It can't be an experience many people have had - seeing a full-length feature film that you've been with from its inception, projected onto a full-size cinema screen.
On the 13th November, 2004, I was chatting with the excellent Dave Feakes of Felixstowe Scribblers writers group at an event they'd organised - "Culturama". I said, "What we ought to do is get the Scribblers to come up with a little episode-style drama, for FTV to produce it put online." Good idea - 20 minutes of stuff, be a giggle, no problem.
About 5 or 6 months later, after midnight-oil burning sessions by the writing team, there's a little pile of A4 paper on my desk. No, its a biggish pile - about 70 sheets. 10 scripts, in fact, calling for anything from people being set adrift in rubber boats, to an ambulance carting away a radio presenter who is the accidental victim of a bungled assassination attempt in mid-interview. 10 scripts, with an estimated running time of 6 minutes each . . . it's a worrying sight.
All we could do was make a start . . . auditions, with a crowd of actors largely found through local theatre contacts and some dragged in by the writers. Casting, with one or two of the key roles going to actors who thought the whole thing looked extremely dubious. And then we started to shoot, summer of 2005 . . . actors running down Bent Hill in bright, hot sunshine.
At around this point, the production tripped over one of it's most important ingredients - Giles Meehan, who suprisingly quickly dropped into the role of production manager, then producer, with a yellow folder that still, even today, controls much of the project's life. Despite suffering from ME, which sometimes virtually knocks him of his feet, his contribution in holding the project together, and often bullying me into doing work instead of sitting around enjoying myelf, has been massive.
But the contributions made by all the individuals involved has been amazing. The actors and crew have turned up regardless of weather, life or whatever, and just got out there and acted. Natalie, Jacky and Claire turned up in summer clothes in January, managing to look convincing despite their shivers. Two men whom I suspect Giles must have blackmailed in some complex way, turned up to strip off on the prom, and put on shiny silver suits, to became our aliens.
One of our actors completed his last day's shooting just 20 days after having his appendix and other items removed, when he was taken ill on holiday in America . . . A group of door security men from local night-life venues gave us a Saturday morning, and looked serious dangerous walking along the prom - even more so when they threw crew member and writer Ken May off the prom (no, I think we'll have to shoot that again . . . and again . . and . . . )
People and firms lent us things, and provided support, with very few exceptions . . . although the interior of the pier was the excellent Charlie Manning's amusement arcade! The Port of Felixstowe lent us an ambulance, and the crew repaired a little old lady who arrived with a bashed finger before rescuing Rachel. The police send a couple of cheery special constables along, complete with patrol car, to drag off our baddies. Landguard Fort saw people rushing about and waving fake guns in the air, all very exciting . . .
And yesterday afternoon, Giles, composer David Jennings and I had the pleasure of seeing a short clip of the opening sequences played out on the big screen at The Spa Pavilion, under the watchful eye of Roger Miller, the stage manager. The pictures were amazing; the sound superb. The film opening isn't the one online, and the end titles aren't as seen there either; but they really do look wonderful - love it!
Around 100 people have been involved in one way or another. Around 20 firms and organisations have helped us in specialist areas. And the new operators of the Spa Pavilion, Openwide International, came to or rescue at ten days notice when the owner of the cinema decided that he didn't like someone in the film, and cancelled the premiere . . . what's that word I'm looking for?
And now we've got a 900-seat cinema waiting for the show. It''s on at 2 o'cxlock on Sunday 9th July at the Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe. Between 200 and 300 seats are reserved for cast and crew, so anyone else who wants to come along, you'll be hugely and genuinely welcome - it's free, but we are suggesting you might make a small donation if you enjoy it !
