Mod-inspired movie is full of promise

Chris Green

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LOCAL writer and director Chris Green invited me to a 20-minute promo screening of his exciting movie project The Pebble And The Boy - now I yearn for the day when I can view the full feature-length film.

A Paul Weller and mod-inspired storyline was dreamt up by drama writer Green after a chance meeting with his 'Modfather' hero some six years ago after a gig he attended in Cork, Ireland.

Green said: "On the way home from the gig, I just started thinking about a film involving this kid whose dad died. His dad was a mod, a huge Weller fan, and he just wants to honour his dad's memory.

"The kid's not a mod, but he sets off from Manchester on his dad's scooter with the idea of scattering his dad's ashes in the sea at Brighton - the spiritual home of the mods - and he's got no idea what's in store.

"He's got his dad's parka on, and as he goes on he finds things out about him.

"He finds out his dad was politically active, he was a top Northern Soul dancer, and basically he was a real face - a proper mod of distinction.

"There's a picture of his dad on the wall of a mod shop in Brighton, and then it all moves on from there, really."

The Pebble And The Boy - named after a beautiful track on Weller album As Is Now - looks set for a 2018 release (all being well), with much of the initial budget for the promo film being raised through CrowdFunding.

The two-minute trailer for the movie, on the Pebble And The Boy Facebook page, has been viewed more than 360,000 times, so there is a clear hunger to check out the completed product.

Green said: "The feedback has been brilliant.

"Loads of people have commented saying they can't wait for it come out. That includes people from LA, San Francisco, Thailand, Japan, New Zealand, all over.

"People love it so far, and that gives me a great deal of confidence. I'm just keen now to crack on, raise the rest of the money to make the feature film.

"I'd like to film some of it in August at the Mod Weekender in Brighton - that would be great. It would add some real colour and flavour.

"Hopefully we can film into September too, but as I say, it's all about raising the money.

"We know there's an audience for it, Paul Weller has given us his blessing and is very supportive, so with good wind behind, us hopefully we'll get it out next year."

Green is still on the look-out for potential investors, whether small or big, so if you feel you may be in a position to help out a terrific and hugely exciting movie project, contact him via the film's Facebook page.