Guernsey film trailer seen by 360,000+

Monday 19 February 2018

The trailer for the film based on the best-selling novel, the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society has been seen on Youtube by more than 360,000 people in less than a week since its release - with a local film reviewer, and the director of a local film production company both saying it will be good news for the island.

The Studiocanal film, called Guernsey, is due to be released in April with the full length trailer released nationally last week, showing the main characters in some of the familiar scenes from the book.

The trailer, released on Tuesday 13 February

Despite being called Guernsey, and being based on a book set in Guernsey, none of the film was shot in the island, with the producers instead using locations on the Cornish coastline along the south of England, as well as small town resorts in Dorset, to recreate Guernsey in the 1940s.

There is one such shot representing Smith Street, and others of St Peter Port and the island's coastline. Members of the film crew visited Guernsey during production to take pictures to model their filming sets.

This has upset some people with many asking why none of the film was shot on location in the island, while a number of other people have welcomed the release of the trailer and say they are excited about the upcoming film release. 

Great to see actual Guernsey Occupation photos in the @StudiocanalUK Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society trailer. #GuernseyMovie #ReelHistory @BBCGuernsey @islandfm @GuernseyLitFest @GuernseyArts @CultureGSY pic.twitter.com/v9233dGx2X

— Wynter Tyson (@wynterstwytter) February 13, 2018

Winter Tyson is a film fan who reviews new releases and classic moviesand presents the online show Clameur du Cinema. He told Express he's really looking forward to seeing the movie, which stars Lily James and has been directed by Mike Newell; who worked on some of the Harry Potter films and other blockbusters:

"Mike Newell is an established director and the cast is full of accomplished actors but the main attraction is the combination of a book that has clearly touched many people and the local connection.

"It's always hard to tell what a film will be like from the trailer and in this case there is the obvious issue of the scenery not being recognisable to Guernsey viewers, but this looks like it could be a good movie based on what has been shown. It will all depend on whether the film manages to create the feeling of being on an island.

"I'm also pleased that the trailer doesn't go too much into plot details and focuses more on character, tone and premise. It was also good to see some genuine photos from the Occupation and, of course, a Guernsey jumper!"

Warren Mauger, Director of Spike Productions agrees film production is an expensive business and believes to have had Guernsey shot here would have caused massive disruption to island life:

"Film making is people and equipment intensive. Many crew and actors may only be needed for a day or on various days apart from each other so to fly in and out of the island would be expensive and time consuming. A day lost filming can cost a lot of money so they need to minimise the chances of this. Access to equipment and support services too are important. There is a big support crew on a film from make up, electricians, carpenters/set builders etc. who are all specialists in this industry. So part of it will be down to cost but I think just as likely it’s a logistics issue.

"I was aware that originally to film the scenes in St Peter Port every shop/business in Smith Street and the High Street was going to have to have a new front put on to make it look like the 1940s. Nothing is impossible but I imagine the film company took a decision on what they could creatively achieve for the film and what they could do in their budget."

Both Mr Mauger and Mr Tyson told Express it is hard to justify criticism of the production team for not filming in Guernsey when they would have faced many difficulties with financial constraints being just one.

Mr Tyson commented: "No one would deny that it's a shame that our beautiful island will not feature in the film, especially as many will have gotten a look at how great Guernsey looks on the big screen at recent screenings of the local documentary, Sea Donkey, but it's hard to criticise the production team who have been tasked with producing a period piece  on a relatively modest budget.

"This film has been in the works since 2010 and during that time we have seen a large decline in medium budget cinema, so if the difference in the film being made or not is the additional cost of shooting on the actual location then let's make the film!"

Mr Tyson adds that it is very common for films to be shot in "stand in locations": 

"Whether the production teams are following tax breaks, production skills, studio space, a certain look or are just acquiescing to a director's demands - as Warner Brothers did when they left Stanley Kubrick shoot his Vietnam film Full Metal Jacket in London Docklands as he didn't like to lead the UK - it is, at the end of the day, a financial decision."

Mr Mauger told Express that while initially the film could have been shot in Guernsey, he understands why that changed:

"I know initially the film company really wanted to film here and looked very seriously at this, but films are often not filmed in the setting they are based in, there are countless examples of this. The viewer doesn’t really care they are watching the film for the story presented in front of them they are not questioning where each scene is or whether one shot was in the real location and others are not."   

Guernsey - Visit the island that inspired the story.
Watch the official trailer to The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society film here: https://t.co/I6j6qGA7Jx #LoveGuernsey pic.twitter.com/TyLtSzIqrs

— VisitGuernsey (@VisitGuernsey) February 13, 2018

Both Mr Mauger and Mr Tyson think the Guernsey film will help boost visitor numbers to Guernsey, with Mr Tyson commenting:

"Having a wide release film, with major talent behind and in front of the camera, that is based in Guernsey and features Guernsey in the title, can only be a benefit to the island. We have a rich history that many people are not aware of and this will put the in the spotlight. This is a great opportunity for us!"

Mr Mauger said "there is too much focus and negative comment on where it was filmed"

"Guernsey is a small rock in the middle of the English channel, we don’t have people writing best selling books about us all the time, we don’t have films made about us on such a big scale all the time. This could easily be happening to another town or Island and pass us by. We should embrace the moment that someone was interested enough to write a story based here and that a film company has put up the money to make a film about it. None of this should be taken for granted. 

"There is a huge opportunity for the island and individuals if they choose to take it and grasp this. The Guernsey name is in the title, it’s a fictional story about a moment of our history, there has never been a better moment to attract people here. For entrepreneurial islanders there are plenty of ways to create products and services to sell off the back of this too. Far from being negative about where it was filmed we should see this as a positive moment that large numbers of people will be taking an interest in us sat on this rock in the English Channel while the film is out and being promoted."

The novel itself is set in January 1946 as London emerges from the Second World War, and Guernsey starts to recover from the Occupation. The protagonist - an author played by Ms James - becomes interested in Guernsey and how it coped during the war years. Her character travels to the island to meet a group of people who lived under German rule and she becomes entangled in their lives. 

Studiocanal's film is due to be released in cinemas nationally, including in Guernsey at the Mallard, and across the UK, on the 20 April.

For more information about the film, click here.