5D Podcast

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Ghosts of Darkness

Written & Directed by David Ryan Keith

Produced by Lorraine Keith

Production by Clear Focus Movies Ltd

Music by Niall Mathewson

A couple of years ago when 5D was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the new film from Aberdeen based production company, Clear Focus Movies our overall feel for The Redwood Massacre was hugely positive. The fact that I also received a press pass to after the review to see the film for free at the premier was also hugely positive. In fact if memory serves me correctly the movie was referred to by myself as "an excellently 'bloody' cinematic experience......a fine slasher film that for the most part is excellently paced and will have you hooked from the very first minute to the very last."

Well as a matter of fact, it wasn't from memory, I just now checked the article again then cut and pasted the remark. So now as it turns out, here we are some time later with the follow up from the company, Ghosts of Darkness, which may well do the same for paranormal horror as they did for the slasher genre.

I must admit that when I first learnt that the latest film from Clear Focus Movies was visiting the world of the paranormal horror film I was a little dubious, though not because I doubted that they had the wherewithal to accomplish it. The reason was that in my experience the haunted house genre has not only been 'done to death' (sic) over the years, but that the results can also can by decidedly hit or miss, with very little in-between.

Because for every 'The Changeling (1980)' (in my humble opinion, perhaps the greatest ever of its kind) there is also a Cliché riddled Paranormal Activity (well OK, the first one was fine but after that...........). No, one has to be very careful if one is to try and incorporate something new into perhaps one of the oldest of horror genre tales.

But before I wax lyrical about how Ghosts of Darkness have not only coped well with the intrinsic challenges of the genre but in some areas surpassed them, so let me throw you a little synopsis your way.....

"Two paranormal investigators are unexpectedly thrown together in the hope of solving a 100 year mystery. Locked for three nights in a house with a dark and unsettling past, the two investigators must put their differences to one side and work together. ......

They soon discover the myths and stories are nothing compared to what actually resides within the eerie walls of the mysterious House.

Well hello handsome......

Scepticism and showmanship are soon put to one side when the two investigators realise there is more at stake than just their professional reputation.

For once they have stumbled onto the real thing, but this time it’s their own lives at stake."

There are two things that for me are essential for any paranormal haunted house horror type story - the chills on offer and also the depth of character relationships of those who inhabit the dwelling. I'll come to the chill factor in a few moments because for now I want to talk about the two main characters in the story - and from whom the performances are nothing short of scintillating.

It is clear to see that the makers this film proudly wear their knowledge and inspirations of supernatural horror lore on their collective sleeves. While the idea of being challenged (or in this case 'paid') to spend in an allegedly haunted house to disprove or publicize a myth has been done before, the notion of a 'scientific skeptic' paired with a 'paranormal professional' is possibly less familiar.

The scientist and the master of Tweed

This certainly could have resulted in nothing more than a clichéd hotchpotch of familiar horror sub-themes. Yes we do have some old horror chums here such as the eccentric Psychic, the doomed previous occupants and the square jawed hero far who is far too good-looking for his own good. Combined with the fact that much of the film rests on just two main characters who have been thrown together, the authenticity of their relationship is incredibly important. In essence, the film could have easily floundered on this point. However the filmmakers confidently avoid falling into to tried and tested horror tropes

At the risk of being overly gushing in my praise I have to say that both Michael Koltes and Paul Flannery are excellent and utterly compelling. Koltes provides a nice turn as the skeptic driven onwards both by science and the recent death of a loved one, completely at odds with Flannery's eccentric psychic. Flannery's performance (with a noticeable nod to some notable old school performers) is hugely entertaining with an array of facial expressions and comedic one-liners all delivered with confident aplomb. It feels a little unfair to single out Flannery as opposed to Koltes as both are very good, but the extrovert wine-guzzling-tweed-wearing-psychic was always going to win over the methodical scientist in the entertainment stakes. I also don't think it harms to be the co-screenplay writer . Now I'm not saying that this means that as a writer/actor you simply go ahead and give yourself the best lines, far from it your honour - but I don't suppose it harms........(My legal team advised me to include that last disclaimer just in case Mr Flannery decides to sue the pants off me).

The film is swept along on a constant wave of witty dialogue with a pacey script throughout - though occasionally in the quieter moments of exchanges one or two of the scenes go on a little longer than possibly they should have. However these moments are few and far between.

Of course any film of this nature relies on the fact that it should be scary. You may laugh at the obvious remark, but it never fails to amaze me just how many supposedly scary films actually lack a vital ingredient of being, well you know, erm, scary. Be very clear, Ghosts of Darkness is a genuinely scary paranormal horror film. I will as usual try to avoid spoilers at all costs but it's safe to say that there are a number of scenes that will provide any self-respecting chill seeker with their adrenaline fix - usually it's the ones where you shout "don't go down the stairs alone to see what the noise is!.........why would he go down the stairs alone?!"

As with The Redwood Massacre it has to be said that a film shot in the North East of Scotland couldn't really help but look good, after all, this part of the world is most definitely gods own. That being said, this is a movie that is wonderfully shot. The camerawork is truly stunning, not just in the outdoor sequences but in the dim and claustrophobic interior scenes which add an intense layer of added terror. The colours and textures of the film are a feast for the eyes. Besides looking good, it all sounds great with a beautifully evocative soundtrack that adds the perfect level of atmospheric chills to the overall experience.

Tickets for Ghosts of Darkness are (or at least were yesterday, because they're selling quickly) available for the local Aberdeen premier at the Queens Links Cineworld on the 13th October. If you live in the area then go to the link to book tickets at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ghosts-of-darkness-aberdeen-premiere-cert-15-tickets-27773522353

You can find out more about Clear Focus Productions RIGHT HERE

This article can also be found via the 5D website www.5d-blog.com. There you can find a veritable feast of blog articles, news items, pictures and and other mouth-watering salutations to the gods of the geeks and the nerds. We have now inherited the earth, you know.

There is also a newly launched forum on the website designed for ANYONE involved or interested in the Independent film industry related to genres of Sci-Fi, fantasy and horror. Feel free to register and contribute - Everyone is welcome!

In addition the 5D website now has PayPal Donate button. Any donations kindly made will be fed directly back to help with a podcast materials, competition prizes and other general costs etc. If you wish to contribute to the exciting growth of the website & blog then we here at 5D headquarters would be eternally grateful. If you would like your contribution to be acknowledged publicly then simply send a message via the website’s contact section and we’ll send you some love!

If all that was enough to entice to 5D land, should any of you fine people out there wish to advertise on the 5D website then have a look at the offer below.

Sunday, 2 October 2016

Patient 62

One of the most enjoyable aspects of being involved in 5D is witnessing the fruition of work from its early beginnings through to the final completion, especially if I have played a small part (a very small part) in helping along the way with a little publicity and promotion. It was around a year and a half ago when 5D was contacted by a Canadian Film maker asking whether we would be amenable to sharing news about his film. The said request came from Rick Anthony, who immediately claimed to be an award winning Sci-fi/Fantasy novelist and screenwriter and went on to tell me that his latest project, Patient 62, a Sci-fi/Action film, was currently competing rather well in his country's CineCoup film accelerator.

So after some expansive and ultra-analytically detailed investigation (which by my personal reckoning is about 2 mins) I found out that not only were the bold claims true in terms of the award winning bits, but that Patient 62 was in fact ranked at the time as first in the Cinecoup competition. For those not in the know, Cinecoup is a unique funding model that allows filmmakers to submit concept trailers for their films to an audience who decides which gets made. The prize is a million dollar production budget and massive distribution deal - very nice.

Patient 62, I was reliably informed, was a film being produced by Factory Factory Entertainment, the creative team behind the award winning indie film, Bread Thieves. Front runners in this year's CineCoup Film Accelerator, the team withdrew from the competition, choosing another distribution option as their bird in hand. Although they had now got distribution covered, the large burden of budget was still upon them, and although they had significant investment in this film already, they needed more funds to extend the duration of their shooting schedule. As a consequence the team launched a crowdfunding campaign for which I was more than happy to help out with in terms of a little bit of 5D publicity and promotion.

Well some 18 months later this very week I received another message from Rick saying that the film was now complete and getting ready for its world premier. Not only that, but he asked if I would like a super sneaky preview of the film from a super secret online source? Of course I damn well would!

Before I share my thoughts on the completed Patient 62, let me refresh (or inform) your memory of the plot;

"On poor terms with his sister, Angela since their father’s death, Lucas Chase is hesitant to believe that she has been taken against her will until he learns their mother suffers from the same strange dreams of her abduction that Lucas himself has been having. Unsure of the meaning of it all, Lucas enlists the help of Angela’s ex boyfriend, Dennis, and the two set out to poke around the strip club she worked at.

The trail leads them to a drug manufacturing plant where Lucas witnesses the murder of a chemist, and accidentally comes in contact with the substance the chemist was manufacturing. Lucas soon comes to realize that the drug has given him newfound telekinetic abilities which he struggles to control as he searches for his sister in an ever-changing web of human trafficking and experimentation."

I know for a fact that this whole project has been something of Rick's labour of love for going on three years now and I'm so happy for him to be able to say that Patient 62 has been well worth the wait.

The plot of Patient 62 is fairly straightforward: Boy has sister...........boy doesn't like sister working in a strip club.......... girl disappears .........boy has freaky dreams about sister......... boy learns sister has been nabbed by a chemist messing around with genes .............. things don't quite go so well for one of them........... boy develops telekinetic powers and kicks some bad guy ass. Ahhh, we've all been there........

This is a film that in some ways took me by surprise as it takes a real-world hot topic such as genetic manipulation and wraps it up in a story of relatable family strife and all fused with a tasty action sci-fi adventure. All too often these types of films serve only to spoil the experience by being overly unrealistic and fantastical way beyond the productions limited means, thankfully this film doesn't fall into that trap.

Another undoubted strength of the movie are the central performances of Reece Wagner (Lucas) and Andrew Valdez (Dennis). If you add to that a strong supporting cast taken from the local theatre committee the makers have avoided something that occasionally detracts from an indie film such as this poorly acted set-pieces. No, here we have a well acted production with no real weak acting links. If you add to that a fine pacy script with a number of witty exchanges of dialogue throughout, plus some inspired special effects, lighting and editing which belies the films low budget you have a package that should not fail. I'm sure it won't.

If all that wasn't enough then I could add that there are a number of gorgeous sexy women inhabiting the aforementioned strip club - however I'm far too much of a gentleman to mention that..........

What we have in Patient 62 is a genuinely enjoyable and exciting sci-fi action film and a thoroughly enjoyable movie experience.

The world premiere for Patient 62 takes place in Corona California will be at 4:30 on Friday, Oct 7

You can find out more about Patient 62 at the website http://factoryfactoryentertainment.com

If all that was enough to entice to 5D land, should any of you fine people out there wish to advertise on the 5D website then have a look at the offer below.

Saturday, 17 September 2016

Plane Walker - A novel by C.P Dunphey

I need to start off this article with something of confession and apology - yes I know, it wouldn't be the first time...... though at least this one doesn't take place in a court of law for once. Some weeks ago I was sent a science fiction novel to read which came all the way from across the pond in Mississippi, U.S.A. The author in question, C.P Dunphey, had kindly offered to post the novel for an honest (is there any other sort?) 5D review.

I was genuinely excited to read the book after being told the basic of information - "The Manus Dei system proved that a deity exists..........The universe was changed forever...........Mankind desires equal footing with the God.............The God seeks to abandon mankind."

However here comes the confession and apology - because, as you can see from the accompanying image, I did indeed receive the package, did dutifully and eagerly unwrap it, devoured the synopsis with relish and then posted a picture of the package on my INSTAGRAM account (feel free to check it out, there are lots of pretty pictures on it). I then put it in my personal 5D drawer in my workroom............... and then promptly forgot that I had put it there. What a douche. It was only a few days ago when I realised that something had been niggling at the corner of my twisted mind, something that I had forgotten to do, something that I wanted to do - but for the life of me I couldn't quite place my finger on what the problem was.

That was until I went to the drawer with the intention of tidying it out when I saw the thing responsible for nagging at my memory - oh bugger!!!. Cue two days of frantic binge reading of the book before the much delayed review. On the one hand this wasn't easy, in the main because I am a notoriously slow reader. However the thing that eased this problem was the fact that Plane Walker, is a remarkable piece of writing.

Here is the cover blurb......

"After his wife dies during childbirth, Lazarus’s life takes a turn for the worst. Addictions and neglect spread across the years as Lazarus focuses on the Deity as the apex of his frustration. During a freak accident, his daughter Elisha disappears. At his weakest point, Lazarus’s last memories of his daughter are erased, leaving him stranded with no clue of her final whereabouts.

On a final whim of desperation, Lazarus locates the last Manus Dei system in existence, hoping to use the machine to find the memories he has forgotten in life. But not without harsh repercussions.

Will Lazarus find Elisha? Or will he succumb to the terrible consequences of using the Manus Dei? Will Lazarus’s ulterior motives turn his daughter’s rescue mission into a war against the God?"

Plane Walker clearly takes its inspiration from a number of literary and cinematic origins, Phillip K. Dick, H.P Lovecraft, Twelve Monkeys, John Carpenter, Alien - to name but a few of those that immediately occurred to me. These examples like many others of the ilk share certain age-old themes; namely a cloying feeling of despair, frustrated psychological isolation and then all wrapped up in a feeling of ever-increasing claustrophobic terror.

This novel very nicely embodies some of the same themes of despair and horror here in the form of the first person accounts of the main protagonist, Lazarus. The character's feelings of confusion and frustration at his loss of memory after suffering from brain damage, plus the trauma of the loss of his daughter, is hugely effective. The consequence of of Lazarus's confusion, hopelessness and terror is to subsequently place the reader in the same emotion state of barely suppressed turmoil. Quite simply, the narrative carries one along the very same hallucinogenic journey so that we too are constantly sharing his fear and trauma in trying to determine just what is real and what is fake.

There may be some readers who may be put off by a narrative that time refuses to adhere to any form of traditional linear approach. However I found the whole experience refreshing in that the the fear and the torment experienced by Lazarus was made all the more authentic. Fear not, Plane Walker is a hugely enjoyable slice of scifi/horror that will have you thinking, contemplating, questioning, fearing and confused in equal measure. And that in my book is no bad thing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

C. P. Dunphey was born in Staten Island, New York. He grew up in Southern Mississippi and had an interest in writing since he was very young. In 2015, he founded his own publishing company, Gehenna Publishing House. His first novel, Plane Walker, was released in 2016. He hopes to further his writing as well as offer authors opportunities to be heard and read, his dream being that Gehenna Publishing House becomes a household name. The sequel to his novel, Plane Walker, titled Heiron, is slated for release in early 2017.

Buy your copy and follow the author, C.P. Dunphey, on Twitter and Facebook!

Amazon Book Link | Facebook | Twitter | Official Site

If all that was enough to entice to 5D land, should any of you fine people out there wish to advertise on the 5D website then have a look at the offer below.

Sunday, 11 September 2016

My Walking Dead Dream Crate - courtesy of LootCrate.com

Do you know something? I've often fantasised about my role in any potential apocalypse. There is a part of me would like to think that I would be a fearless fighting gun-toting heroic leader who would always know what to say and what to do...... and all the while getting as much female attention that I could handle - as it were.

Now while a few of you are still lying on the floor at the back in hysterical fits of laughter at the thought of little Ole me being all loved up, I will readily admit the reality would more likely be different - very different. I would in truth probably be something of an arse; There is a good chance that I would in fact be that guy who holds everybody back by continually whimpering 'We're all going to die!".....or that guy who wanders off after being told to stay put and so gets his face eaten off by a marauding zombie....or that guy in the group who everyone else hates and wants to kill far more than the Zombies do.......that b**stard who got almost Glenn killed in The Walking Dead......or maybe I would even be the biggest baddest bad guy of them all - now THAT would be fun.

Those people who are unfortunate enough to know me well are well aware of my obsession with The Walking Dead. I discovered the Graphic novels a couple of years after they first appeared back in the dim and distant days of 2003. Yes, yes I know......once again I was quite ineptly behind the times. It certainly wasn't the first or last time. To be precise it was the summer of 2006 in which I first discovered the stunning artwork and storytelling that depicted a world where an unknown apocalyptic event has transformed the majority of the human population into slobbering, rotting flesh-eating zombies (in other words, parts of Glasgow after midnight)

A few years later (2010 to be once again precise) I learnt that the story was going to be adapted for TV, much to the suspicion and jealousy of some of my fellow Walking dead aficionados.

I did try to dislike the TV series, I really did. After all, like many I had developed a rather selfish ownership over the graphic novel series. Even when I heard that the mercurial Frank Darabont was going to be initially at the helm I was yet to be convinced. I had decided beforehand that I simply didn't want to be part of of what I saw as the inevitable watering down in the mainstreaming and mass-popularity that would take place.

I can still vividly remember on that night in 2010 when I sat in front of my television to watch the 1st episode, arms crossed and a fixed facial expression that signified that I wasn't going to enjoy myself, no matter what.

Well five or so seasons later, that has somewhat changed, Actually, if truth be told it changed about 3 or 4 minutes into that first episode. Yes, the show deviated almost immediately from the comic source material, and in probably in far too many ways that irked many fellow comic fans. However, what hasn't changed is the notion that when the inevitable Zombie apocalypse finally arrives, I'll still want to be the hero - but will no doubt turn out to be something an an anti-hero.......All I needed is something to focus my attention.

Well funnily enough, something arrived in my email inbox this week which did just that. The message in question came from Loot Crate - A monthly subscription & community that delivers crates of rather fabulous gear to geeks & gamers. Apparently the company delivers the best in geek + gaming gear. From collectibles, apparel, tech gadgets, art, and other epic gear, it's like Comic-Con in a box!

The information that I received was in general to simply to check the website out, which I duly did and saw a veritable plethora of easy morsals that could satisfy my very own geeky appetite. If you don't believe me then check it out for yourself at https://www.lootcrate.com

So this got me thinking (something I do very occasionally until it gives me a headache) - Loot Crate say they offer up a unique monthly box of awesome for every fandom, enthusiast group and style. All we have to do is pick our your crate and off we go. So I decided to highlight what would be in my very own Dream Crate - and off course it could only be my very own Walking Dead Dream Crate.

The 5D Walking Dead Dream Crate

My theme for the crate would quite obviously be the Zombie apocalypse Anti-hero - whether it by the cowardly individual who's self-centred yellow streak results in one of the main cast being torn apart form the slobbering hordes. Or maybe it could be the big bad bad guy that's the anti-hero....... Hmmmm, decisions, decisions. Maybe it would have to be either The Governor (Bloody hell, I still haven't recovered from what the bastard did to Hershal) or maybe the biggest baddest baseball bat wielding bastard of them them all, Negan. Oh yes, Negan it is.

For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of meeting our favourite Walking Dead psychotic, Negan appeared in the 100th edition of the comic series and in the most recent run of the TV series. He is quite simply the most deliciously nasty of all anti-heroes as the leader of the Saviours human community. He's highly intelligent, charismatic, domineering and easily sways between pragmatic gentleness and outright sadistic violence. Well the first couple of parts were me at least........

Hmmm, so now I want some items in my Walking Dead Anti-hero Dream Crate.

Item 1

The first thing that I would want including would be my very own Lucille. Now for those who may not be particularly versed in the Walking Dead world, Lucille is a charming little implement that Negan uses as his main weapon of choice - namely a charming little baseball bat lovingly coated in barbed wire...... now THAT'S going to tickle! Lucille is more than just an implement of violence, it is also an extension of Negan himself, it is part of him and he loves her.

Now while a full-sized version of Lucille may not fit in my Dream Crate then at least a smaller version of it would suffice.

Item 2

Of course I would want a figure of the main man himself - A mini Negan of my very own! Maybe it could even be a bouncing head Negan that could go on the dashboard of my car - now that could work.

Item 3

In fact why stop at Negan?! - I want a whole range of collectible figures from the series, Rick, Darryl, Glenn, Maggie and of course the Stepford wife psychopath herself, Carole. In fact if they were just plain figures then I could take the time to paint them myself - yes that's right, my nerdome knows no bounds thankfully.

Item 4

I want a some clothes and I want them now! T shirts, socks and boxing shorts - no self respecting anti-hero should be without them in a Zombie apocalypse. Now in my day job as a college lecturer (before the apocalypse comes, of course) I feel nothing will say 'sophistication' and 'professionalism' more than a pair of Zombie socks and some zombie-chomping boxing shorts. This wold all be topped off by a very nice 'Lucille is gonna getcha! T-shirt to provide the full sartorial ensemble. (Before any of you worry and decide to ring the authorities, I do also wear trousers in my job as well).

Item 5

No Walking Dead Dream Crate would be complete without an edition of the comic itself, or at least a some artwork related to it. It would have to be Issue 100, when our friendly neighbourhood psychopath was first introduced as he proceeded to give Glenn a lesson in headache avoidance. Do I want my artwork bloody, violent and disgusting?.....of course I do! Give me posters, lobby cards and anything else of a zombie flesh eating pictorial nature!

Item 6

The one thing in the apocalypse that will be something of a problem after a while seems to be the distinct lack of food - well except that is if you're a raging flesh gobbling zombie. But as I plan that the most important person in the apocalypse (me) has enough to eat I also want some nice little edibles in my Dream Crate - some Zombie resistent perishables if you like...... Negan nibbles, Zesty Zombie candy, Carol's cookies, Walker Walnuts....... yum.

If all that was enough to entice to 5D land, should any of you fine people out there wish to advertise on the 5D website then have a look at the offer below.

Saturday, 10 September 2016

Trauma Industries - part 2

Way back in the murky mists of time, well February of this year to be precise, I brought you news of a crowdfunding campaign. The aim was to raise funds to go towards making an intriguing Scifi short film full of all sorts of Soviet Union inspired dystopian themes. The tasty little synopsis of which was as follows;

"Set in a futuristic industrial dystopia with a 1950s soviet realist aesthetic, “Trauma” is the story of a boy brought to celebrate his birthday at the grounds of a factory that manufactures the must-have toy of the era. The boy has one of these toys, and is visibly attached to it. But the manager takes the toy away from him because he is now too old for such a thing. He fights to get his beloved toy back as a crowd of workers gathers in front of a ceremonial stage. The ensuing chase through the crowd leads him onto the stage where he himself becomes part of the spectacle, subjected to a brutal initiation ceremony that will see him finally “become a man”.

Now before you go any further innings his piece, you have two distinct choices; you could read the whole (delightfully & skilfully written I may add) original 5D post that first brought you the news of Trauma Industries at the link RIGHT HERE ......... Or ......... You could simply make do with the following still rather deliciously enticing morsels of information. The decision is yours.........

Trauma Industries is the brainchild of Jethro Massey who intended the film's script and style to be directly inspired by the powerful propaganda imagery of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. We all know the imagery that he talks about, pictures of workers staring heroically into the distance as they toil for the greater good of the motherland. Sometimes they hold a symbol of all that is good for providing for the masses - tools, equipment or fists of grain to emphasise such philosophies of working for the greater good of society etc etc etc.

The Photography of Aleksandr Rodchenko, the films of Dziga Vertov and such others were used as tools of inspiration and propaganda by the Soviet machine. While this imagery was used to forward tyrannical regimes, the images themselves are, to Jethro's mind, amongst the most creative, striking and powerful ever made. Trauma Industries will re-appropriate the style, the camera angles, the geometry of composition, the industrial landscapes, the poses and the wardrobe of the era in a modern-futurist science- fiction that questions our voluntary slavery to the contemporary digital technocracy.

Sounds good, eh?!

Well all that was 6 months ago - so this week I received an update from the main man himself about where things are with the project right now .......... & this is what he had to say.

"Thanks again for taking an interest in the project, and for writing that great article... Can't wait to show you then end result!"

"Our nine days of principal photography at the Ancienne Hôpital Psychiatrique de la Maison Blanche were a great adventure, and a real pleasure. The buildings have since been sold and are no longer available for film shoots, so we were incredibly fortunate to shoot in this fantastic location. Over the course of the shoot over 200 people lent their time and talent to the film, I’ll write more about the filming process on the film’s website, but I’m incredibly grateful to our fantastic technical and creative teams, to all the actors and extras, the production and catering team whose task, as you can imagine, was particularly daunting… The rushes are looking absolutely fantastic, the décor, the lighting, the performances (especially of our young star, Jolhan Martin, and our factory manager, Jacques Colin) are superb."

"Since the principal filming, we captured a few last shots at the Manufacture des Allumettes, in Aubervilliers, beneath the old factory’s impressive, recently refurbished chimney, we have put together funding requests for the post-production of the film, and we are currently working on the edit. It’ll be a long road to finish the film, as there are a fair amount of special effects to be created, as well as sound editing and colour grading. The timing will depend a little on the results of the grant requests we’ve made, but we are currently hoping to complete the film around January/February 2017."

"In the meantime I have started preparing the crowd-fund gifts (where possible -of course, those of you awaiting tickets for the avant-première will have to wait a little!). I’ll be in touch in a separate email to each of you in the next few days to make sure I have everything I need to get you your posters, jackets, post-cards and so on!"

"You’ll find many more images on our facebook page, including some stunning portraits of our cast coming in the next week or so…

www.facebook.com/traumaindustries

Note that you don’t need a facebook account to view the page. "

So putting aside the point Jethro made about me writing - and I quote, "a great article' (Just in case you missed it earlier) I must admit to being genuinely excited about eventually seeing the finished product. I'm also rather excited that I've also been promised a Trauma Industries themed poster of my own - excellent!!

If all that was enough to entice to 5D land, should any of you fine people out there wish to advertise on the 5D website then have a look at the offer below.