Select Blinds helps Neds film achieve success

HIT movie Neds kept its box office rivals in the shade with a little help from Coatbridge.

The current cinema hit, set in 1970s Glasgow, enlisted Whifflet-based firm Select Blinds to help make the film sets look more authentic.

All the window blinds used in each scene of the Scottish box office smash were made by the successful local company.

Select Blinds boss Derek Hill was delighted to help when his company was asked to get involved.

He said: “We worked closely with the crew to try to create a 70s retro look.

“They told us the look they were after and we had to do a fair bit of work to source the colours and materials to make it look authentic.

“We had to help make one room look like four different rooms for different scenes so a fair bit went into it.

“They would explain what they wanted depending on the angle of the shot.

“It was good to be involved in the making of the film, which we only really did for the publicity.

“They were on a tight budget so we only really did it for the price we did because it was a Scottish film. We actually ended up doing it practically at cost!

“I haven’t been to see the film yet but all my staff have and they were shouting out when they saw the blinds.”

Neds tells the violent story of gangs in a fictional Glasgow housing scheme.

It was directed by award-winning filmmaker Peter Mullan whose previous movies include The Magadalene Sisters and Orphans.

Select Blinds boss Derek asked another Scottish screen legend, David Hayman, to open his new premises in Dundyvan Industrial Estate last month.

Now Derek and his team are touting for more movie work.

But the Coatbridge businessman has eye on sunnier climes for his next cinematic project.

He added: “I would definitely be interested in doing more film set work.

“But maybe the Bahamas next time and not Glasgow!”