Beanos set to star on the big screen

4:56pm Tuesday 25th March 2008

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Two film-makers who spent their youth leafing through the classics in Croydon's most famous music shop are set to use the store as the set for a new film.

Director Lawrence Pearce, 27, from Croydon, and producer Jonathan Southcott, 27, from Notting Hill, will start filming budget comedy Mixed Up next month.

“Lawrence has been a customer for some time and that is a strong part of the ethos of the film. We are delighted that Beanos is being used, the shop will be a fantastic set."

David Lashmar

The pair met at a party and the idea of filming in Beanos was born. The film is set to reflect the real-life story of the much-loved music shop in Middle Street.

The script has also been written by a former Croydon resident, Phillip Barron.

Jonathan said: "When Lawrence asked me if I'd heard of Beanos my answer was an unequivocal yes - I had spent far too much of my teenage years in there buying obscure videos.

"Lawrence knew the owner quite well and had an idea to make a comedy film in the shop, so I said let's do it. We both know and love Croydon and the film will reflect that."

Stars including Emmerdale actress Adele Silva, Family Affairs star Zara Dawson, ex-Hollyoaks actor Lee Otway and Abi Titmuss will appear in the film.

In it, a record store is struggling against the market of music downloads. The film will focus on the shop's staff, who are aiming to turn the store around, against a backdrop of great music.

Beanos owner David Lashmar has saved the shop from closing down completely in the last year with an innovative business idea, which has seen the top two floors converted into a marketplace.

David said: "Lawrence has been a customer for some time and that is a strong part of the ethos of the film. We are delighted that Beanos is being used, the shop will be a fantastic set.

"We are really excited that it is a local company and local boys who are helping to bring Croydon to the forefront of what is set to be an international film."

Lawrence said: "David has opened up the store for the entire filming of Mixed Up because of his love of creativity.

"It's the creativity and valuing that productivity that turns David on to decades of music and he is encouraging us to put that same excitement and love into shooting our film.

"Walking around the shop you get a sense of a timelessness and an appreciation of music as a whole."