'Big names' secured for upcoming feature film to be shot in Middlesbrough

A Middlesbrough actor has turned his hand to movie producing and will bring a new film to the town later this month.

Carl Wilson-Downie, 36, is developing a new feature film called The Last Audition, which tells the story of an aspiring young actor who, after a year of unsuccessful auditions, tries to blackmail a director but faces dire consequences. The filming for the movie is set to start in Middlesbrough at the end of January.

There will be some “big names” in the movie, including Amber Doig-Thorne, the former BBC 3 presenter who also starred in Winnie The Pooh Blood and Honey, and Michaela Langsdon, who has appeared in TV shows such as Doctors and Coronation Street. Carl believes that within the next five years Teesside will be one of the leading places in the north for independent filmmaking.

The former Stockton Riverside College and Teesside University student said: “This film will be massive and will give the talented people in Teesside a huge opportunity. It will also benefit Middlesbrough as a whole, not just actors, but also musicians and will create local jobs for people.”

Smoggie Productions, based in Middlesbrough, will handle the filmmaking and All Inclusive Entertainment will produce the music for the film. Carl added that The Last Audition is “something of a creative spectacular, in terms of it’s always taking you in directions you don’t see coming”.

Carl began his acting journey while he studied at college and university but had to take a break for a number of years due to having an ACL reconstruction – a knee ligament surgery. Eventually, he returned to acting and went to the Kingdom Drama School, set up by multi award winning Top Boy actor Ashley Walters, for one year.

Poster for Carl’s new feature film, The Last Audition

From there, Carl secured roles in HBO series House of Dragon and Sexy Beast. He has also done background work in Hollyoaks and the Netflix show Bodies in 2023. He is currently working with the Taste of Africa and the black creative artist network to showcase African and Caribbean culture in the North East in a positive way.

Carl continued: “I found myself naturally falling into the role as producer which it turns out it’s something I’m naturally good at, working very closely working with Mark Spayne from Smoggie Productions with lead roles in some of his up and coming projects and helping him produce his films which is amazing. I’m literally living my dream but at home.

“I always imagined I would have to move away to work in films which I have done for the past three years, but now everything is coming to the North East, and thankfully I’ve been able to find myself at the right time in the right place.”

Carl, who has produced two feature films so far – Power Cut and Taking Out the Neighbours – and is hoping to secure funds for The Last Audition and has already secured some of the budget from private investors . To donate, click here.