Film maker’s risky project
Behind the scenes at Oakwell Hall Country Park during filming for Sophies Fortune: The Treasure of Quetzalcoatl, by Chris Cronin and Phil Meachem.
AN ambitious project by a local film maker could be turning heads at film festivals very soon.
Director Chris Cronin, who has lived all over north Kirklees, admits he has pushed the boundaries with his latest production, Sophie’s Fortune: The Treasure of Quetzalcoatl, but said it was time he made the sort of fantasy film he wanted.
“Usually short films for festivals are supposed to be dramas or make a social statement, but we decided to make a film that we actually wanted to make,” he said.
“Sophie’s Fortune is basically saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve come from or how much money you have, you just need an idea and a lot of imagination.
“We’re just being cheeky and aiming a bit higher than we’re supposed to. Whether it works or not; the proof is in the pudding.”
Chris, 25, has made Sophie’s Fortune with producer Phil Meachem without a budget and with up to 50 members of cast and crew.
The short film, which will be around 20 minutes long, was shot at Oakwell Hall Country Park in Birstall, Hopton Woods in Mirfield and around Bolton in Lancashire.
Taking on a ‘Spielberg fantasy vibe’, it follows a father’s treasure hunt at a children’s birthday party, shot at Oakwell, where imagination takes over, transforming it into an epic adventure, shot in Mirfield and Bolton.
Chris and Phil say the film is Indiana Jones meets The Goonies.
It stars Donald Standen, who was in the films Highlander and Captain America, Steve McTigue of Dragon Crusaders and David Edward-Robertson from Shameless and Emmerdale, as well as other local actors.
Chris, whose short film Ante won Best Thriller at the American International Film Festival last year, said: “The trailer was only released a few weeks ago and it’s great to see the interest it’s already got. Hopefully it will have been worth all the stress and tears.” On the back of Sophie’s Fortune he hopes to secure an investment towards a feature film.
“This proves I can I can do a lot with nothing. I can work with a big cast and crew and I can do action,” he added.
“I just want to keep climbing, and one day to work on big-funded features.”
Chris, who now lives in Heckmondwike, said Sophie’s Fortune would be completed in mid October and shown at festivals in Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and London.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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