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Take Down unveiled as first film to receive funding from £30m Wales Media Investment Budget

The first feature film to receive investment through the Welsh Government’s new £30m Media Investment Budget has been unveiled by Pinewood Studios. 

Take Down, a thriller directed by Jim Gillespie (I Know What You Did Last Summer), will be shot equally between Wales and Isle of Man. Aimed at a teen and twenty-something audience, the film follows a group of spoiled teens sent to a school for troubled teenagers from rich families who are taken hostage and their struggle to escape.


It is written by Alexander Ignon (Ransom) with Sarah Ryan Black (Restoration) and Ed Elbert (Anna and the King) producing, and Steve Christian (Belle) and Stefan Brunner (Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengance) serving as executive producers. Mimi Steinbauer’s Radiant Films International is handling worldwide rights. The two main characters are played by Jeremy Sumpter (Peter Pan, Soul Surfer) and Phoebe Tonkin (The Vampire Diaries, Bait). It will also star Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl, J. Edgar) and rising star Dominic Sherwood (Not Fade Away, BBC’s The Cut) to the cast.

The Welsh Government’s £30m Media Investment Budget is available for UK qualifying film and high-end television production, through Pinewood Pictures, Pinewoods film and television investment vehicle.  UK qualifying productions are required to shoot 50% of principal photography in Wales. The Welsh Government will aim to invest, on a commercial basis.

Economy Minister, Edwina Hart said:

“I am very pleased to see Take Down become the first feature film to receive funding through the Media Investment Budget. Wales has a growing reputation for film and television production and working with Pinewood Pictures we want to see even more projects coming to Wales. Through this new fund we will invest up to £30m into projects brought forward by Pinewood to help create growth and jobs in this industry.”


Steve Christian, Pinewood Pictures said:

“We are delighted to see such immediate results which is testament to Wales as a first class filming destination and the decision by the Welsh Government to create a £30 million Media Investment Budget. Take Down is a significant milestone which will bring substantial economic benefits to Wales. I am delighted at the part we have played in bringing this production to Wales.“


Producer Ed Elbert said:

“With the combination of such talented young actors, a screenplay by the writer of Ransom, possibly cinemas’ most successful kidnapping thriller of all time, and the director of one of the most iconic teen thrillers I Know What You Did Last Summer, we believe we have the makings of a film that will thrill global audiences."

Channel website: http://gov.wales

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