Major Guernsey Occupation film to be shot on-island this summer

A Hollywood based company run by Guernsey man Gene Fallaize aims to tell the real story of the hardship of life under Nazi rule.

Guernsey born filmmaker Gene Fallaize will return to his home island this summer with his international production company, Cupsogue Pictures, to shoot a feature film.

He says there are no tax breaks or incentives but he wants to produce 'Guernsey's film':

"It works out about 30% in tax credits that we lose. We could save money not shooting in Guernsey." 

But, he is determined to do it and the story will focus on the island's Occupation during the Second World War.

Gene says 'Under The Watchful Gaze' will aim to be authentic, and portray what people endured, although he is unable to reveal too much of the plot at the moment:

"It's based around real life events, but our two main characters are fictional.

"If people have heard of Guernsey and the Occupation at all, it's mostly been through (The Guernsey Literary and) Potato Peel Pie Society, but even then, it's done in kind of a light way.

"It wasn't really until I moved away from Guernsey and realised that most people in the UK have zero understanding of it, and absolutely the rest of the world, it is absolutely as if it's breaking news.

"Our partners in America and the Far East, they thought it was a fictional location made for the film.

"So, you know, I feel that there is something to be told there and to be able to make the world at large aware."

Gene says his team, based in Hollywood, will come to Guernsey in May to explore locations and host auditions as he wants to use local talent:

"We'll be inviting islanders to participate in the film in many ways.

"Local companies, local vendors, local suppliers, local cast and crew where we possibly can as well.

"We want it to be Guernsey's film, a film that Guernsey is proud to call its own."

He says filming is due to take place in July and August and it will feature Guernsey heavily:

"We're planning on filming as much as we can in Guernsey, all of our exteriors.

"We may have to use studios in the UK for our interior locations, just because Guernsey doesn't have any sound stages."

Post release, Gene expects the potential impact for island tourism to be significant:

"There is a huge, huge market out there for what I call film tourism.

"People love to go and visit locations in films.

"So there will be a huge influx, not only from the direct production spends on Guernsey, which will benefit the island, but then the subsequent people that come to Guernsey purely through finding out about the film.

"We know that that was the case with the Potato Peel Pie Society."