Sink teeth into horror (From Stroud News and Journal)

Sink teeth into horror

STROUD writers Max Waller and Mike Bell are closing in on securing the £150,000 budget for their debut feature film Gnaw.

Gnaw is a British horror film which pays homage to the popular fairy tales of Hansel and Gretel and Sweeney Todd.

It takes place as a group of friends go on a weekend away together. As one would expect, things begin to go horribly wrong.

"The project came together in six to eight weeks," said Max.

"We've been working on bigger things but there's a real market for horror in the UK. "We're hoping to get a cinematic release, but are waiting for confirmation.

"It's been really cathartic working out the death scenes - how many ways can you really kill people.

"I'm very excited that it's all coming together so quickly, it's good to be working on instinct like this."

Max and Mike have enlisted some highly sought after names.

Acclaimed theatre director Greg Mandry is to direct, while the score will be written by four times Ivor Novello award-winning musician Mark Hill, who has worked with Artful Dodger and Craig David.

Also on board is production designer Tony Noble, whose credits include Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist, as well as costume designer Hayley Nebeaur, who worked on The Producers and Steven Spielberg's Munich.

The film is due to be shot in and around Guildford and Eastbourne in April, with post-production in April and May, hoping for a Cannes Film Festival delivery.

With less than five weeks to go before cameras roll, Max and Mike are seeking support to raise the final £10,000 of their budget to shoot the film. "If anyone is interested in being a part of cinematic history," said Max. "please email me for a sponsorship form and more details."

To email Max, write to waller@wallerdom.freeserve.co.uk