SKY1'S new drama Mad Dogs, set entirely in Majorca, is just days away from hitting the screens in the UK and last night it was officially unveiled at a gala presentation in London.
The multi-million pound production which stars Britain's most sought after actors, Max Beesley (Bodies), Philip Glenister (Ashes to Ashes), John Simm (Skellig) and Marc Warren (Hustle) and Ben Chaplin, Dorian Gray), was shot on location all over the island last summer and the four part drama was shot in areas such as Soller, Pollensa and Palma among other recognisable locations.
Last night's presentation was attended by members of the Council of Majorca's, Majorcan Tourism Foundation, which invested 150'000 euros in to the production, and Palma Pictures which co-produced and facilitated the series here in Majorca.
According to the Majorca Tourism Foundation, the location shoot in Majorca generated 1.2 million euros for the local economy and will provide the island with priceless publicity as, not only is the series one of the most anticipated of this year, the story line is also based here on the island as opposed to Majorca being used as a back drop for another location.
Last night's presentation was attended by the Council of Majorca's Tourism chief Isabel Oliver and the Director of the Majorcan Tourism Foundation, Mar Suau.
The Foundation, which was the main driving force behind the creation of the troubled Majorcan Film Commission, is heavily committed to participating in ventures of this kind as they consider the world wide coverage the island will receive through series like Mad Dogs, which will eventually be shown across the globe, as a new and vital tool towards promoting the island and boosting the region's image.
It will also help stamp the island's mark on the map of top European filming locations.
Mad Dogs is going to be prime time viewing and is expected to attract average viewing figures of at least three million per episode.
Suau also said that this project was the perfect window for the island's audiovisual industry to demonstrate just how capable and professional it is and the excellent facilities Majorca boasts for film production, such as the huge studio Palma Pictures has at their Marratxi headquarters.
Written by Cris Cole Mad Dogs centres around the reunion of a group of old friends. Woody (Beesley), Quinn (Glenister), Baxter (Simm) and Rick (Warren) have been mates since sixth form.
The fifth member of the gang, Alvo, lives in Majorca, having made his fortune in property.
Now in their 40s; a mix of single, married and divorced; they've been invited out to Alvo's villa to celebrate his retirement.
However, their trip does not work out as planned and takes a dark turn for when the holiday becomes a labyrinthine nightmare of lies, deception and murder.
Mad Dogs is a darkly comic twisted tale of friendship put to the ultimate test as an inconceivable chain of events unfolds. Four ordinary blokes faced with a set of extraordinary circumstances and not handling it!
Mad Dogs is a major new show for Sky1, featuring an all-star cast and continuing Sky's commitment to investing in new UK drama, said Naomi Gibney, director of marketing and communications at Sky Networks. We wanted the (publicity) campaign to reflect the black humour and rather unsettling nature of the series and working with the highly imaginative David LaChapelle has given us a treatment which perfectly captures the darkness and distinctiveness of the show.
Sky executive creative director Clare McDonald added: The Mad Dogs script and cast are so inspirational that we knew from the very beginning it would be special.
With such an iconic cast, we knew we had to make an iconic promo, and David LaChapelle was the perfect director for it. He was a dream to work with, staying true to our vision, and we're delighted with the results.
Although the series does not actually go to air until February 10, Sky is generating so much media activity and excitement around the series that it is holding special screenings around the country on February 1. The brand new drama will be shown, to those who have been able to beat the rush and get tickets via the Sky website, in cinemas in Bristol, Leeds, Cheshire Oaks, Romford, Edinburgh, Leicester, Birmingham, London Westfield, and The O2, London.
And watch this space, because there are already industry rumours of a second series being shot in Majorca.
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