A HORROR film, partly filmed in Barnard Castle and with a cameo by a local personality, had its premiere in Durham last week.
The finale of The Devil’s Stone which launched on October 11 was filmed at The Witham and features familiar face Peter Dixon, renowned for the Funny way To Be Comedy events he organises at the arts centre.
He said: “I played the caretaker and I get bumped off by Sayer Hicks, the baddie in the film. I have a few lines where I greet them all and then I go into the office and I hear a noise…”
Mr Dixon’s daughter Erica also had input into the creation of the film, filming her dad saying his lines during the welcoming scene at The Witham in close up, which were added to the final production.
A number of the press photographs released ahead of the launch were also taken by her. Her dad said her work would add to her Duke of Edinburgh Gold award, where she had chosen film-making as a skill she wanted to learn
She attended the film premiere last week where she rubbed shoulders with Harry Potter star Ellie Darcey-Alden, who appears in the horror film.
She played the part of Lily Potter in Harry and the Deathly Hallows Part Two and also played Franny in Dr Who.
The movie was shot by Durham filmmaker Dean Midas.
The actress said: “I was excited to hear of all Dean’s achievements in short film making and especially how he gets the community involved in his scary movies. It was so much fun to film a special scene to show my support.”
The movie centres around Crook’s Devil’s Stone where legend suggests that the devil will appear if anyone runs around it seven times.
Others to appear in the film include Scott Anson, who plays Reece Bolton in Coronation Street, and Dick Warlock who played Michael Myers in Halloween 2.
Mr Midas said: “I am overwhelmed by the support from these big names. They all have worked on some of the biggest ever TV and film franchises, so to have them involved is unbelievable.”
