Starfish writer and director, Bill Clark, shared some filming details on Linkedin last month, as final pre-production on the film was underway, and they were looking for local cast and crew. He revealed that shooting is scheduled to last 1 month.
The film shoots in and around Rutland for 1 month. We're looking to make contact with locally based crew, actors and extras who are interested in working on it.
A new article in the Stamford Mercury about the start of filming has been shared online. It features brief interviews with Tom and Joanne Froggatt, and longer interviews with Tom and Nic Ray. Read the article in full on the website.
Work finally started on production on Sunday and Tom, now aged 53, says it has been a surreal experience. He met his wife Nicola, known as Nic, while training to be an actor himself. Tom, of Alsthorpe Road, Oakham, said: “It’s been very very surreal, particularly having trained as an actor and wanting so much to be a part of that world, but it’s also a bit wonderful. “It was an incredible thing to have happened and it’s right the story should be told.”
Tom will be played by his namesake Tom Riley, who gained international recognition for his portrayal of the young Leonardo Da Vinci in Da Vinci’s Demons.
Meanwhile his wife Nic will be played by Joanne Froggatt, who won a Golden Globe for her role as Anna in hit TV show Downton Abbey. The film will also be Froggatt’s first feature executive producer credit.
Last week, Tom and Nic enjoyed a meal with the actors who will play them and it had an impact on all four of them. Tom said that after meeting them, he felt confident that both Joanne and Tom Riley would portray his story with dignity. J
oanne said: “I have been truly inspired by Tom Ray and his family, and their incredible life and strength. “I am honoured to be producing Starfish and dedicated to faithfully recreating his heart wrenching experience on the big screen.”
Tom Riley added that it was an “incredible story” and he hoped to ensure the story was as “accurate and truthful as possible”.
