Filming for new computers

Filming along the canal took place this week for a couple of films to be shown on new touch screen computers.

These will be displayed later this month at Audlem's Mill Shop and at the Overwater Marina's Coffee Lounge and Reception area.

The filming this week focused on Audlem Locks and How a Lock Works. Local actor Pete Marshall demonstrated the workings of a lock near to the Shroppie Fly before taking his narrow boat down the remaining locks to the winding hole below Lock 15.

It was then back on-foot to the Shropshire/Cheshire county boundary to the south of the village where Pete pointed out to camera features of interest along the way through Audlem's locks.

The weather was glorious by the afternoon with filming in sunshine and the canal looking a picture with the trees and bushes bursting out into leaf and plentiful blackthorn blossom.

Pete, of the Day-Star Theatre based in Audlem, was the perfect candidate for the presenter role. Ideally, the film makers were looking for an experienced and talented professional actor; one that knew how a lock worked; who also owned a narrow boat and finally, could truthfully utter the words "Home Sweet Home" as he moored at the Old Stables beside the winding hole at Lock 15.

Award winnerBehind the camera was local film maker John Owen who has recently won two awards for his work. John has also been hard at work on other films for the touch screens – one on Audlem village's attractions and others featuring the new boat, Audlem Lass, the Overwater Marina and the Mill Shop.

Other films in production include the Life and works of Thomas Telford – what is now the Shropshire Union canal was the last major project of the famous civil engineer before his death in 1834.

Each film will be relatively short and the program will allow viewers to select from a menu of local films with a 'More Info' button for those who want to study copy, illlustrations and photographs in more detail. The computer program is by local Audlem company, ThenMedia.

FundingFunding for the touch screen computers and program has been provided by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and Defra through the Northern Marches Leader fund and Visit Chester & Cheshire Vitality scheme with matched funding from Cheshire East, British Waterways and Overwater Marina.

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