Filming continues for The Palace Diaries says filmmaker Lara Hewitt

Filming is continuing this week for Longridge filmmaker Lara Hewitt’s new film ‘The Palace Diaries’.

But while this is permitted following the county’s move into Tier 4, the new Coronavirus restrictions mean Lara will be adapting her script and postponing filming of scenes involving local extras.

Lara said: “Filming is continuing with the core cast. Prior to Christmas we were asking members of the community to be in scenes as extras. Although that's technically allowable it doesn't feel quite right to do that at the moment ... We'll just have to film Christmas whenever we get out of Tier 4 and things are looking a bit better. I’ll have to rewrite the script to factor Tier 4.”

The core team, who have been working in a social bubble, will continue to have regular Coronavirus tests as appropriate.

The Christmas film, which Lara hopes to release in December 2021, will now feature snow scenes, thanks to this week's weather.

The film centres on The Palace cinema and theatre in Longridge and a fight for its future.

Lara who runs the cinema announced before Christmas that it would go on sale in 2021 and acknowledges the film will blend fact with fiction as the story unfolds.

Our photos show scenes of filming before Christmas when there was socially distanced carol singing near Longridge Heritage Centre, clips from which might appear in the final film.

* The Lancashire Post is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. For unlimited access to Lancashire news and information online, you can subscribe here