Fancy joining Boycie on set of new movie?
Only Fools and Horses star John Challis – who has just spent three months in Spain filming for ITV’s new series of Benidorm – is jetting back to the UK to star in a film set on his doorstep.
Mr Challis, who lives near Ludlow, will be filming in the tiny hamlet of Neenton, between Bridgnorth and the market town Ludlow.
And locals who want to star in the short film are being given the chance to participate by securing a speaking part in the film.
The movie also includes many local talking-points – from The Pheasant pub, at Neenton itself, to Hobson’s Old Prickly Beer and the Ludlow-made Cheese With No Name.
The team behind the production have launched a crowd-funding campaign and are offering a range of packages for people who want to participate – from becoming an executive producer or taking a speaking role as a landlord to spending a day on-set or receiving a signed photograph of Mr Challis.
Today Mr Challis said he was delighted to be taking part in the film, which is called In Vino Veritas.
He said he hoped people would support the crowd-funding campaign, which is detailed online at www.indiegogo.com/projects/in-vino-ver itas-short-film-starring-john-challis
He said: “It’s great to see members of the Shropshire community doing this type of work and I hope lots of people get involved. I have fond memories of filming in the county, when we shot The Green Green Grass, for BBC One, and I hope people log on to find out more.”
The three-minute film is intended for inclusion in a feature film called The Impact, which details 50 separate different stories about how 50 different people will spend their last two minutes alive on earth.”
Film producer Kim Wheeler, who is based in Neenton, said: “Our story tells the tale story of an octogenarian widow, whose only joy in life is to drink Old Prickly.
“The kindness of a friend leaves him a grand cru bottle of wine.
“When he realises he only has two minutes to live, he has to decide whether to enjoy the beer or opt for the wine – or, conversely, do something completely different.”
In Vito Veritas will be shot on location in Neenton on August 8 and other people on-board include the award-winning director, Ben Mole, Emmy-winning director of photography Pete Allibone and Manchester By The Sea composer John Pickup.
Ms Wheeler added: “The script, which I wrote, won an international screenwriting competition last year and beat thousands for a chance for our short film to be included in The Impact.
“A version of the story has already been optioned and shot in the USA by a separate company, which is great – but that leaves us needing to beat theirs.”
Producers are trying to raise £3,500 to cover the costs of their film and people have until the end of June to log onto the crowd-funding campaign.
