VALLEYS PARK TO STAR IN OUTER SPACE
Pair hoping to raise funds to make sci-fi film on shoestring
THE Valleys will be turned into something out of this world in a feature-length sci-fi film shot entirely in South Wales. Offworld, the brainchild of sci-fi author turned director Terry Cooper and producer Adam Neal, will depict a group of space travellers from Earth who are forced to crash land on an alien planet – or, as the Ystrad Mynach locals call it, Parc Penallta.
With a cast of 10 actors, a computer animation department and locations lent for free by Caerphilly council, Terry and Adam plan to raise their budget with a fundraising campaign starting next month.
The duo got together after Terry’s previous film, The Black Room, was accepted for worldwide broadcast on Amazon Prime – and their initial idea of a short film rapidly evolved into something far more ambitious.
Terry, 46, from Ystrad Mynach, said: “Myself and Adam, the two producers, have been quite big on the convention and costuming circuit for some time.
“The idea was born out of thinking that everyone else is doing something like this in England, and other countries, so why not here?
“It went from being a short film to an entire feature. We think we can get enough actors together,and enough costume-makers, and then it’s a case of shooting for the moon.
“I turn 47 soon and I’ve wanted to film something like this since I was a teenager playing with toy guns and running around the forest.
“And it’s surprising how much interest there has been from local people that there is a film being made on their doorstep.
“A sci-fi movie being made in Ystrad Mynach? They say ‘no way’.”
Having made an emergency landing in a foreign world – called Epsilon Eridani B – the characters have a long journey ahead of them as they struggle to stay alive.
The group have to deal with illnesses, interpersonal conflicts, power struggles and starvation as they make their journey.
Terry said: “Basically, it was a case of what sort of thing could we do for as little [cost] as possible.
“The plot itself is a survival story, so it’s a case of actors on a location.
“There’s not a lot of CGI needed apart from a small part at the beginning involving a spaceship, which means it won’t cost that much.
“We think we can do everything for £2,000 to £3,000.
“I inquired to the council about Parc Penallta and they were surprised. They said, ‘We don’t get many films made up here!’
“They put us in touch with the right people, and as long as we don’t dig up anything or set anything on fire – which we won’t – it won’t cost us anything to film for a week.
“People will be able to recognise landmarks in the film, but at the same time we’re making a sci-fi film, so it’s our job to make it unrecognisable.
“But, an example is the horse shoe-shaped ponds above the sculpture of Sultan the Pit Pony.
“They’ll feature in the film and people will recognise them – and they can even go and visit the places where it was filmed.
“The help and support we’ve received so far is tremendous.
“You’d think it’d be impossible to shoot a sci-fi movie here in the Valleys, but anything’s possible with enough like-minded people who share the vision.”
The team behind Offworld are starting crowdfunding through Kickstarter, a funding platform for creative projects, on Thursday so they can raise enough to start filming in April.
Adam, from Aberdare, said: “If anyone would like to get involved, they can join in the Kickstarter, to help us make the best film we can.
“Our cast are fantastic and we can’t wait to start filming.”