Sutton Coldfield Festival of Arts

• Venue: Empire Cinema

Director Niall Johnson will introduce a screening of his hit film Keeping Mum (15) at the Empire Cinema in Maney Corner on Saturday July 12 between 10am and 1pm.
Former Arthur Terry pupil Niall had huge success with the 2005 comedy, which starred Rowan Atkinson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith and Patrick Swayze.

Johnson (pictured on set with Atkinson) rewrote the screenplay for Keeping Mum, a comedy about a village vicar, his family and a serial killer housekeeper, from one prepared by award-winning American novelist Richard Russo.

Scott Thomas was the first key cast member to come on board after reading the script a year and a half before shooting began, followed by Atkinson, who had seen Johnson’s previous films. Smith followed Swayze.

The director won over Swayze, star of Dirty Dancing, by telling him his was a cheesy role. His character Lance thinks he’s Patrick Swayze, but isn’t.

“When Patrick understood that, he threw himself into it,” said Johnson, who is based in Clevedon near Bristol.
“He said that that was exactly the sort of part he wanted now.”

Niall will host a question-and-answer session following the screening. Admission is £2, with the money going to the Poppy Fields Appeal. Tickets must be collected in person in advance.