DUE to further demand TT3D: Closer to the Edge has had its cinema run extended once again.
The film, which was predominantly shot at last year's TT Races, was due to finish last night (Thursday) but has been extended for another week.
Richard de Aragues directed the film. He spoke to isleofman.com reporter Tessa Hawley in TT week and said he was delighted with the response it had had.
He said: "I'm so pleased that all the bikers, the fans, the professionals and also really importantly the wider audience, liked it. We really wanted to bring this to the wider audience.
"I'm chuffed. Number one I had a fantastic opportunity with CinemaNX - they gave me the chance to come and make a film about something I'm so passionate about. I'm passionate about film making and I'm passionate about bikes – but at the same time I was like 'I can't get this one wrong can I!'"
More than 12,000 tickets have been sold for the film in the Isle of Man since April 22. 5,000 of these were during the TT fortnight when increased demand led to the film being shown three times a day at the Broadway Cinema.
TT3D: Closer to the Edge documents the 2010 TT Races and follows some of the top riders including Guy Martin, John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson and local rider Conor Cummins.
Richard continued: "A lot of the purists might say 'oh god there should have been more racing' – but you can always buy a fantastic North One or Duke DVD and have two hours of racing.
"This was more about the human story and for me it was, for once, more about getting into the psychology – what its like to be a racer, what its like to be one of the women who waits, one of the women who races, and to open it up.
"And also I think it was very important to show how down to earth these top lads are – they're ordinary guys. These guys are just lovely, warm, funny people who do something which actually is beyond bravery. Not only are they really talented but they are men of steel."
Both Conor and Guy had near-miss crashes during last year's TT and these are well documented within the film. The film also features Bridget Dobbs the wife of New Zealand rider Paul Dobbs who was killed during the 2010 event.
Richard said he felt it was important to portray that the event was dangerous. He explained: "There was a lot of almost concern at the beginning of making this. Everyone said 'We're going to be brave. We're going to say this is our sport - this is the truth of what it's about'.
"It's very life affirming and it wasn't swept under the carpet. We all know when we come to the TT the risks and the families know the risks and the organisers know the risks. But what I think really came out in the film is this is all about freedom – freedom of choice.
"We are in a society where health and safety has gone mad everywhere else – they stop kids playing conkers, they stop cheese rolling contests and actually the public are fed up of all that.
"Here is something that showed incredible freedom of will - to go out there and test yourself - and I think it was very important to get the amazing response from Bridget who had had the greatest loss of anybody and yet was so full of love for the Island – the best years of her life - and her philosophy on life is a real uplifting one."
According to Richard there could be more films in the pipeline with a focus on motorsport. He continued: "I've got a number of films which are two wheel related which I have lined up to make, which I think should be made.
"It all comes down to timing and it might not be quite the right time to go straight into another one – we'll let this one live and breathe a bit and to be honest it's a really hard one to follow. We've set the bar very high."
TT3D: Closer to the Edge is expected to be released on DVD and Blu-ray in the autumn. It has also been announced that the film has been sold to Korea, New Zealand/Australia, Scandinavia and Germany.
The film will be screened nightly until June 30 at 7.30pm at the Broadway Cinema. There are matinee screenings on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday at 2.30pm. For more information visit www.villagaiety.com.
