Simon showcases the real Phoenix Nights

The ‘Real Phoenix Nights’ will be screened at the University of Teesside on Monday 4 June.

The short film, focusing on the Beechwood and Easterside Social Club in Middlesbrough, was inspired by the TV programme Phoenix Nights and is the final year project of student, Simon Hunter.

And this is a subject close to home, as Simon sings in clubs, pubs and holiday camps in his spare time.

Simon, 23, from Middlesbrough started singing aged 14 and has been passionate about music all his life. He will be one of around 40 final year students from the BA(hons) Television and Media Professional Practice degree, who will showcase their final year projects during an event at the University on Monday 4 June. Please note, this event is not open to the general public.

Simon and three of his fellow students decided to focus their project on the Beechwood and Easterside Social Club in Middlesbrough. He explained: “We decided to visit a local social club for a documentary-style observational piece and contacted the club about filming there. The committee were really supportive and gave us virtually unlimited access to the club.

“I’m a really big fan of the television series, Phoenix Nights and that’s what inspired me to focus on a social club. From the nine hours of footage, we’ve managed to find a few clips that bear an uncanny resemblance to the programme! We were then faced with our biggest challenge – editing it all down to a 15-minute documentary!

“Fortunately, the facilities at the University are excellent and the tutors are all experts in their field, with experience of working for the BBC and other high profile organisations. The course also has a good blend of practice and theory and encourages creativity, which is so important.”

Simon himself is no stranger to the North-East’s club, pub and holiday camp circuit. He said: “I have been singing with my Dad, Alan, for the last two years and we have established ourselves as a versatile act. We can do something for almost every audience; from Westlife and the Backstreet Boys for the younger generation, to Elton John, The Eagles and Dean Martin.”

After studying for an HND in music technology, Simon moved straight onto the second year of his degree course at the University of Teesside and hopes one day to progress to a career in TV production, with his long term ambition to produce big budget films in New Zealand.

He said: “In the last few years, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, amongst other TV programmes, have been filmed in New Zealand. It’s my ambition to one day be part of a project of that scale, but in the meantime I would like to work in sound and camera on documentaries and hopefully work my way up.”

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