CAST your mind back, if you can, to Capital of Culture and recall some of the exciting events of 2008 – the opening weekend, the spider, the tall ships, Superlambananas, McCartney at Anfield.
Some may also recall director Terence Davies’s cinematic love letter to Liverpool, Of Time and the City.
Actress Kerrie Hayes certainly does. Of Time and the City was one of three films made through the Digital Departures competition run by city culture bosses and Northwest Vision and Media.
And while Terence Davies’s movie soared up and away from the Mersey to win plaudits in Cannes, London and New York, it’s been more of a long and winding road for the other two winning works.
But now Kicks, starring Anfield-born Kerrie, is set to get its own nationwide release.
The movie, penned by Liverpool writer Leigh Campbell, tells the story of two Liverpool teenagers infatuated with celebrity and fame who bond over their obsession with a Premiership footballer (played by Jamie Doyle) – only this fantasy is to take a dark twist.
“I got hold of the script the day before the audition,” explains the 23-year-old who has just finished filming Inspector George Gently, in Durham.
“At the time I was living in London, and it was nice to read about Liverpool because that might bring you back home, and I was interested in the whole WAG thing that hasn’t really been approached as an issue on the darker side.
“Lindy’s (Heymann, the director) idea seemed so different and interesting as well, so that sealed it for me, I wanted to do the project even more.”
Kerrie, whose first major role in front of the cameras was in Heidi Thomas’s BBC drama Lilies, admits it’s been a long road from filming to Kicks being released.
The film won interest at Edinburgh and London last year, with Kerrie named an Edinburgh “trailblazer” and director Lindy and writer Leigh nominated for best newcomer at the London Film Festival.
The actress, who admits when she was a child she wanted to be “either a teacher or a Formula One driver or a synchronised swimmer” – until she discovered acting and realised she was “a little bit of an exhibitionist”– had a small role in John Lennon biopic Nowhere Boy.
And alongside Inspector George Gently, she’s also been filming a re- make of Graham Greene’s classic Brighton Rock.
Could theatre ever beckon?
“I’d never say never,” Kerrie considers. “But over the years I’ve been learning more through the camera and that’s my favourite; I love learning about the technical side of filming as well as acting.”
KICKS (15) goes on release in selected cinemas from Friday.
