Store boss set to film Bond-style movie

 

* Film-maker Dan Speirs outside Ever Beyond in Eagles Meadow, Wrexham.

 

A store manager from Llangollen is set to film a James Bond-style political thriller.

 

Amateur film maker Dan Speirs, 28, the manager of Ever Beyond, at Eagles Meadow shopping centre, in Wrexham, is planning his shooting schedule for the movie short.

 

The story, which has the working title of Trajectory, is heavily influenced by James Bond author Ian Fleming, and begins when a mysterious unnamed soldier finds a potential weapon of mass destruction.

 

The movie will be shot entirely on his DLSR camera and released on Youtube.

 

Dan, who attended Ysgol Dinas Bran and has a Media Studies degree from Glyndwr University, is also a graphic designer and creates videos for Ever Beyond, which specialises in kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms.

 

He said: “The film is very ambitious. It’s easily the hardest thing I’ve ever attempted.

“It’s about a person’s journey. The main character has no name and that’s done on purpose. The reason for that is because it makes it more realistic and gives a fly on the wall feel to it. It will also add a sense of mystery.

 

“In films generally a lot of things have to be explained. In a real life situation you wouldn’t necessarily find out someone’s name.

 

“The film is influenced by the likes of Ian Fleming, and going to have a lot of 70s influences too.

 

“It’s going to be shot across North Wales and Cheshire.

 

“It’s only going to be a short film, probably about 30 minutes max. I’m going to release it on Youtube.”

 

Dan has teamed up with his brother Josh Speirs, 25 to create the flick.

 

Dan said: “We’ll be doing everything, from the filming, to the acting to the editing. Because there are only two of us doing it that presents challenges which we’re going to have to find creative ways to overcome. For example if the two of us are in a scene, the camera will have to be static because there will be no one there to move it. That’s part of the fun of it.

 

“I really enjoy the crafting of it and creative process. It’s something I’m really passionate about.

 

“My interest in creating films started when I was still a student. It’s born out of the huge passion for films and how they’re created and a desire to do that myself. I wanted to have a go at making my own.

 

“I love films by David Fincher like Fight Club, and films by Martin Scorsese. They both have a very distinctive style, and you can tell it’s one of their films just by watching it. They have a particular quality. They inspire me.

 

“We will be using green screening because we have a green screen at home. If you film someone in front of the green screen you can then replace it with what you want. It’s the same technique they use with weather people on the news. I’ll be editing it using Final Cut software."

 

He added: “I’ve been doing video editing for about 10 years now and it’s part of my job here. We’re doing more and more of it because we’re putting videos on our website so the customers can see what our kitchens look like.

 

“I create all our adverts for magazines. Our kitchens are bespoke, so when we create them we tailor them to the customer. We can pretty much make anything the customer wants, from the traditional to the more modern.

 

“I’ve created show reels that showcase the showrooms.

 

“It’s a very nice place to work because there’s a really pleasant working environment here.

 

“We give the type of personal service that you would expect from a local shop.”

Eagles Meadow manager Kevin Critchley added: “I’m a huge James Bond fan and I think this project sounds very exciting. I can wait to see it when it’s finished.”

Special trains mark Remembrance weekend

To mark Remembrance weekend, and also the last weekend of the season for trains running through to Corwen, Llangollen Railway will have a special headboard on the engine.

The specially made Remembrance headboard will be carried by the rostered locomotive Black Five No.45337 in memory of all those railwaymen who fell in conflicts.

* The special Remembrance train headboard.

 

Trains will depart Llangollen on Saturday and Sunday at 10.50am, 1pm and 3.10pm for the extended run through to the new station at Corwen East.

Army cadets have been invited to attend on poppy sales duties.

After the last train on November 9 no further services will operate prior to the commencement of Santa Special trains on December 6, which conclude on Christmas Eve.

 

From Boxing Day, December 26, the series of Mince Pie Special trains will run through to Corwen East until January 1.

 

 

Health board being given help to improve

A BBC story says the "troubled" Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which serves Llangollen, is being given help by the Welsh Government to improve.

For the full story, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-29896481

War veterans meet for the last time

A GROUP of Second World War veterans has held an emotional reunion for the very last time, according to a story in the Leader.

The poignant event was held at the Bryn Howel Hotel, Llangollen, and was attended by 17 men who were stationed there for map training with the Royal Engineers in the 1940s.

* For the full story see: m.leaderlive.co.uk/mobile/mnews/140278/map-makers-call-time-on-annual-reunion-in-llangollen.aspx

Residents "will be consulted over speed limits"

Assembly Member Ken Skates has welcomed Denbighshire County Council’s assurance that residents near Llangollen will be fully consulted over changes to local speed limits.

Mr Skates, the Labour AM for Clwyd South, wrote to the authority’s chief executive Dr Mohammed Mehmet two weeks ago to pass on his constituents’ concerns about proposals to reduce the current 60mph restriction over the Horseshoe Pass.

Mr Skates said: “I have been contacted by several constituents in Pentredwr who are worried about the potential knock-on effects implementing speed restrictions on the Horseshoe Pass, and I have relayed these concerns to the council in writing.

 

“The worry is that a reduction on the new road could lead to even more drivers going down behind the Ponderosa and using Pentredwr as a cut-through.

 

“Too many drivers are already using that route and going dangerously fast on a far narrower and steeper road, which has no footpaths. As well as obvious concerns about increased traffic through Pentredwr, many residents have very real fears that the increased use of the Old Horseshoe Pass could lead to a spike in accidents.”

Dr Mehmet said the A542 was being looked at as part of a county-wide speed limit review of all A and B roads. All local authorities in Wales are required to carry out a similar project before the end of 2014.

He has assured Mr Skates that before any recommendations of the speed limit review can be implemented, the council must first undertake a statutory consultation exercise which will see initial talks with county councillors and North Wales Police.

Only if an agreement is reached at this first stage can the proposals then proceed to public consultation with the community, when formal objections can be lodged.

Mr Skates said: “I’m pleased that Dr Mehmet has assured me he has noted the concerns of residents of Pentredwr and these will be fully considered at the consultation stage referred to. He has also indicated that the introduction of traffic-calming in Pentredwr would be considered should the proposal for the lower speed limit progress.”

Because of current budget constraints, the earliest Denbighshire County Council could begin the consultation is likely to be in February or March.

Dickens play planned for Town Hall

 

As Christmas closes in on us, Llangollen Town Hall will be staging a new play about Charles Dickens, on Friday November 14th and Saturday 15th, before going on short N. Wales tour.

 

A Dickens of an Evening imagines the unfolding drama at Dickens’ house when he invites friends to join him for a drink and a read through of some of his stories and Christmas pieces.

 

There are all the elements of Christmas celebrations, visits from ghosts, haunted men, Christmas trees coming to life, plus festive joy.

Beneath the jollity, the undercurrents of Dickens’ life are always near the surface. Using several of Dickens’ special Christmas stories such as The Haunted Man, Christmas Carol and The Christmas Tree, playwri...ght Peter Read, who has received rave reviews for his depiction of Dylan Thomas, now turns his attention to Charles Dickens.

Although a novelist, Charles Dickens had a great love for the theatre, a passion which developed in childhood, when he lived next door to one. A Dickens of An Evening is set in the 1850’s when Dickens was famous and wealthy. 

As the jollity unfolds on stage there is a dark sub plot of Dickens’ own love life and his obsession with ghosts, threatening to destroy his reputation and health. The circulation of rumours that he is having an affair with the young actress Ellen Ternan and the delivery of a love brooch from the Jewellers to Mrs Dickens, a brooch inscribed to and intended for Ellen, add a spice to the Christmas celebrations which the great man was not expecting.

The play has grown out of Read’s research into the writer. Read became fascinated with the idea of what it must have been like to be present at one of Dickens’ readings. Whilst he has invented the events surrounding the readings of Dickens’ script the play is based on real situations in Dickens’ life.

 

A little like Hamlet and Noises Off, A Dickens of an Evening contains a play within a play.

* TICKETS: £8 & £6.50 concession. Group booking discounts available. Either Inbox to reserve or Tel: 01978 351315/ Llangollen Tourist Information Centre.

Free Welsh lessons set to begin

St Collen's Church office has asked llanblogger to display the following poster about free Welsh lessons starting there next month ...