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Peaky Blinders creator plans to open studio in LA

BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Matt Squire Publicity shot of Peaky Blinders character Tom Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy, wearing a suit, dark red scarf and grey flat cap BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Matt Squire
The new Peaky Blinders film will be shot at Digbeth Loc studios and locations across the West Midlands

The creator of the Peaky Blinders drama series has announced plans to open a studio in Los Angeles in the US.

Steven Knight has said he wants to bring Birmingham’s Digbeth Loc Studios to the States to highlight the work of film-makers from the Midlands.

It comes as production is due to start for the Peaky Blinders film at locations across the region.

"We’re gearing up for big productions, because we believe that we have to be very ambitious and I think that we're going to make it," he said.

PA Media Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight in a blue suit and a white shirt standing in an empty warehousePA Media
The creator of Peaky Blinders, Steven Knight says he wants to highlight the work of creatives from the Midlands

Speaking from LA, Knight told the BBC: "I’m going to open a Digbeth Loc Studio here where people can go and look at what we're doing.

"See pictures, decks and video of what's happening, so people in LA can experience what we’re doing at Digbeth."

The Birmingham-based movie will follow the infamous Shelby family into World War Two, with Saltburn star Barry Keoghan being the latest actor to join the cast.

Knight said: "We will be shooting at Digbeth Loc and we found some unbelievably good locations around Birmingham and West Midlands. We will be at the Black Country Living Museum again there will be locations around the country as well.

"We’re all very excited - this will be the end of the first chapter of Peaky Blinders."

A girl with long dark-brown hair and wearing a black t-shirt standing in front of a production camera
Tannaz Razpoush is one of 13 people to graduate from the Kudos Knight training scheme

The screenwriter has also launched a four-week training scheme for people who want to pursue a career in film.

Thirteen trainees aged between 18 and 38 have now graduated from the Kudos Knight Scripted Production Training initiative, which has been taking place in Birmingham.

Graduate Tannaz Razpoush said: "We got to be professionals and act like we had been doing this role for more than 100 years while the truth is we didn't know anything about this prior to the course.

"The confidence I feel in myself and the level of readiness that I feel to go outside and actually be an asset is something I feel is very valuable personally."

A man with canerowed hair wearing a black jacket standing in front of four men who are sat at a white table and they are using laptops
Nigel Chapwania said many people gave up on their dreams due to a lack of opportunity in the industry

Nigel Chapwania, from Walsall, acted as a marshal during the production of Knight drama This Town.

He said there was so much talent in the area, but many stories were left untold as people often gave up on their dreams due to lack of opportunity.

Knight himself said it was also about reflecting diversity within the film industry.

He said: "It’s really important that we make sure that this is an industry that employs the people of the city.

"We need Birmingham and West Midlands people to understand that this is a real industry that is here to stay and you can make a fabulous career."

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