Brassed Off // A One Minute Documentary
When I was 7 years old I was an extra in the Mark Herman film ‘Brassed Off’. So was my dad and a load of other family members and friends.
The film shot in Grimethorpe, where my mum’s from. Formerly a mining village, the place was decimated by the pit closures and Brassed Off tries to tell a bit of that story.
If you’re from the north, it’s important to remember.
It was my first experience of a film set. Filmmaking wasn’t for kids from Barnsley. I met Ewan McGregor. I had lunch with Sue Johnson. I watched
Pete Postlethwaite from afar. It was all so exciting.
Now, there’s ongoing debate about whether or not I made it into the final cut of the film. My dad was given a very small speaking role. He was definitely cut from the film.Brassed Off premiered at Leeds International Film Festival. I was too young to go. My parents got me some autographs though.
It took me 23 years but I eventually got to go.