King Horror Short For Co Donegal

One of horror writer Stephen King's short stories is about to be turned into a movie with a regional film-maker taking advantage of the globally famous author's pledge to aid up-and-coming producers.

Co Donegal-based Gerard Lough is casting for this new 'Dollar baby', (King takes a one dollar fee) which while being confidential at present, is said to be a similar plot to the movie great, The Shining.

This will be the Letterkenny man's seventh short. Gerard, (pictured) said: "It explores some very dark themes which I will not be shying away from.

"I wrote the screenplay and it is a faithful adaptation of King's work with only two scenes added which do not appear in the book," he told 4RFV.

Gerard aims to start shooting in April or May and will have a crew of as many as 20 people.

"The script is finished but the reason pre-production will take a long time is because the film will include some intricate special effects and I will need to find a very skilled male actor, (mid 30s) who will be able to take on a difficult and demanding role," he said, noting that it will be in pre-production for the next month or two.

"I hope to have found my leading man by then and cast him.

"Right now we are doing storyboards and deciding on a shedule, location, props, title designs, etc.

"After the film has been shot, there will be a trailer online for everyone to see and possibly a short 'behind the scenes' film," he told 4RFV.

Gerard's most recent short, The Stolen Wings makes its debut at Underground Cinema this Friday (Jan 29th) in Dublin with the producer doing a film-makers 'Q & A' afterwards.

Meanwhile. those actors fitting 'the bill' can contact Gerard by email on gerardlough@hotmail.com

See: www.underground-cinema.com/januaryprogram.htm for more on The Stolen Wings.

(BMcC/GK)