A Lot of Success for ‘A Bit of Tom Jones?’

Vue® Gives Budget Welsh Indie Film Leicester Square Gala Screening

Independent Welsh breakout film A Bit of Tom Jones?, which was made on a budget of just £100,000, was given a gala screening in London’s Leicester Square last night, thanks to the support of Vue® Entertainment.

Competing against megabucks movies such as AVATAR, which itself cost almost £200 million to make, the success story of indie flick A Bit of Tom Jones? provides hope for independent film-makers by gaining the backing of Vue, one of the UK’s largest cinema operators.

The movie, which was only ever expected to be a straight-to-video release, came to Vue’s attention when writer and director Peter Watkins-Hughes sent a copy to his local Vue cinema in Merthyr Tydfil. Staff thought the film had potential and passed it on to the Vue head office who agreed to take a chance and screened it at selected Vue sites in Wales. The film quickly gained cult status and proved a box office hit with ticket sales, in its opening few weeks in South Wales, even eclipsing Michael Jackson's This Is It.

Tim Richards, CEO of Vue Entertainment, said: "The Vue team in Merthyr Tydfil and our Film Buying team in London were quick to recognise the potential of the film - A Bit of Tom Jones?  and played it to the public with great success in the local area. Our event last night at Vue Leicester Square celebrated our commitment to supporting independent film-makers and we wish this movie great success following the platform we have provided it in Merthyr and now London with the help of the filmmakers and the team at Vue.”

Funded by businesspeople, including a pub landlord and a solicitor, the film was shot almost entirely on location in Tredegar. Its hilarious plot is based on an attempt to sell Welsh singing superstar Tom Jones’ severed manhood.

The cast, including Eve Myles from Torchwood, Matt Berry from The Mighty Boosh, Jonny Owen from Shameless, Margaret John who plays Doris in the BBC’s Gavin and Stacey and Denise Welch from Loose Women, all agreed to work at reduced rates to help make the movie happen.

Writer and director Peter Watkins-Hughes, a former BBC producer, said: "We've hardly been able to contain our excitement about the success of the film. The cast has been fantastic and we cannot thank Vue enough for taking a chance and backing us.” Watkins-Hughes continues: "The film definitely captures the Valley’s unique sense of humour but on a serious note, we hope its success prompts others to be inspired to make movies in and about their own communities.”

Vue will be screening the film at selected cinemas nationwide from the 29th January, visit www.myvue.com for a list of locations, dates and times.