Belfast Band To Shake Movie Scene?

Getting into the movie business looks like being 'no great shakes' for up-and-coming Belfast band, Delirium Tremens.

The group has been approached to provide a rock track to introduce a new big screen movie - with the foursome's second 'audition' tomorrow being down to the film writer choosing the particular numbers that will be used for the soundtrack - as he's already convinced that Delirium Tremens has the winning sound.

But there's more than one element of local interest in the forthcoming horror 'flick - one of a trio that includes a film that just premiered to critical acclaim in Cannes.

While Delirium Tremens has been chosen for the music element of the second film in the slate - a low budget horror feature film called 'Salvage' - the writer has a local pedigree too.

The movie is from the pen of Derry man Colin O'Donnell, who describes 'Salvage' as a "cool little micro budget movie filmed in Liverpool" (on the old Hollyoaks set).

O'Donnell - who, as story editor for TV's Hollyoaks devising the 'teacher and student affair' storyline that scooped 'Best Storyline' at the 2006 Soap Awards - was originally impressed by Delirium Tremens performance some months back in south Belfast's Pavilion Bar.

Soon after, he decided that he needed a "hard rock track to open the movie" and came looking for a group who might want their music to get "out there" via a film.

Earlier this month he wrote that he was "pretty interested in a few tracks" and wanted to see if the four piece "might be up for helping" in the movie.

'Salvage' is one of the three films commissioned by the Digital Departures initiative that began shooting on location in Liverpool earlier this year.

The first movie, 'Of Time And The City' premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last month in the Special Screenings category, while the third is still in the process of being made.

Now, after the unexpected first 'audition', Colin O'Donnell is to catch the band's next gig with a view to selecting the tracks he wants to use.

"We're playing at the Spring & Airbrake on 12th June - and Colin is coming along to meet the lads and have another listen," said Damien Whinnery, Delirium Tremens' guitar player.

The local journalist said this might turn out to be an "awesome" break for the four-piece band, named after "uncontrollable trembling, hallucinations, severe anxiety, sweating, and sudden feelings of terror" caused by withdrawing booze from an alcoholic.

But there should be 'no sweat' for Damien and his fellow band members, vocalist and bass player Peter Gilmore, drummer Glenn Lyall, guitarist Brian McNeill.

"We know he's especially interested in two tracks, Barabas and Remora, but has already said that Remora would be really good for the start of the film.

"We can't wait!" he enthused.

The Digital Departures scheme involved three films being funded (£250,000 per film), made and premiered in Liverpool as part of the 2008 Capital of Culture celebrations.

Northwest Vision and Media, with its partners Liverpool Culture Company, BBC and the UK Film Council devised the scheme.

The horror film centres on what happens when a storage container with mysterious contents washes ashore.

The residents of the cul-de-sac (Brookside) are plunged into a horrifying world of violence, terror and paranoia.

Quarantined by the military and ordered to stay indoors, a single mother must overcome all the odds to save her daughter.

(BMcC)