Ambleton Delight
Ambleton Delight is a £6,000 British independent drama film released in 2009. Filmed exclusively in East Sussex, UK it is directed by Brighton and Hove based Daniel Parkes, based on a script by Japanese writer Itsuka Yamasaki and Ben Rohde, produced by Sinéad Ferguson and starring veteran Coronation Street actor Brian Carpon.
The production company is Parkes Productions Ltd based in the Brighton Marina on the south coast of England.
The film score was composed by Iain Cameron and includes appearances by British bands Swallowing Shotguns and MellowSun.
Plot
It is a drama based on a true story, set in a small contemporary Sussex village by the name of Ambleton during the apple harvest season. When Ambleton is faced with a proposal for a nearby motorway, the mayor (Brian Capron) is quick to reject it in an effort to protect the tranquility of the village. However, forward thinking restaurant chef and councilor John Miller (Jos Lawton) embraces the proposal, seeing it as an opportunity to increase business. The ensuing standoff not only divides the community, but the ramifications ultimately lead to devastation and inspiration, as observed through the eyes of a young restaurant pianist and would-be filmmaker (Ernest Worthing). The story resonates with themes of discrimination, youth unemployment and small town politics.
Cast
- Brian Capron as village mayor Michael Keane
- Jos Lawton as John Miller
- Ernest Worthing as Chris Philips
- Chris Marshall as Narrator/Real Chris Philips
- Kristina Anne Howell as Kate Miller
- Samantha Bolter as Claire
- Dan Smith as Wayne
- Peter Allen as Andy
- Andrew Elias as Colin Wilkinson
- John Hayden as Don Wilkinson
- James Charles as Henry Freeman
- Judith Ellis-Jones as Mary Freeman
- Matthew Heggis as Olly
- Sofia Sanchez as Sofia Sanchez
- Shirely Jaffe as Irene Philips
- Duncan Armitage as Paul Fraser
- Henry Page as Tommy
- Natasha Gharbawi as young Sofia
Production
From script development to production to final cut, Ambleton Delight was completed within a total of 9 nine months. Principle photography consisted of twelve separate shoot days, mostly nights and weekends, between November 2008 and January 2009. Second unit photography was completed in March 2009. It was premiered in April 2009.
Filming was completed using digital cinematography by way of the JVC GYHD201 camera recording 720p at 25fps to harddrive and tape. 35mm lenses were used to attain a cinematic shallow depth of field via the SGPro relay adapter.
Awards
The film was premiered at The End of the Pier International Film Festival and won Best UK Feature 2009. It is presently on the 2009 festival circuit.
Next-to-nothing budget blog
With interest in how the film was produced on only £6,000, The Recipe to Ambleton Delight blog detailing production information and tips was started in August 2009.
External links
- Ambleton Delight, Official film website
- The Recipe to Ambleton Delight, Official film blog
- Parkes Productions Ltd, Production company website