If you go down to the woods today – you might come face to face with blood-spattered zombies infected with avian flu. But don’t panic. Fortunately they are not part of an apocalyptic disaster but actors starring in a horror film.
And Leamington-based company Green Manalishi Productions is heading up the low-budget but highly ambitious project.
Filming has been taking place for several weeks in woods just outside the village of Wroxton, Banbury and cast and crew will also visit Leamington’s Binswood Avenue to film laboratory scenes on-location in Binswood Hall.
The feature-length ‘modern day’ horror film tells the story of two groups of people who come into contact with avian flu after a wild animal smuggler brings a rare bird into the country from the far East.
Actress Lorraine Pilkington, who has starred in Human Traffic and Monarch of the Glen, RSC actor James Chalmers and Remy Bennett (Tony’s granddaughter) are among those taking part….
Been done before, when Binswood hall was known as “Leamington College for Boys”. I’m 53 years old now, and I was about 14 when I ’starred’ in the 8mm film my English teacher made.
My role was to be attacked by a demon, and spurt (theatrical) blood on the stairs.
Very fortunately, we had a willing demon. He was an ugly midget hunchback, who was janitor of the school (Honest!) We at school called him “Bogwasher” – his actual name was Timothy. Lovely old bloke, long gone I suspect – He didn’t mind a bit at being portrayed as the evil monster in our amateur production. Tim got our serious respect for that….
(“What is yor Name, O great Wizard?” Some call me ..Tim..”)
HTH.
-Andy Crofts, Oulu, Finland.
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Comment by Andy Crofts 09.14.09 @ 9:28 am