SAMARKAND: The fact that this new project is in development with the Tom Hardy name firmly attached to it immediately spells authenticity and originality. Given the seriousness of the subject matter, intrigue and suspense are on red alert on my radar with this production.
When Tom Hardy was recently in Afghanistan (June 2012) for extensive research in the area he enlisted the expertise of an international security specialist society called Pilgrims Group to guarantee the safety of the the research group that included Olly Williams who will co-script this project with his brother photographer Greg Williams directing it.
They visited an Afghan prison and the British Cemetery in Kabul where Olly Williams explained that they had a pressing need for accuracy in conveying the daily life of the soldier “in an environment where there is constant danger”…he also claimed that in their research they indeed learned a great deal to employ into their story which will deal with ”the urban war zone and track the operational intensity of a Special Forces soldier.”
“Tom Hardy comments:“In my line of work it’s very important to do the right kind of research. Part of that is endeavouring to immerse oneself in areas and cultures that are off the beaten track to most civilians. Observing the real world is not always possible or sensible without the help of appropriate adults who can facilitate, escort, advise, supervise and generally take care of every situation that can, and often does, arise on a daily basis in these territories.”
Olly Williams comments: “Elements of our film are set in an urban war zone and track the operational intensity of a Special Forces soldier. Tom, as an actor, and I, as a script writer, wanted to get a sense of daily life in an environment where there is constant danger. Spending time on the ground with Pilgrims’ professional operators, observing their protocols and visiting serving military personnel and bases, gave us valuable insight into daily life and banter as well as into local customs.”
William Freear: “Pilgrims adopted a typically low profile to cater for Tom and Olly’s visit. We relied on the quality of ourintelligence, planning, personnel and procedures to ensure a safe and successful trip. Our approach was to allow as much exposure to the real Afghanistan as possible without putting them at unnecessary risk.”
This project will be Greg Williams feature length debut. This is not the first time he has worked with Tom Hardy. They successfully submitted a short film around the short film festivals and garnered critical acclaim and awards for Best Direction and Best Actor Performance at the Chicago Short Film Festival in 2010.
Filming is expected to begin after Mad Max: Fury Road is completed at the end of 2012.
It is clear that Tom Hardy is in search of creating meaningful films that stretch his talent and artistry and promotes a return of quality to the arena of the cinema.
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