Picture this β¦ A 14-year-old travelling up and down the country following the club that he loves. How many of the people reading this does that relate too? Iβd probably say a fair few.
Just 14 is a coming-of-age comedy following the journey of Jonathon, a 14-year-old Villa fan, as he mixes being a Villan with all the other adventures your stereotypical 14-year-old goes through.
WHAT IS JUST 14?
Just 14 is a fictional story based on true events that follows the story of a 14-year-old Villa fan during the 1980s. What started off as a book written by Andy Dale is now in the process of becoming a feature length film.Β Β
Earlier this year, the promotional trailer showcased the direction the film is going in. The trailer was partly funded by crowdfunding and through investors who happen to be Villa fans.
Those with eagle eyes will spot a few familiar faces in the trailer. Des Bremner, Gary Shaw, Tony Morley, and Kenny Swain have swapped the green pitch for the green screen as they feature in the trailer.
Andy Dale, the director and author of the Just 14 book, is a director and Villa fan who happened to be 14 at the time of the 1980/81 season. I spoke to Andy to find out more about the Just 14 story so far.
UTV PODCAST X JUST 14
Letβs take it to the very start of the Just 14 journey. What made you want to turn the book into the film and how long has the film being in the works for?
“I published the book in 2015 and was stunned at how well it was received. Selling over 20,000 copies in the very first year. In 2018 one of the readers contacted me saying what a great TV series it would make. I started talking to a lecturer from the film studies degree course at Birmingham City University (perhaps I shouldn’t have included the Birmingham City bit!). The lecturer then put me in touch with a local Film Director, Steve Broster, who he said was a big Villa fan”.
“Over a pint Steve and I started to work together and both agreed this was a complete story (covering all 1980/81 season) which would be best as a 90 minute film. We felt it could be similar to the Arsenal (1988/89) one Fever Pitch, but wanted to add more comedy and tears. The style would be Fever Pitch meets Gregory’s Girl with a hint of Adrian Mole”.
“Covid-19 slowed us down, but since the start of 2022 it’s been all systems go. The main work happened in the second part of last year”.
The Promotional Trailer features four familiar faces to Villa fans. Gary Shaw, Tony Morley, Des Bremner and Kenny Swain all play a cameo. As well as this, many of the crew are from or around Birmingham. How important was it to include these local faces?
“I really want the film to showcase the great talent from Birmingham and the surrounding area. The production crew Mockingbird Films Co’ are from Stourbridge. Steve and I both felt we needed people who knew the area and had a love for it. We have now added local Historian Carl Chinn to the team to make sure 80’s Birmingham is represented correctly”.
“The cameo roles for players was always something I wanted to happen. For the more mature Villa fans it will be an extra part of the film spotting them, although most of the audience will just see them as extras. Of the 13 surviving players from that season 11 have already agreed to cameos in the film. The other two we are working on and I’m confident we will convince them (don’t be shy Dennis!)”.
“Sadly, Eamonn Deacy is no longer with us, but we have spoken with his family in Ireland and he will turn up, computer generated, somewhere in the film. Having Gary Shaw playing a teacher in the trailer was unreal becauseΒ we actually managed to film in my old school. All the legends are such great gents though and meeting them made me even more determined to get the film made”.Β Β
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When I initially watched the Just 14 trailer there was an overwhelming sense of authenticity. The use of ex Villa players, Birmingham based crew and the fact itβs partially based off a true story. Do you think that the use of crowdfunding also helped add that element of authenticity?
“The extras really made it. All Villa fans who were all so eager to be involved. We have built up quite a community. Our Facebook group @Just14themovie has brought so many West Midland fans together. It isn’t just Villa. Wolves and Albion play a big part in the story. Although we all know who comes out on top. All the nostalgia parts are true as are all the football related bits. I do think that helps people relate to it more. With the book so many readers have said I could be telling their story. Saying this I felt the early 80’s feel was lacking a little in the trailer and we will work a lot more of this into the film. More 80’s TV, toys, Sports Argus and news items”.Β Β
“I have to be honest and say the Crowdfunding has not really taken off as I had hoped, but times are hard for people at the moment. Probably 90% of funds have come from a small group of investors, all Villa fans so far. It’s a dream we are going to see become reality but finance is always the biggest challenge. Via grants, private investors, sales or crowdfunding we will get there. Perhaps somebody reading this would like the opportunity to get involved in this feelgood Villa related movie”.
If you would like to get involved you can donate using this link https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/just14themoviepreproductionfund).
Tell us more about the filming experience! We want to know the Good, the Bad and the Ugly!
“It’s a whole new world to me and have to admit so far I’m loving it. Director Steve Broster and myself are off to Cannes in May (avoiding any Villa fixtures) to pitch the project further. The best bit has been the people I have met. Too many to mention but many with amazing stories. Such stories as making incredible Subbuteo models of Villa Park as it is now, flying back from Rotterdam with the European Cup on your lap, having a prosthetic leg with a picture of Jack Grealish on and taking old Villa shirts out to Gambia. So many amazing people”.
“The Bad is probably the frustration that despite getting so far and winning nine awards for the trailer that we still haven’t got the funds to start filming”.Β
“Ugly part, well they managed to get me in the trailer against my wishes. At least I got to walk with Kenny Swain in front of Aston Hall for two hours. Didn’t realise how many takes would be involved. Kenny talked about when he was 14 and used to play Subbuteo after school. He played in his front room with Terry McDermott, Dennis Mortimer and Phil Thompson”.
Finally, whatβs next for Just 14?
“A good question. We have several big name film stars (Villa celebrity fans) and hopefully they will be committing to the project very soon. This will then hopefully help us to appeal more to film investors. We have applied for funding from BFI (British Film Institute) that we should hear back from in the next two months. We continue our Crowdfunding appeal to keep funding the Pre-Production stage (https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/just14themoviepreproductionfund). We are also working with a Hollywood script doctor to add more humour to our script. I’m really pleased at how that is going”.
“Ideally we will start full production and filming in September. It’s taking longer than I had anticipated, but we are still determined to have ‘Just 14’ in cinemas worldwide and also downloadable some time in 2024. We are keen to coincide with the club’s 150th Anniversary year”.
“I have to say that the club has been very supportive of the project. There is no commercialΒ involvement but we have their full backing and it was great to be allowed to film within Villa Park”.
AUTHOR | ELLIS BURNETT
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