Channel 4 firms 3

Trio of works mark Webster's first films

By ADAM DAWTREY

LONDON -- Channel 4's new head of film Paul Webster has unveiled his first three projects, balancing two pics from first-time directors with one from veteran helmer Bill Forsyth, two contempo Scottish films with one period fantasy, and two projects left over from the previous regime with one brought in by Webster.

Forsyth will direct "Gregory's 2 Girls," the sequel to his breakthrough 1982 comedy "Gregory's Girl." The new film, which was in development at C4 prior to Webster's arrival, will see John Gordon Sinclair reprise his role as the title character, now grown up and working as a teacher in an aging Scottish New Town, but still confused and bemused by girls.

Forsyth penned the screenplay, and Christopher Young will produce. Dougray Scott stars alongside Sinclair. C4 is putting up the bulk of the budget, with the remainder coming from the Scottish Arts Council.

"The Debt Collector," directed by newcomer Anthony Neilson, also has a strong Scottish flavor. Starring Billy Connolly and Ken Stott, the pic -- set in Edinburgh -- is a dark thriller that pits a former loan shark against the down-on-his-luck policeman who originally arrested him.

The film is produced by Graham Broadbent and Damian Jones of Dragon Pictures ("Welcome to Sarajevo"). Project also was inherited from the previous C4 regime; C4 is again the majority financier, alongside the Glasgow Film Fund.

"Simon Magus," the first project personally brought into C4 by Webster, introduces first-time writer-director Ben Hopkins. The pic, budgeted at just over $5 million, is a magical fairy tale set a century ago in Silesia, described as "a land as unforgiving as the Wild West."

Produced by Robert Jones, it's a co-production between C4, German outfit Hollywood Partners, Italy's Lucky Red, Gallic firm ARP and the Arts Council of England's lottery fund. Goldwyn Films, MGM's newly launched specialized arm, will handle international sales.

Webster commented, "These three films amply represent the way forward for C4's investment in feature films. We are backing the rich talents of first-time feature directors Ben Hopkins and Anthony Neilson, together with the acknowledged skills of world-class director Bill Forsyth.

"Together they demonstrate the great depth of creativity and innovation at work in the British film industry today."