Love story - with zombies
It's your classic 18th century theatrical romp - with extra zombies.
Stage and screen actor Matthew Butler has gathered together a host of actors including Limehouse legend Sir Ian McKellen for E' gad! Zombies, a short period film about love and the undead.
Matthew is currently working Christmas shifts at Cabot Place East's chocolatiers Charbonnel et Walker to help meet the costs of the film, which he hopes to submit to Cannes in the New Year.
Matthew said: "The story focuses on a poet who's interested in a rich heiress. He has no money, so she's set to marry his brother instead. And then the zombies arrive."
The professional actor came up with the idea while touring the country with a production of Love's Last Shift, a Restoration comedy dating back to 1696.
He said: "We started talking about how brilliant it would be if the cast were all zombies. We wrote out the plot while we were touring with the play.
"We've just finished the edit, and we're confident of getting it finished by January. We wanted to get back to the classic George A Romero zombie which is slow and plodding, because that's more scary."
The 20-minute film stars Matthew as the poet, Tori Hart as the heiress Vanity Banks, and Giles Alderson of The Damned United and I Want Candy as the brother.
Matthew also invited Narrow Street resident Sir Ian McKellen to supply the narration and make a cameo.
Sir Ian has supported Matthew's production company Eulalie Productions, and appeared with him in The Da Vinci Code.
Matthew said: "When we were recording his voice, it was meant to be delivered in a fairy tale voice, so it sounded just like The Lord Of The Rings.
"He was amazing, and the epitome of professionalism. He didn't take it lightly. It was fascinating to watch, if a little scary to direct."
Matthew has already submitted a short trailer to YouTube, and hopes to have a chance to attract funding for a feature film at Cannes.
The undead have been among the film world's big players in recent years, with 28 Days Later, Shaun of the Dead, REC, the Twilight saga and the upcoming Wolfman movie all attracting interest.
Matthew said: "We advertised for a make-up artist and we got about 400 replies. Everyone wants to do zombie make-up.
"People are really interested in zombies, vampires and werewolves right now.
"We've shown the film so far to people in the industry and they really liked it. It's a love story, and there just happen to be zombies as well."
Go to egadzombies.co.uk.
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