A sci-fi film which will be filmed entirely in the South Wales Valleys has taken one giant leap towards becoming a reality, after receiving almost double its budget target at the half-way stage of fundraising.
Offworld – a survival movie set on an alien planet – is the brainchild of Terry Cooper, 46, from Ystrad Mynach, and fellow producer Adam Neal, 30, from Aberdare.
The pair planned to raise £2,500 through their Kickstarter campaign, which began on Thursday September 1, but at the halfway point of the month-long campaign, the film has raised over £4,600.
Terry said: “We’re obviously very chuffed. It’s always a surprise when people on board with your idea.
“We’ve had people backing the project from far and wide, from Europe, to Japan, to the USA and Canada, and that’s great because we want people to feel involved.
“I’m halfway through the first draft of the screenplay, and we’ve got one week of intensive filming scheduled for April.
“Every day it feels closer to becoming a reality.”
As well as over 100 Kickstarter backers, Offworld has the support of two local politicians.
Caerphilly AM, Hefin David, and Cllr James Pritchard, who represents Morgan Jones ward, have pledged their help to the pair.
Dr David said: “I met with Terry and Adam in Ystrad Mynach to discuss their project. I’m delighted that they are using Parc Penallta and its beautiful landscape for this creative project.
“I’ve committed to helping them access funding and I will support them as best I can. The northern valleys are a great area to do business, as Terry and Adam are demonstrating.”
They could save a fortune on makeup if they did some of their filming in the Caerphilly social club. That place is full of monsters! Saturday night in there looks like the bar scene on Tattoine.