IF WATCHING Ricky Gervais's brilliant new vehicle 'Extras' hasn't shattered your illusions about life behind the silver screen, then Galashiels film-maker Brian Devlin is looking for you.
Devlin is putting the finishing touches to his latest offerin
g '500 Years of Shaving Goats', and is urgently seeking extras to appear in the climactic battle scenes which will be shot next month at Crichton Castle near Pathhead.
The film tells the story of a 15th- century warrior who disgraces his ancestors by bunking off from a great battle to go and steal his rival's unguarded bed. He is condemned to remain with the bed until the legacy of his family's shame has passed. But his descendants take a different view of his last known adventure and choose to honour his memory by enacting a unique modern-day tribute.
Devlin has already shot all the internal scenes at Balgonie Castle in Fife and now wants to film the battle which the warrior hero so ignominiously avoided.
"I've got an open mind about the profile of the extras," he said.
"I'd like to hear from anyone as long as they are happy to be fighters, corpses, wailing women or reiving thieves."
Devlin says he began making films in a bid to raise his profile as a writer.
"I've made three or four so far, but haven't actually done a whole lot with them, other that putting them on the internet and screening them at film events.
"I optioned '500 Years of Shaving Goats' to Rocket Scene Pictures last year, but they couldn't find the money. That is why I am reviving the project myself."
Devlin admits his budget is tight on the current production, but hopes to help any volunteer extras with travelling expenses.
Contact Brian on 01896 756402 or email him at eildon@hotmail.co.uk
