Leeds-based indie film-makers 5YLAC Films (@5ylac) recently set up camp at Temple Works to shoot their latest short film Killing Amy, written and directed by myself, Robert St-John Smith (@Chance4321).
The film is a dark satirical take on Bettakultcha, with Carlisle actor Nick Gordon giving a presentation bearing the film's title.
Also making cameos in the film are the founders of Leeds' Bettakultcha, Richard Michie and Ivor Tymchak.
BettaKultcha is a popular night of presentations held at Temple Works where good and bad ideas are exchanged when people from all backgrounds wow the audience with five-minute presentations.
The film sees the main character giving a Bettakultcha presentation in an alternative reality - we have Ivor wearing high heels and stockings and suspenders.
Added challenges for film
The subject is about killing, in particular killing Amy. The killer talks about his methods and selection process whilst abiding to the Bettakultcha rules
There have been some added challenges in doing this for film.
The first is right clearance on media. This has involved the film-makers creating fake newspaper reports, raiding public domain libraries (Mussolini and JFK make an appearance) and obtaining licencing for footage from a Czech adult production company.
The other challenge has been creating an online presence and background for the film's victim Amy, played by Leeds actress Dalia Green.
This involved getting in a rent-a-crowd and over the course of an afternoon visiting several venues across Leeds with costume changes at each venue.
The end result was about a hundred photographs which were then periodically loaded up to a fake Facebook account.
The film - which wrapped on Saturday - will be screened at a future Bettakultcha event as well as submitted for the Leeds 2011 film festival.
Robert St-John Smith is the director of Killing Amy, which is produced by 5YLAC Films.
