After a certain Hollywood director camped out in Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter last year to film his latest blockbuster the world’s cinematic gaze has been curiously cast in Birmingham’s direction. For sure this a thriving moment in the city’s cultural identity and with the the very real possibility of Channel 4 heading our way in addition to several production companies sniffing out our home for future work it’s only going to get better. It’s not all huge budgets and casts of thousands though, homegrown movie making is as strong as ever. Local production company Dark Matter is following the success of its debut short feature Still, an ingenious little horror featuring a living statue entertainer trapped in the middle of a zombie outbreak, with supernatural thriller Off Grid. Director Carl Timms and writer Mark Brendan know how to push the right terror buttons, check out the trailer for Still below. In a real coup legendary Game of Thrones actor James Cosmo has signed on to the project alongside renowned actress Kate Davies-Speak. Here’s the best part, in return for supporting the crowd funding campaign to get the film finished donors receive perks such as the chance to be an extra, land an executive producer role or take part in a combat workshop (will come in very handy for the real zombie apocalypse). Joining Birmingham’s cinematic revolution starts from ten pounds and will also bag you signed artwork. Find out more about Dark Matter Films here
and join the campaign at www.indiegogo.com