Out of Space
For the last few weeks the derelect AirSpace building has been swarming with the un-dead, we have been hosts for the filming of Out of Space a Zombie film with a difference.
Here's what it's all about:
She takes her last drag of her cigarette…
and sips her wine.
The clay was cold under her fingers.
The darkness encroached.
Silent light echoed through the old abandoned pot bank.
She sleeps.
The living did not foresee the next 23 hours.
No one listened…
The landfills spilled over,
The rubbish mounted up
The mines were filled
And the pollution thickened
CONTAMINATION….. Mankind shall pay
OUTOFSPACE is an artistic approach to an important issue. This zombie horror film with a difference explores an original, down to earth and ‘realistic’ reaction to an environmental disaster.
The films strong environmental message is not about pointing the finger or answering questions. Rather we are using film as an attempt to encourage a discourse, creating a dialogue which forces people from all different backgrounds and ages to ask questions about our attitude to the world, to think outside the box and to take personal responsibility for their consumerist footprint. Therefore empowering individuals to create positive environmental change within their society, as well as raising people’s awareness of the potential impacts we are having on the earth.
The film will be edited as a lost transmission and will explore the complex network of relationships between the media and individuals.
We have recently received funding from the local council for the production of the film. To our surprise the film is escalating in popularity and we have gained local and national recognition from a range of professional bodies. These included our guest director, international award winning film maker Chris Stone and international illustrator and artist Shane Oakley, who is currently working with Labyrinth Arts to create a graphic novel based on the screen play of OUTOFSPACE.
Labyrinth Arts
Labyrinth Arts is a collective of professional artists who are based within the Stoke-on-Trent area. We facilitate a number of creative opportunities and experiences within the local and national community, for the purposes of personal, cultural, environmental, economic and social improvements.
Each member of the not-for-profit group brings different skills to the projects with the aim to share their knowledge and empower other people from the group and within the community to explore, create, celebrate and ‘have a go’ for themselves. For this project our core artists and professional skills/capabilities include:
Members
Aimee Blease-Bourne: Writer, actor, researcher, environmentalist, musical composer and camera person
Pete Brown: Audio-visual technician, lighting designer, set constructer and stunt man
Michael Cartwright: Visual artist, musical sound director, director, stuntman, editor and camera person
Neil Coburn: Actor, musical composer, set designer and constructer, musical and sound designer and stuntman
Andrea Cope: Musician, chemist, researcher, Prince2 Project Practitioner and environmental officer
Katrina Durber: Make-up and Special FX artist and seamstress.
Caroline McCarthy: Musician, psychologist, actress, writer and researcher
Tez Roberts: Visual artist and designer, photographer, actor, Director, special FX artist and costume designer
Sarah Rowlands: Director, writer, choreographer, actor, stunt co-ordinator and camera person
OUTOFSPACE
The film is based in Stoke-on-Trent in the West Midlands. As a city whose industry has been so influenced by the special and unique character of the landscape- we think it is time for us as residents to give something back to the Earth and say thanks, because without the clay, coal and iron the Potteries, would not be what it is today. As these industries are fading, we are increasingly becoming a consumerist, plastic and throw-away society, but we need to take personal responsibility for our waste and reduce the footprint that we leave behind on the Earth. Through various community workshops we are also providing local people with the opportunity to get their point of view across in a creative and non-aggressive way and therefore encouraging artists and participants to learn and share skills.
