Carrion film is celebrating ‘Scayrecrow‘ being nominated for the 2009 Media Innovation Awards as part of the ‘Best independent Film / Video category.
The awards recognise the innovative use of media, music and design across the South West region. Entries were invited from companies across the whole of the South West (including collaborations with the BBC and the Open University) and Karen Stockdale of award organisers, the Plymouth media partnership, says she’s delighted at the quality and diversity of the submissions this year, “The judges really had their work cut out deciding which entries to shortlist.
The quality of entries was very high and the fact that the short-listed companies come from all over the region, from Poole to Dorset to Falmouth in Cornwall and from Bristol to Plymouth proves that the South West region is a centre of excellance for media and design.”
‘Scayrecrow‘, for the un-initiated, is a Hammer inspired animation about a ghostly Highwayman, written and directed by Ashley Thorpe. It is set in England in 1742 – wherein the daring robberies of Joshua Rookwood are the talk of all of England. No-one it seems is safe on the Kings highways from the notorious highwayman and his fearful alter-ego ‘The Scayrecrow‘. Rookwood’s motives however are not mere brutality and greed. Every full moon, after robbing the gentry of their riches, Rookwood steals away to deliver the choicest of the booty to his love, the serving girl Eleanor Tawney. As the reward for his capture grows ever large, these moonlit rendezvous attract unwanted attention…and slowly and surely plans are drawn against them…
The animation was co-funded by the Exeter Phoenix and Devon County Council, and was made during 2008. The film features a dynamic score by composer Mick Grierson. Ashley recenly commented on the film in an interview with Lee Morgan (D & C Film):
“I’ve always been completely fascinated by highwaymen,” says Ashley, and he recalls ’70s National Trust ads for historic sites, which would have the highwayman rushing past in all his regalia. But the spectacle has largely been overlooked, Adam Ant aside. “In theory they are the closest thing to a British Western.”
As of March 4th the film will be available as a download directly from www.carrionfilms.co.uk (more to be announced shortly!)
The winners of the Media Innovation Awards will be announced at a gala award ceremony to be held at the Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol on the 12th of March.