Double-bill at Horror UK 2009

  By
Scayrecrow / Screaming skullHORROR UK, Fareham UK : October 29th – November 1st

A Halloween screening has been announced for  ‘Scayrecrow‘ and ‘The Screaming Skull’ at  Horror UK 2009 (a 28 hour horror marathon) – a festival that “aims to bring new and accomplished horror film makers and writers together, providing an avenue for those who want their films to be seen and those who want to get exposure.”

“For those wanting to give a purpose, other than your enjoyment of horror, to this event, then we are working with a children’s cancer ward.  Allowing you to be sponsored to stay for 12, 18, 24 or the full 28 hours.”

Aswell as  the double bill screening the films have also garnered the ‘Bloody Good Film Award‘ from the judging panel. “This is an award given out during the reviewing process of Horror UK, It is only awarded to films that we feel are an overall good watch. We take into account plot, script, acting, music etc and award those films which we feel are deserving.”Horror UK official selection

Initially expected only to be a screening of ‘Scayrecrow‘ a curious coincidence led to a double bill screening. The Director of the festival – Joe Jenkins –  happened to have spent much of his childhood in one of the notorious sites that housed a ‘screaming skull’…

“The story of Theophilus Broome is one that I often hear about, but  I actually had the luck to share a home with it for a time as a kid.  He was a royalist during the civil war and became ill.

During his illness, he was given a hiding place in the farmhouse at Higher Farm, Chilton Cantelo.  He died whilst in the farmhouse and was scared that the Roundheads would get hold of his head and stick it on top of a spike.  Due to this, he asked for his head to be removed and kept in a box, which was done.

the skull revealed...

"The Screaming skull" - Ashley Thorpe

It has been said that whenever somebody has tried to remove the skull from the house, strange events have taken place. One of the most widely reported, was that of a farmer who was fed up with seeing the skull, but every time he went to dig a hole to place it into, the spade would break.  He finally used a brand new spade, but this one split right down the middle, both metal and wood.  He decided to give up and return the skull to its box.

I often held it as a kid, and last year returned to the farmhouse to stay for a couple of nights, and there was still that ‘feeling’ about the place…” – Joe Jenkins.

For Official site visit: http://www.horroruk.com/


LOCAL NEWS UPDATE

Devon newspapers ‘The Western Morning News‘ and ‘The Express & Echo‘ have printed their reaction to the news of the Short Film Corner screening in Cannes. Apart from a general potted history (and some slight confusion by the Echo between ‘Short film corner’ and the main site festival) Stuart Mitchell, Digital media co-ordinator at the Exeter Phoenix commented –Local press

“We are obviously delighted that the work of one of our emerging film-makers has been selected for the Short  Film Corner  at the Festival de Cannes. It is a great opportunity for Ashley, which will hopefully also raise awareness of the myriad talent in our city.”

“We hope that it will encourage more and more of the many creative people in Exeter and the rest of Devon with innovative ideas to come forward and work with us to develop their projects.”

For details on how to apply for grants / competitons or production advice visit the Exeter Phoenix Media site here.

“If it weren’t for the Exeter Phoenix and that first Project Greenlight bursary, I’d still be bumming round looking for illustration work. They’ve had their eyes open every step of the way for ways and means to get my work out there. I’ve got a lot to thank them for.” – Ashley Thorpe

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