait to go to Wales because I’ve never been on a film set before. I’m hoping that I’ll see a lot of good make-up and special effects”, said Sam.
Two children star in final series of Grange Hill - to be shown later this year
Two Formby schoolchildren are staring in the new series of Grange Hill. Eleven-year-old Sofia Filipe and Thirteen-year-old Michael Coventry are both pupils of the Lamont Drama School and Casting Agency.
They began filming the new series in July at Lime Pictures in Childwall and will continue for the next four months. It will be shown on BBC next year.
Sofia plays the part of Serena, a student struggling to cope with dyslexia. She said: “My character is quite shy and finds it difficult to tell people that she’s dyslexic so I’ve been asked to do some sensitive scenes. I’ve just started at Range High and I’m also taking part in the Southport Drama Festival in October so I’m very busy at the moment but I’m really enjoying the whole experience”.
Michael, who is a pupil at Formby High School, said: “I play the part of Duckett. In a lot of ways he’s very like me. He’s funny, a bit wacky and gets up to some mad things in the new series. I’m having a great time at Grange Hill and everyone has made me feel really welcome. Acting is what I’ve always wanted to do and this is hopefully the beginning of my career.”
Principal Diane Lamont , said: “Getting the opportunity to do six months filming in a professional environment is a wonderful opportunity for both Michael and Sofia. They are both very talented and I’m delighted for them.”
