Five 'produce' new Jimmy McGovern film
Five Liverpool John Moores University graduates played crucial roles in the new Jimmy McGovern feature film Unforgivable which airs on BBC2 tomorrow, 24 July.
The film starring Anna Friel, Bobby Schofield and David Threlfall was made by LA Productions in Liverpool, led by legendary producer Colin McKeown.
The quintet of talented LJMU graduates of Liverpool Screen School - Daniel Dobinson, Zoe Lodge, Billie Deen-Owen, Max Hayes and Alex Beards - were key to the creation of this ground-breaking drama, which tackles a complicated and emotional story of a child abuser.
As Head of Development, Daniel is a script editor and scriptwriter, who completed the BA Film Studies course and also a Masters course at LJMU’s Screen School.
Max Hayes is LA’s Digital Imaging Technician. He only graduated in 2023 and managed to secure a placement with LA Productions the following summer. Max can often be seen running location shoots around the city and wrangling the data back to LA. He has also taken the job further afield, for example the city of Glasgow for Granite Harbour and Shrewsbury Prison for the Unforgivable shoot.
Zoe Lodge, a Production Trainee on Unforgivable also graduated in 2023 and joined the same placement scheme at LA, along with Max. She is actually returning to the LJMU in September to study MA Film while continuing to work for LA.
Alex Beards is an Editor & Colourist, was in charge of the offline edit for the film. Alex landed an internship with LA Productions in his 2nd year at university, and has been working for LA ever since. Alex's first experience was as trainee editor on another Jimmy McGovern drama Reg in 2016.
2024 graduate in Creative Writing and Film Studies, Billie Deen-Owen (pictured below), worked at LA Productions for two years while an undergraduate and played a key role in the production team on the film. Billie is about to start a Masters course in playwriting.
Unforgivable centres around the Mitchell family who are dealing with the devastating aftermath of an act of sex abuse perpetrated by a member of their own family.
Dr Ruth Doughty, programme leader in Film Studies, who was invited to the premiere in Liverpool this week, described it as “a powerful story” and said: “Everyone at LJMU is so proud of Zoe, Daniel, Billie, Alex and Max. They’ve done a fantastic job and we wish them the very best for future productions and successful careers.
“Film is a massive part of the Liverpool creative industries, and our culture and identity as a city.”
Unforgivable airs on BBC2 on Thursday, July 24th.
Although not involved in the recent production Unforgivable, we have another graduate working for LA Productions. Heather Chestnutt did her undergrad in Film Studies and the MA in Documentary and is now part of the Factual team at LA. Congratulations to Heather too!
(Left to right) Max Hayes, Alex Beards, Zoe Lodge and Dan Dobinson at LA Productions offices in Liverpool.
