Last night, at the same time as bring broadcast on BBC television news, we were also launching our crowdfund. This fund will mean that we can complete the film with the final scenes, and also get it edited to the same beautiful standard as the trailer.

If you are in any way able to support the crowdfund, even if it is just with £1, or by sharing the links please help us, we have come so far, it would be a real pity to fall at the last hurdle.

So, yesterday, some of out team had the great pleasure of filming a news reel for local BBC television news, about the recent successes of the Mordred trailer, leading to the Epic Awards nomination and being a semi finalist in the Los Angeles cinefest.

Much though we avoid the use of the word "amateur", as many of our team are working professional actors, and the rest all aspiring professionals, we are still very happy with the news article.

Epic Awards - national arts award finalists

(Don't forget, please vote for us at http://www.voluntaryarts.org/epic-awards-peoples-choice-voting It only takes a moment)

We are over the moon to be able to announce that due to our work locally, and our film project Mordred, we have been shortlisted for a national arts award. Epic Awards is held annually to celebrate grassroots local arts, and this would be absolutely amazing to get further - although it is a huge compliment to be even shortlisted.


Semifinalists in Los Angeles Cinefest

Just as we were trying to get over that today, an email came in, to tell us that we are also semifinalists in the Los Angeles CineFest. Mordred, our first ever feature film, a dark, tragic drama set in 6th Century Devon and Cornwall, following the legends of King Arthur's illegitimate son Mordred is in the late stages of production, with a handful more scenes to film when the weather gets better, and has a trailer already released (you can view it here on Youtube   This trailer has been released to film festivals around the world, and has already made it into two US filmfestivals: Indieboost, and Los Angeles Cinefest, as well as the Barcelona film festival in Spain.

As those who follow our work will know, we are all about pushing our actors to achieve excellence in their performances, towards all creating professional performances, and breaking out of the stereotype that all local theatre and film projects must be "amdram" and that regional people may be "unskilled" - so we provide as much training as we can, and also let our team know about other training opportunities that come up, allowing our lovely people to expand skills so that there are a wide range of skills and abilites that they have both for projects with us, for later if registered with our casting agency, and for going out and finding performance work on other productions regionally or nationally. 

Yesterday those of our team who were able, attended a day course "Riding for Film and Television" at the fantastic Polmartin Riding Stables, in Cornwall (highly recommended if you wish to learn or practice your riding, run by people who do a lot of horse work for films).
Laura, Sharon, and Megan attended, and more of our team hope to attend similar courses in future. These are suitable for beginner and experienced riders, so absolutely brilliant.

We are delighted to announce the castings for Jack The Ripper. We still have some roles to cast, so please get in touch by Saturday evening, if you would like to audition (we will be holding readings for these roles at 12 on Sunday, and then a full cast script reading from 1pm. For new cast members the rehearsal venue is the same as the auditions. If you would like to audition for one of the outstanding roles, please drop us an email to southdevonoplayers@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Ed Stewart - Abberline
Julie Sharp - Martha Tabram & Diemschutz (feminised)
Mason Castree - Dr Llewellyn, and John Pizer
Kerrie Mifsud - Nurse 2, and Thomas Bowyer (feminised to Mrs Bowyer) Kerrie please note that Hutchinson on page 107 is now Mrs Bowyer as well)
Megan Tarrant - Mary Jane Kelly
Emma Hackett - Catherine Eddowes
Erika - Charles Cross and Artist.
Hayley Rushton - Elizabeth Stride
Seamus Mackinnon - Edmund Reid
Steve Stapleton - George Lusk
Josef McKinven- Barratt
Jem Snow - Polly
Carisse Norcott - Annie Chapman , Kirsty
Hannah Cummings - Waldron
Rich Sandford - John Kelly
Laura Jay - Nelly Holland, Nurse 1

Live music in the Ten Bells will be played by Sharon Hubbocks.
Script Changes:
- Robert Paul scene on page 40/41 is cut,
- Kerrie and Megan please note that Hutchinson on page 107 is now Mrs Bowyer as well)
- The soliciting scene with Charles (now Charlie) Cross and Mary Kelly on 65-66 is now cut: the girls will now come in, order from Waldron and go and sit down.
- Nelly Holland and Eliza are now combined.
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We still need to cast (some of the roles could be combined down)
William Gull (Freemason and well to do expert in medicine)
Henry/ Harry Turner -local pedlar, cheerful, slightly cynical and very practical.
John Reeves - Local workman (could be female if we cut from the freemasons scene and page 81, or we could combine with Carl or Kenneth)
Adam – client of the whores.
PC Watkins - local policeman, gaining his confidence, but not afraid to take on new challenges
Carl - soldier from the local barracks
Kenneth – soldier from the local barracks
Susie - Waldrons serving girl at the Ten Bells, younger and saucy, but tough

An excellent afternoon was had at the launch of Brixham Futures CIC. This is a non-profit organization, again, sharing similar general aims to us - the promotion and advancement of local people. We, like other organizations, were able to have a table at the event, and promote our work as well as networking with other orgs.