Gibraltar destined for the big screen!
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06 March, 2011 07:27
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PRIMETIME audiences in the UK may have had an education into the secret history of Gibraltar’s iconic ‘stay behind cave’ recently after its appearance on BBC One’s flagship The One Show, but that will pale into insignificance compared to an ambitious plan to dramatise the story for the big screen, the media can reveal.
The tale of the WW2 plan Operation Tracer to secrete teams of soldiers in the Rock in the event of invasion forms the basis for an ongoing project to make Gibraltar the focal point of a special effects-laden blockbuster – which is already attracting strong interest from financing and distribution companies worldwide.
Gibraltar-based Gold Productions Studios, run by Martin Nuza, has partnered with UK producer James Davidson to bring the story to the big screen and are in advanced stages of developing a full length feature film under the working title Tracer.
Nuza and Davidson have already taken the project to the globally renowned Cannes Film Festival, where it garnered significant international interest from production partners in Europe and the US. The next step is to secure full investment and take it into production – a major opportunity for Gibraltarian funds to establish themselves in a booming industry.
Respected Hollywood director Jim Isaac has already travelled to Gibraltar and seen first hand the extensive tunnel networks in the Rock, which will form the dramatic backdrop for the movie. Isaac is part of a major production deal with Hollywood giant Kerner Studios – formerly known as Industrial Light and Magic, the force behind many of the Star Wars films.
Isaac said: “Being in the tunnels and seeing the locations that played such an important part in the history of Gibraltar allowed me to envisage how dynamic the story of the Tracer plan could be. It’s clear how passionate everyone on the Rock is about their role in the defining conflict of the 20th Century. It’s a story that’s itching to be told, and one of the most exciting I’ve been involved with in 25 years of making movies.”
The majority of the film will be filmed on location in and around the Rock of Gibraltar. The last major movie to place Gibraltar at its heart was the James Bond The Living Daylights, and it’s hoped any production here will spell great news for local companies – and boost tourism thereafter.
Nuza explained: “One of the key elements in being able to drive the project so far so soon is the help we have received from the Ministry of Culture of the Gibraltar Government and the Director’s operating the section of the tunnel network scouted for the film, who realise the film industry is truly international and this movie is the perfect opportunity for Gibraltar to get on the map.”
Davidson has worked on numerous previous commercial projects, and said: “The film breaks out of the traditional historic mould and combines period and contemporary settings, so we can tell the story not just of a plan during the war but carries that story forward into modern day Gibraltar too.”
Don’t expect simple fact though, he adds. “The story of Tracer is a focus of a really exciting script that adds huge elements of mystery, suspense, and science fiction to the mix. The problem with small scale period films is that the audience can fundamentally be left without excitement at the end. We want to make something which really gets the heart racing and has you on the edge of your seat!”
The next stage is to attach stars to the project. Davidson says: “We’re not allowed to name names, but all I can say is we are unbelievably excited with who is being spoken about – names everyone will know. Jim Isaac works at the heart of Hollywood and his enthusiasm for this is immense, and it’s spreading.”
Nuza added: “We always intended to build this project with a totally international perspective. We have UK and Gibraltarian Producers, Norwegian and US production partners, a US director, and an international cast being assembled, so we’re really pleased and looking forward to getting the film into production and sold internationally.”
The producers will be attending Cannes and other film festivals this year to further cement the sale of worldwide rights to the film, and the film’s website can be found at www.tracerthemovie.com
The tale of the WW2 plan Operation Tracer to secrete teams of soldiers in the Rock in the event of invasion forms the basis for an ongoing project to make Gibraltar the focal point of a special effects-laden blockbuster – which is already attracting strong interest from financing and distribution companies worldwide.
Gibraltar-based Gold Productions Studios, run by Martin Nuza, has partnered with UK producer James Davidson to bring the story to the big screen and are in advanced stages of developing a full length feature film under the working title Tracer.
Nuza and Davidson have already taken the project to the globally renowned Cannes Film Festival, where it garnered significant international interest from production partners in Europe and the US. The next step is to secure full investment and take it into production – a major opportunity for Gibraltarian funds to establish themselves in a booming industry.
Respected Hollywood director Jim Isaac has already travelled to Gibraltar and seen first hand the extensive tunnel networks in the Rock, which will form the dramatic backdrop for the movie. Isaac is part of a major production deal with Hollywood giant Kerner Studios – formerly known as Industrial Light and Magic, the force behind many of the Star Wars films.
Isaac said: “Being in the tunnels and seeing the locations that played such an important part in the history of Gibraltar allowed me to envisage how dynamic the story of the Tracer plan could be. It’s clear how passionate everyone on the Rock is about their role in the defining conflict of the 20th Century. It’s a story that’s itching to be told, and one of the most exciting I’ve been involved with in 25 years of making movies.”
The majority of the film will be filmed on location in and around the Rock of Gibraltar. The last major movie to place Gibraltar at its heart was the James Bond The Living Daylights, and it’s hoped any production here will spell great news for local companies – and boost tourism thereafter.
Nuza explained: “One of the key elements in being able to drive the project so far so soon is the help we have received from the Ministry of Culture of the Gibraltar Government and the Director’s operating the section of the tunnel network scouted for the film, who realise the film industry is truly international and this movie is the perfect opportunity for Gibraltar to get on the map.”
Davidson has worked on numerous previous commercial projects, and said: “The film breaks out of the traditional historic mould and combines period and contemporary settings, so we can tell the story not just of a plan during the war but carries that story forward into modern day Gibraltar too.”
Don’t expect simple fact though, he adds. “The story of Tracer is a focus of a really exciting script that adds huge elements of mystery, suspense, and science fiction to the mix. The problem with small scale period films is that the audience can fundamentally be left without excitement at the end. We want to make something which really gets the heart racing and has you on the edge of your seat!”
The next stage is to attach stars to the project. Davidson says: “We’re not allowed to name names, but all I can say is we are unbelievably excited with who is being spoken about – names everyone will know. Jim Isaac works at the heart of Hollywood and his enthusiasm for this is immense, and it’s spreading.”
Nuza added: “We always intended to build this project with a totally international perspective. We have UK and Gibraltarian Producers, Norwegian and US production partners, a US director, and an international cast being assembled, so we’re really pleased and looking forward to getting the film into production and sold internationally.”
The producers will be attending Cannes and other film festivals this year to further cement the sale of worldwide rights to the film, and the film’s website can be found at www.tracerthemovie.com
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