Oscar director’s firm apologises

A PRODUCTION company working for Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella has apologised for failing to warn residents about plans to turn their Primrose Hill street into a film set.
Sorting Station Films has said sorry to homeowners in St Mark’s Crescent for not consulting them first over Mr Minghella’s plans to shoot scenes there for his new blockbuster movie, Breaking and Entering.
The film stars A-list actors Jude Law and Juliet Binoche, who both worked on the Hampstead-based director’s much-lauded Oscar winner, The English Patient.
The new film tracks the story of a fictional burglar’s thieving antics. Ironically, given the movie’s subject, residents in surrounding streets, including broadcaster Joan Bakewell, have raised concerns about the threat of crime in the area (see page 7) and over the past fortnight classic car owners have suffered a series of thefts.
Filming is due to take place in Primrose Hill – where Mr Law owns £1 million home – and King’s Cross during the summer.
Location manager Jonah Coombes told residents: “It has been brought to our attention that there may be some discontent among the neighbourhood with regards to not being consulted on our proposals to film at a residence herein St Mark’s Crescent.
“I am very sorry if there has been any concern caused and can only explain this as being because we are actually still working on the proposals for this location.”
Mr Coombes said cameras were unlikely to roll in the street until July and most of the filming will take place inside one of the road’s posh homes.
He added: “We are a conscientious team constantly aware of the sensitive requirements of all residents and we will be doing all we can to minimise disruption.”
Homeowners seem to have been won over by the apology. One resident, Jacob Coates, 24, said: “It’s a great idea. Let’s turn Primrose Hill into the new Notting Hill.
“It’s just one man in the area making a fuss. I don’t have a problem at all.”
Other residents said the film-makers were expected to donate money to Primrose Hill Community Centre.