Shropshire's home grown movie industry

Richard Davies plays Glen in the Shropshire based film, Tramlines

Shropshire has provided the backdrop for many famous films, most recently the Bafta and Oscar winning Atonement, which was filmed at Stokesay Court.

What is less well known is that the county has its own flourishing home grown film industry.

Two productions are in progress at the moment and it is hoped they will find success on the international film festival circuit.

Both feature amateur actors with professional production staff.

Shropshire in movies:

Atonement comes to Stokesay

A Christmas Carol in Shrewsbury

Burton film at Ellesmere College

Tramlines

Lynne Harvey from Much Wenlock is a professional playwright who decided to branch out into film and wrote the script for Tramlines: "Inspiration came from someone I met... a loner in society, someone who's ignored, an outcast."

She, along with film maker David Bishop formed a company together.

Mr Bishop also plays the main character in Tramlines: "I play a character called Paul Ingram, a documentary film maker, who returns to a local area after 20 years."

He observes the changes he finds in the locality where he shot his first film.

I deliver hay to Lynne for the donkeys and we got talking one day and she said would I like to be in a film Richard Davies

The filming is now in post production and Ms Harvey admitted it had not gone totally to plan: "The film, as we came to film it, has gone in very odd directions. It's not anything like the original conception."

Another character, Glen, is played by farmer Richard Davies. His involvement in the film happened quite by chance: "I deliver hay to Lynne for the donkeys and we got talking one day and she said would I like to be in a film?"

He said he had done "little bits of things" before and was offered "a little tiny part."

It turned out to be much bigger and he ended up playing Glen, a DJ on the local radio station.

David Bishop sets up the camera for a scene in Tramlines

BBC Shropshire's Genevieve Tudor, Allan Price and Jim Hawkins also appear in the film.

Ms Harvey said when she first started thinking about film writing she was looking for a new career direction: "I think I had come to the end of the line in theatre work really."

Since filming Tramlines she has made another short film and plans to do more: "It has been stressful, but I have to say it's a lot of fun as well and there have been times I have laughed so much it hurts."

Olivia's Army

Clare Swift from Whitchurch has always enjoyed writing, but had never attempted a film script before.

The action centres on a group of middle aged women who set out to rob a bank: "Imagine the Calendar Girls robbing a bank... with their clothes on.

"I think everyone at some point or other always wanted to rob a bank... obviously most of us don't do it. I think certainly with all the bank bail-outs... I wouldn't mind just popping in and having some of it back for myself."

Gillian Lee has her make up applied before filming Olivia's Army

Gillian Lee, a former BBC documentary maker and actor, plays the role of Phyllis the postmistress, who is involved in robbing the bank.

She said: "The script is absolutely fantastic and that's what brought me in... I began reading it and I thought 'this is fantastic and such a great story' so I immediately e-mailed back and said 'I'm in'."

No one involved in Olivia's Army is getting paid and most are amateurs in the world of film making.

Sandra Evans has been acting, looking after the wardrobe, props and make up as well as doing a bit of directing: "When this film ends and we get all the credits, my name will be on there so many times. Now and again I do the catering as well."

Tom Thompson plays the part of Greg in the film. He also helps with the sound production when he is not acting: "I'm studying drama at University. I'm in my final year, so this is good experience."

Because most of the people working on Olivia's Army also have full time jobs, filming is usually confined to weekends.

Ms Swift hopes to complete the film by July 2010.