To celebrate the release of The Bromley Boys on DVD and Digital Download, we caught up with actor and producer TJ Herbert to find out a little bit more about the movie! Here, he talks about the seven-year process he went through bringing The Bromley Boys from page to screen, along with the film's premiere at Wembley Stadium earlier this year and more.
TJ Herbert chats with Female First to celebrate the release of The Bromley Boys
For those who haven't yet seen The Bromley Boys, what can you tell us about the film and the role you play?
The Bromley Boys is a coming of age/romantic comedy set in late sixties Britain. It’s a story about first loves and all the beautiful awkwardness that goes with it. I am the producer and also play Roy Oliver, a myopic dustbin mad and Bromley FC die hard fan.
Can you tell us a little bit about a typical day on the set of the movie? If indeed there were any 'typical' days!
No two days are ever the same on a film shoot. I guess that’s the beauty and why I love doing it so much. The nature of filmmaking means each day brings new challenges. For example on the very first day of filming we had our camera truck put in a pound – so we effectively lost our first day, and when you’re on the clock and time really means money it wasn’t the best of starts. I guess if one thing was typical it would be the extremely long days on a shoot.
You not only star in the film, but you created it after securing the rights from the original book's author! What was that whole experience like, of creating this movie from start to finish?
Yes that’s right, I secured the rights to the book The Bromley Boys over seven years ago now. There were days when I doubted we’d ever get it over the line – but due to the collaborative nature of filmmaking you pick up people along the way that want to come on the journey also. And that really helped drive me and the film over the line. I’m told it takes an average [of] seven years to make a film so we’re on point with that – though I’d like to think the film is far from average.
What was it about this story that really encouraged you to take it on and turn it into something for the big screen?
The backdrop to the film is grass roots non-league football but as we’ve been told many times by the female viewing audience it's not a football film. It was great hearing people say I hate football but I loved your film. I think the reason being this is ultimately a human story with universal appeal. It will make you laugh and cry as well as make you feel a little nostalgic. The film has a great 60s sound track even if I do say so myself.
What was it like working with the likes of Martine McCutcheon and Alan Davies on the film?
They were both a joy to work with. Consummate professionals and we were very lucky to have them. They play the lead boy’s (Brenock O’Connor from Game of Thrones) parents beautifully. So much so that you could easily see them being his real parents. The author Dave Roberts was beside himself that he was going to have such star names playing his mum and dad.
The movie premiered at Wembley Stadium earlier this year; what was that whole experience like?
Yes we released the film just before the World Cup and four days after Bromley FC played at Wembley in the FA Trophy Final. I’d like to say it was all planned but it was purely a coincidence. Some things you just can’t write. The experience was fantastic – we chose a grass carpet rather than a red carpet for the photo call directly below the Sir Bobby Moore Memorial. It felt very fitting.
This is a film that resonates both with football fans, and those who may not even be huge fans of the sport; why do you think that is?
Yes I think we’ve managed to strike the right balance. Ultimately I think what makes it resonate is the film’s heart – it's big and will make you laugh and cry in equal measure.
Finally, what else do you have coming up that you can share some details about?
We are handling the UK release of the film ourselves. The Bromley Boys is out on DVD and Download on October 22. Once that is done I will sit down and trawl through the backlog of scripts I need to get to. Watch this space.
The Bromley Boys is available on DVD and Digital Download now. For more information go to www.thebromleyboys.com