8:18am Thursday 11th January 2007
By Gemma Sproston
AS one chapter of the Regal's history closed another opened as an aspiring film director called lights camera action' on the first day of his film shoot.
James Kennedy, of Granville Road, Leftwich, began shooting his first full-length feature Dead City at the now defunct cinema on Sunday.
He says things got off to a great start.
The 21-year-old film maker, who used to work at the cinema, said: "The shoot went well.
"Watching back the day's footage I felt satisfied we were making a great movie and can't wait for everyone to see it.
"Roll on the weekend for round two.
"Everyone on set had a great time and we're all eager to get back in there and shoot the rest of Dead City"
James has always loved the horror genre and first had the idea for this zombie thriller four years ago.
Set in an abandoned cinema, the plot focuses on a failed medical experiment, which unleashes a virus on a city, turning three quarters of the population into zombies.
James said: "I had the idea for Dead City four years ago. I was working at the Regal Cinema and I was still in college.
"I've always loved horror so I wanted to make my zombie movie and I wanted to make it in a cinema.
"It's never been done and where better than there?"
Featuring a small local cast and crew Dead City also includes scenes with between 50 and 70 zombie extras - some of who got their roles after reading about James' plans in the Guardian in December.
The shoot is expected to last eight days and you can find out more about whole process online in James' regular Guardian web blog.
Just click on Get Interactive and Your Blogs.
You can also check out the film's official website for video diaries and get background information about the movie at www.deadcitymovie.com.
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