Tom Bryson writes:
I’ve filmed for the first time a short story of mine with local filmmaker Howard Smith, titled ‘THE GUN HANGING ON THE WALL’.
(To view the film, click the ‘Vimeo’ link at the bottom. Please note the opening scene has language some may find offensive.)
The short film turns Darlaston – (near Wolverhampton) where it was shot – into Belfast at the time the Good Friday Agreement was being negotiated.
Originally broadcast as a monologue on BBC Radio 4, the idea comes from Chekhov’s gun principle – ‘If there’s a gun shown in Chapter 1 by the end it must be fired otherwise what’s the point of the gun?
Writing a screenplay and making a film was a big departure for me from novel writing – but thoroughly enjoyable. Also, as the gun was loaded, we had to follow stringent safety rules (remember Alec Baldwin tragedy in the US!).
I was pleased with the way Howard used my suggestions of music – Lambeg drums at the start, ‘The Sash’ at the end to add a sense of place and mood.
And by the way how good is Chekhov’s advice for vivid writing:
“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”
To watch my film, click on the link below – no signing up for anything, no pesky ads!
THE GUN HANGING ON THE WALL from Howard-Smith on Vimeo.