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Cornwall Film supported feature gets BBC transmission

Don't miss The Art of Catching Lobsters on Sept 27th.

“The Art Of Catching Lobsters”
A 90’ Documentary for BBC4.
Transmission premiere: 10pm on BBC4 on Sept 27th, 2007.

The Art of Catching Lobsters is an extraordinary and deeply poignant film directed by Jane Darke, in a Sevenstones Media / Boatshed Films co-production for transmission on BBC4 on September 27th at 10pm.

Shot entirely on the beautiful, rugged North Cornish coast, this feature length documentary chronicles the life of Jane’s husband Nick as a fisherman, beachcomber and playwright. Already a stroke victim, Nick is unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer and from that moment on the film captures Nick’s efforts to pass on his knowledge and experience to his sons.

The Art of Catching Lobsters is a deeply moving portrayal of loss, grief and hope – Nick is a man who planned his life by the tides and this intimate journey details how he copes with both a stroke and cancer by teaching his son Henry the art of catching lobsters.

Film-maker Jane Darke uniquely captures pain, suffering and death in an honest account of how a wife copes with the loss of a husband, life partner and lover and how through her son Henry she witnesses the gift Nick has given them both.

Jane said of her intention: “I wanted to make a film about the playwright Nick Darke because he was a man from a different time, a passionate, talented, generous, wise, beautiful man and because I loved him. The Art of Catching Lobsters is about love and loss, it’s a celebration of life.”

The Boatshed / Sevenstones Media Co-Production was written and directed by Jane Darke and produced by Jeremy Gibson and Mike Cunliffe of Sevenstones Media. A BBC commission, the film was developed with the help of Cornwall Film and University College Falmouth.
The Art of Catching Lobsters will be broadcast on September 27th on BBC 4 at 10pm and then is expected to travel the festival circuit thereafter.

Shot over nearly two years the film’s early production was helped by investment from Business Relations at University College Falmouth.

Cornwall Film’s Development Fund supported Jane Darke to develop a teaser for the documentary that resulted in the project’s BBC pick-up and commission.

Cornwall Film is the media development agency for Cornwall and works to develop a sustainable film, TV and digital media industry in the county. Cornwall Film is financed by the European Union, and is a partnership of South West Screen, Cornwall County Council and Penwith District Council

Sevenstones Media is a Production Company specialising in documentary, factual entertainment and format development for broadcast television.

Jane Darke is a visual artist and has been painting for over 25 years and she lives in Porthcothan, Cornwall, working in oils on canvas of varying sizes and on paper. Her previous feature The Wrecking Season is a unique story about coastal communities along the North Atlantic costline.