'Amazing reviews' for Lancaster production company's short film in support of Manchester Pride

Lancaster-based video production company McGill Productions received rave reviews this weekend after the release of their short-film for Manchester Pride, “Manchester Pride Parade: The Movie”.
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The 15 minute film, part of an ongoing collaboration with Manchester Pride, explores the history of gay rights in the UK, highlighting the growth of Pride in Manchester and the shift in attitudes towards homosexuality over the last 30 years.

The piece was created to open this year’s Pride Festival in Manchester, which was held virtually over the August bank holiday weekend.

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The event, which typically takes the form of a physical, four-day extravaganza in the heart of Manchester, celebrates and recognises the LGBTQ+ community with live music acts including Ariana Grande, Years & Years and Jake Shears, art exhibitions and a huge, 300-float Parade.

Harry McGill, Mollie Chell and Shane Ogley from McGill Productions.Harry McGill, Mollie Chell and Shane Ogley from McGill Productions.
Harry McGill, Mollie Chell and Shane Ogley from McGill Productions.

In the wake of COVID-19, the whole Pride event, including the Parade, was postponed.

With no way to bring people together physically, Manchester Pride needed to find an alternative way to unite people.

The team at McGills took on the challenge, working closely with the Pride team to create a piece that would open the weekend with a bang.

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Co-Founder and Managing Director, Shane Ogley said: “We knew how important it was to get this video right.

A still from the film.A still from the film.
A still from the film.

“We’ve partnered with Pride for the last three years and we wanted to create something that would blow all our previous work out the water.

"From talking with people in the community at previous festivals, we came to learn how hard it has been to grow up gay for many people over the years.

"We wanted to highlight this struggle in history and how, through fighting together, the community can now celebrate.”

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He added: “Seeing the amazing reviews has made me incredibly proud of the team.

"We want to be making the biggest films and documentaries in the world one day, and this short film is a stepping stone towards that future.

"We are incredibly thankful to Pride for the opportunity.”

The film received positive praise on Twitter.

“The Manchester Pride Movie is absolutely incredible. Amazing…and I couldn’t be prouder. Happy Pride everyone x” (@Jestermryan).

“I was OK until I started watching this and seeing people that I know and now I'm in bits, it's like watching my family from a distance” (@99thRedBalloon).

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Pride’s CEO Mark Fletcher said: “The McGill team did an incredible job with the film. I was very proud to present it to our audiences and I know it will leave a lasting legacy.”

McGill's co-founder, creative director and director of the film, Harry McGill, said: "To say the response has been beyond amazing would be an understatement.

“We put our heart and soul into the video. I’ve been really proud of a lot of the work we’ve produced as a company over the years, but this one might take the cake.

Hearing all the wonderful feedback has been very humbling.”

You can watch ‘Manchester Pride Parade: The Movie’ here.