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BRACKNELL GETS THAT VEGAS RAZZMATAZZ
December 05, 2002
Cheeky, On location, Bracknell: Travis Swords and Trudie Styler
STRESS-relieving massages taking place on Ministry of Defence property is not what you’d expect in a leafy corner of Bracknell.
But if the former MOD site in Broad Lane was home to the hard-working cast and crew of new Brit-flick ‘Cheeky’, a bit of hands-on therapy must not be begrudged.
Directed by David Thewlis, the film tells the tale of toy shop owner Harry Sankey (Thewlis), whose life is turned upside-down by the death of his wife, Nancy.
He then finds himself trying to cope with the unusual role of quiz show contestant, believing it to be Nancy’s last wish for him to participate in the annonymously-titled TV show.
Harry joins the crazy show hosted by the cheesy Alf Price (Johnny Vegas), where he meets another Nancy, (Trudie Styler), who attempts to draw him out of his misery.
Cheeky started shooting on October 22 for nine weeks in the Lake District and London and filming at the former RAF staff training college in Bracknell was the last location on its gruelling schedule.
Travis Swords is co-producer of Cheeky with Styler, and he has his fingers crossed that the film debuts at Cannes next May.
“This film couldn’t be going any better and it looks great — we’ve got a few more weeks of filming to go but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
“It’s an incredibly original story with some beautiful tender moments, and we have the best craftsmen and women working on it.
“Everyone is mucking in and doing what needs to be done – it’s too good to be true!”
“The crew was attracted to the Bracknell site because it was nice and close to London and allowed them to make up five or six different sets “under one roof”.
Styler — who had organised tension-soothing massage sessions in an upstairs room — was in the middle of filming one of the last scenes in the film, where Thewlis competes in the Cheeky final.
“I love the redemption and hope aspects of the film,” she said.
“The film’s going great so far and I’m very happy.” Cheeky is set to hit British screens in Autumn 2003.
Sarah Dave
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