CAMERAS ROLL IN VALLEYS FOR FILM
FILMING has begun on a movie shot entirely in the Valleys. Offworld is the brainchild of sci-fi author turned director Terry Cooper and producer Adam Neal.
After months of planning and preparation the cameras were finally rolling on the film last week.
The film sees a group of humans crash land and have to survive a journey across an alien planet.
Last Monday’s shoot was one day of just seven where the team will be filming the feature length project.
Producer Adam Neal, 31, said the day had gone well.
He said: “The flight deck scene on board the ship was all filmed in one day last Monday.
“Terry the director was building the set right up to when we started at 8am on the Monday. He finished and we were filming by 9am.”
According to Mr Neal, who works as a special needs support assistant, they are not going to reveal the exact date of the other filming days.
He said: “In April we will be doing our six-day shoot. We are not going to say exactly when and where it will be because if lots of people turn up at the set we may not be able to finish it in time.
“We are going to be so tight for time. The normal time scale for a feature length film is six weeks and we are going to do it in six days!”
This kind of timeframe would be a challenge for experienced filmmakers let alone a group who are making their first feature film.
“For a lot of people it was the first time they saw the set,” said Mr Neal.
“The sound and camera teams had never worked together before but worked so great together.
“It was the first time that Terry had ever directed and he was fantastic. I have worked in theatre and Youtube videos but this is a different ball game.
“It has all gone without a hitch. Our director of photography Chris McFall has a lot of experience.
“I couldn’t ask for anything better, it is exactly how I had hoped.
“Everyone has worked together so well. The actors have even been helping to build sets.”
According to Mr Neal, who lives in Aberdare, the project is a labour of love for those involved.
“About 45-50 people are involved if you include post-production. Not many of the people are being paid. They are just doing it because they believe in the project.”
When the film is complete it will be a premiered at Cineworld in Cardiff with possible other showings at independent cinemas.
They team then plan to put the film on Amazon Prime.