Dales schoolboy ‘natural’ stars in new film Lad (From The Westmorland Gazette)
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Dales schoolboy ‘natural’ stars in new film Lad
5:50pm Wednesday 2nd November 2011 in Settle news
ON SET: Settle teenager Bretten Lord on the Dales during filming for new movie Lad
THE final scenes of a heart-warming new Britflick inspired by a national park warden are being shot in the Yorkshire Dales.
Feature film Lad, which stars several local actors, tells the story of a kind warden who helps a local teenage boy come to terms with the death of his father.
Filmed on location around the dramatic landscape of Austwick and Settle, the film has been a ‘life-changing experience’ for lead actor, 14-year-old Settle schoolboy Bretten Lord.
“It’s been absolutely fantastic to be part of the film,” he said.
“It’s not often people my age get this opportunity to play a main part in a film and this is now what I want to do in the future.”
Bretten was chosen to play the part of Tom Proctor by director Dan Hartley following an appeal in The Westmorland Gazette for people to attend an open audition.
Also in the cast are Grange-over-Sands teenager Molly McGlynn and Robert Hayes, 16, of Settle College, who takes the part of the older brother.
Settle man Alan Gibson plays the late Al Boughen, the Dales warden who inspired the film.
Bafta-nominated Dan said: “I deliberately set out to find people without any acting experience to give the film authenticity.
“Bretten has been stunning. He’s very charismatic and natural.
"He’s got so much energy on set but when it comes to his scene he’s a professional.”
This is the first feature film for former Austwick resident Dan, who was brought up in the village and attended primary school before going to Settle Middle and High schools.
After a decade working as a video playback operator on the Harry Potter movies and producing his own short films, he decided to venture into feature-length productions last year.
Settle market was brought to a halt as film crews shot their last scene, which involved Bretten’s character spreading manure over the town’s bank in a tractor.
The film will be completed in summer 2012 and will tour local cinemas with plans for it to feature at film festivals and gain national cinema distribution.
To watch the first ten minutes visit www.ladayorkshirestory.com.
