Their Finest Hour and a Half creates significant economic benefits after seven week shoot in Wales

22 Oct 2015 10:37 AM

Their Finest Hour and a Half – the latest film to be backed by the Welsh Government’s £30m Media Investment Budget – has just concluded filming in Wales creating a range of significant economic benefits.

Fifty per cent of the filming was shot on location in Swansea and South West Wales over the past seven weeks and included Swansea’s Grand Theatre and the Guildhall - which double up as the Ministry of Information and Whitehall, together with a number of locations in Pembrokeshire including:

Their Finest Hour and a Half is a romantic comedy with a difference set in the early 1940's with a star studded cast that includes Gemma Arterton, Bill Nighy, Sam Claflin, Helen McCrory, Richard E. Grant, Jack Huston, Jake Lacy, Eddie Marsan, Rachael Stirling and Henry Goodman.

Following the misadventures of a British movie crew trying to make a patriotic film to boost morale during the Blitz, the film is a witty, warm-hearted and moving portrayal of a young woman screenwriter finding her way in matters of life, death and the heart.

BBC Films developed and is co-financing the film alongside the Media Investment Budget, which is advised by Pinewood Pictures. Wales Screen helped the production team find the perfect locations and hosted numerous recces before filming began.

A range of businesses around Wales have benefited including Bridgend based Christopher Lee Catering, which specialise in location catering; Real SFX of Cardiff, experts at special effects, who picked a BAFTA Craft and BAFTA Cymru Awards for their work on Doctor Who and Andy Dixon Facilities of Bridgend who work throughout Europe providing a comprehensive range of vehicles for TV and Film.

Economy Minister Edwina Hart said:

“The Media Investment Budget and Pinewood Pictures are attracting some excellent films to Wales creating a range of significant direct and indirect economic benefits.

“Attracting productions of this calibre to Wales provides a great boost for our dynamic creative industries sector providing opportunities to work on high end drama productions.

“It also creates real benefits for the service sector, particularly the hospitality industry and tourism. Films shot on location in Wales leave a lasting legacy as they are seen around the world and provide a superb advertisement for our tourism industry.”