Regent to host short film premiere

A scene from the short film Love/Hate - the dining room at The Norbreck Castle Hotel.

And for Brad James, it is his home town of Blackpool where he has chosen to hone his skills in the art of cinematic direction.

This Sunday will see the premiere of his latest work, a short film called Love/Hate which was shot last November here in the resort.

The five-minute screening starts at 6pm in the Regent Cinema on Church Street.

It is free to attend, and will be followed by a Q&A session with actors Paul Eryk Atlas and Sally Smithson who play the leading couple Adam Bennett and Eva Laurant.

The audience will also be shown another of Brad’s creations, True Glory, a 15-minute film set during the Second World War.

He said: “We’re hoping plenty of people will come along.

“It would be great for anyone interested in studying drama or film-making or getting into the media industry in general.

“This will really showcase Blackpool’s emerging artists and forgotten art scene in a great light, and how we are using a newly renovated cinema from 1921 that is full of rich culture to bring Hollywood to Blackpool.

“Love/Hate cost just £500 to make but it is really cinematic and I can’t wait for people to see it.

“The actors had seen my work before and really wanted to be part of it.

“Paul Eryk Atlas is a friend of mine from Cleveleys and is also appearing in a new version of Wuthering Heights.

“So it will be really interesting for people to ask him and Sally questions.”

Love/Hate’ follows Adam Bennett and Eva Laurant, a young couple living in the heart of Blackpool and has been written, produced and directed by Brad.

The pair fall madly in love, but when their relationship becomes strained, tempers flare.

The plot is a portrayal of a modern day relationship with ingredients including love, hate, infidelity and violence. Brad, 25, of Palatine Road, used locations including the restaurant at the Norbreck Castle Hotel and Blackpool beach as a backdrop for his movie which will be available on Amazon Prime and Lyceum Entertainment’s Youtube channel. He has funded his films through his own savings and by crowd-funding.

He added: “There is a good art scene in Blackpool, and such history meaning there are many great locations.”

Before moving back to Blackpool from London, he studied at the Westminster Film School in the capital and also worked for Sky Television and producing commercials for Cineworld Cinemas.