First Christmas | Samuel Anderson set to exec produce indie festive film

Samuel Anderson is confirmed to be on board First Christmas, a new festive film being made around the West Midlands. Now this looks fun. Two of the filmmaking guests I’ve welcomed to one of my shows in Birmingham – next one on sale here! – are Luke Allen and Keith Kopp. Luke is a Midlands-based ... First Christmas | Samuel Anderson set to exec produce indie festive film

Samuel Anderson is confirmed to be on board First Christmas, a new festive film being made around the West Midlands.

Now this looks fun. Two of the filmmaking guests I’ve welcomed to one of my shows in Birmingham – next one on sale here! – are Luke Allen and Keith Kopp. Luke is a Midlands-based producer, Keith a director, and their next project is a festive feature by the name of First Christmas.

I’ve kept in touch with the pair since I first met them, and they’ve been working their socks off to get the film moving. I’d heard from a couple of places that names such as Russell Tovey, Eleanor Tomlinson and Maribel Verdu were on the casting rumour mill for the film. I can’t get Keith or Luke to confirm that though.

But what I have learned is that Samuel Anderson has just joined First Christmas. The Amandaland, Doctor Who and Gavin & Stacey star is going to be a hands-on executive producer on the movie. It’s unclear as of yet if he’s going to appear before the camera as well.

He’s pictured above as Danny Pink in Doctor Who.

Development continues on First Christmas, and last I heard from Luke and Keith, they were looking to go before the cameras later this year. That’d point to a release – and I’m going to work all this out all my myself – for Christmas next year. But the joys of independent filmmaking are such that things aren’t officially happening until the cameras are unpacked and filming has got underway.

Sounds a fun project this, though, and hopefully some of those casting rumours turn out to be true. Will keep you posted as and when I hear more – or when Luke returns my phone call as I keep digging!

I’m always looking for local independent filmmakers for my local shows too. My Birmingham events are moving to the Mockingbird Cinema for this year, and no doubt I’ll be annoying you about them in due course.

More on First Christmas though as I hear it.