Film-maker's labour of love is finished

Oct 5 2009 by Sam Wonfor, The Journal

IT’s not often that the chance arises to enjoy a movie premiere on your doorstep for the princely sum of £3.

And for that reason – and a few others besides – you should block out a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon and get yourself a ticket for Behind the Scenes of TOTAL HELL.

Made by Northumberland-based film-maker Andy Wilton, his first feature-length offering has been four years in the making, and takes the form of a mockumentary – a spoof documentary – about the making of a low budget horror movie in the North East.

It will be given its first public screening at Newcastle’s Tyneside Cinema – an apt location, since the popular independent cinema is where the film’s fictional director, the hapless Jamie Gunn, chooses to premiere his horror film, Total Hell.

“Only eight people turn up to his premiere though,” laughed Andy yesterday, “and they all had something to do with the film. We’re hoping for a bit of a better turnout.

“We’re ecstatic to be premiering at the Tyneside Cinema, they’re such a fantastic establishment and the spiritual home of this film.”

The cinema is one of many North East locations used by Andy and his minimal crew during the shoot, which took place over three months in 2005 and 2006.