I've been thinking a movie with a set in an environment of Rugby League and Northern Soul would make for a great story.

Maybe a coming-of-age story, where the principal players are passionate about their RL team and their music. Maybe a romance set in late 1960s/ early 1970s Wigan, with match scenes.

There's only a few things that stop me from writing such a script myself: I was too young to know the 1960s, I've never lived in the North, I don't know enough about Northern Soul, and I can't write.

Would RL make a good theme/background for a movie, in a way that didn't involve kitchen sink drama and flat caps (as in previous movies)?

Potential titles: Sleepless in St Helens; Danny Maguire; Smith and (Halliwell) Jones; A room with Belle Vue, Wind at The Willows.

Any ideas/suggestions for how RL could be included a movie script?

Sort of a This Sporting Life meets Soulboy?

This Sporting Soulboy?

It would be easy enough to [iwrite [/ia drama-type movie script with rugby league as the background. The problem would be ever getting it produced. I was involved for a number of years with an independent production company and out of maybe 100 scripts and formats we devised I think two eventually made it to TV and none of the film scripts made it into production. Scripts do get developed into films if a big enough name is 'attached' to the project. Given that RL fan Russell Crowe is a big name, and would certainly be able to get such a film made if he agreed to star in it, you have to ask yourself why he doesn't. The answer is probably that he thinks such a film would not be profitable. If he thinks that, what do you reckon would be the attitude of Los Angeles-based movie studio executives who've never heard of rugby league?

We'll all have to console ourselves with the fact that one of the best films ever made with sport at its centre is This Sporting Life.

I have written one but even though at the minute the script is only around the forty minute mark it could take several years for it to get produced. I am still at University(Third Year ,Film Production, Sheffield Hallam) and it is not feasible to film it whilst I am due to the budget constraints and other on-going projects, also when I have graduate it is highly unlikely to impossible that a production company no matter how small would take a chance on a first time producer or director. So it looks like it's going to be in development hell, and I know of many other Rugby League films that have been written by people that are in the same boat, shame really.

Forty Twenty
Paul Shane and Craig Cash play Inspector Frank Forty and his sidekick Stephen Twenty who go undercover posing as rugby league players to expose the murky seedy underbelly of northern sport. Drugs and betting scandals take them from St Helens to Hull and leave no stone unturned, with hilarious consequences.

With Timothy Spall as "Boris Chindsey"
Hugh Jackman as "Unnamed Australian Scrum Half"
And Coronation Street's very own Norris Cole in an explosive role portaying a shadowy figure named only as "Richard Lewis"

Rated 18. Extreme Sex, Violence, and Leeds Rhinos.

Who's the love interest?

Could it be the delectable, Jodhpur wearing BBC commentator who for some reason keeps turning down the protaganists sexual advances?

Craig Cash.

Hopefully something better than Soulboy. A TV drama perhaps, if a movie wouldn't fly.

"Union is not the only code"
A tale of a gay sports commentator who falls in love with Rugby League and into conflict with her horse-loving partner.

I have been nearer to getting a film with a rugby league backdrop produced than most people. In 2007 I was asked to send a copy of my first novel 'One Winter' to the Pinewood Studios. Two and a half years later I was informed by my contact there that 'Although One Winter is a lovely read, I have had no interest from any production companies I have contacted.'
Then in 2010 Mickey Rourke heard about my material through Scott Moore and Keith Mason and I was asked to send him my four novels. He later let me know that he had thoroughly enjoyed reading them as novels. Unfortunately for me it was around the time that he had first heard about Gareth Thomas. When Mickey makes a film he likes to build it around a strong character which is why he is going ahead with a film based on the life and times of the Welshman.
Hopefully I might strike it lucky with my Plan C which is now being worked on but I know just how difficult it is to have a novel turned into a film.

See below for more information.

Quote ="tw15"I've been thinking a movie with a set in an environment of Rugby League and Northern Soul would make for a great story. Maybe a coming-of-age story, where the principal players are passionate about their RL team and their music. Maybe a romance set in late 1960s/ early 1970s Wigan, with match scenes. There's only a few things that stop me from writing such a script myself: I was too young to know the 1960s, I've never lived in the North, I don't know enough about Northern Soul, and I can't write. Would RL make a good theme/background for a movie, in a way that didn't involve kitchen sink drama and flat caps (as in previous movies)? Potential titles: Sleepless in St Helens; Danny Maguire; Smith and (Halliwell) Jones; A room with Belle Vue, Wind at The Willows. Any ideas/suggestions for how RL could be included a movie script?'" It's been done a few times. I recommend you watch The Final Winter (2007) if you haven't seen it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Final_Winter There was also one that came out around the same time called 'Footy Legends', but I never actually saw it so I can't give an opinion on it... It did look a bit half-d in the previews though...

Quote ="tw15"I've been thinking a movie with a set in an environment of Rugby League and Northern Soul would make for a great story. Maybe a coming-of-age story, where the principal players are passionate about their RL team and their music. Maybe a romance set in late 1960s/ early 1970s Wigan, with match scenes. There's only a few things that stop me from writing such a script myself: I was too young to know the 1960s, I've never lived in the North, I don't know enough about Northern Soul, and I can't write. Would RL make a good theme/background for a movie, in a way that didn't involve kitchen sink drama and flat caps (as in previous movies)? Potential titles: Sleepless in St Helens; Danny Maguire; Smith and (Halliwell) Jones; A room with Belle Vue, Wind at The Willows. Any ideas/suggestions for how RL could be included a movie script?'" It's been done a few times. I recommend you watch The Final Winter (2007) if you haven't seen it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Final_Winter There was also one that came out around the same time called 'Footy Legends', but I never actually saw it so I can't give an opinion on it... It did look a bit half-d in the previews though...

Footy legends was an aussie version of up and under. Comedy that was easy viewing popcorn fare. Final Winter is a very good filme as it features a historic time in the game when the sport started to become more professional. A good RL film would feature strong characters, a time when the game was in change and of course have some great action shots. I reckon something around the SL war in Oz would make a great film, friendships were torn apart, clubs were decimated and there was some dastardly underhand backstabbing going on. Probably would be blocked by News Ltd but still great fodder for a scriptwriter before the people involved die off! Would be a cracker!

That would appeal to die-hard RL fans, but I'd love to see a film that would interest someone new to the game.

Having said that, I think the 1895 schism and the Vichy govt's treatment of the sport would make great plots.

The Australians are hardly known for a great film industry though, they have had their moments of course but as great as some of the Australian RL films are, they are always going to be for a niche audience.

Actually Australia has a great film industry with a number of hollywood blockbusters being filmed here. Our home grown stuff is ok but as an "industry" there is a lot of talent and production skill in Oz.

I think the basic premise is a bit off the mark - trying to tie Northern Soul to RL is stretching it a bit, from what I can gather, soulies weren't much into RL as a rule, they have a strong undercurrent of football hooliganism attached (long thread on soul-source.com about it some time ago) but even that was secondary to the music.

Write one story or the other, but as the cliche has it... "Write what you know". Given that you know nothing about the north, northern soul or RL of that era, I'd guess you're on a loser?

The problem with sport themed films is that they appeal to the sport fans only.

The best films are as the OP implies are those that have a story of it's own, with a backdrop of the sport.
The Matt Damon film Invictus was good, but the story was appealing because of the political story that went with it. It would have been pretty shallow if it had only been a story about the world cup.
Alternatively, if its the 'buddy' movie or 'us against them' move like a Mean Machine, the sport is just a vehicle for the rest of the plot. Mean Machine would have been a good film for rugby league but of course more likely to be remade with football and Vinnie Jones.

The better use of Rugby League, that would still work now was the Tina Turner Simply the Best video. Her song quite happily stood on its own, but the video was great. You didn't have to understand the sport to enjoy the big hits or the joking faces. They made the faces more well known though. Dire Straits did a simpler thing with Walk of Life.
I always thought M People would have done something like that when Heather Small had her time. Her songs would have been perfect for an inspirational video. If I was at the Rugby League at the time, I would have paid for the video production myself, just to get it out there.

I hope the Gareth Thomas story is a good one, but it is going to be Rugby Union first. We simply need to see Rugby League as a viable alternative, rather than an end of career, Ooop North ending.

If he ever let it be written, the Ellery Hanley story would be a pretty good one. Started a long way away from where he is now.

Look up "Finn Brothers - Suffer Never" on that video site.

Wow, thanks for pointing me at that. Great footage and a great song too.
Never seen or heard of that before.

Why the connection? Are they Sts supporters?

No, idea. They are New Zealanders I think. Formerly of Crowded House.