Two Scottish actors best known for their roles in Doctor Who have teamed up for a new short film. Frazer Hines and Caitlin Blackwood have joined forces with award winning and BAFTA nominated film director Ryan Hendrick for the short drama, Sundown. Fans can also support the project through website Indiegogo.
Caitlin Blackwood came to the attention of viewers at the tender age of 9 as the young Amelia Pond in Matt Smith’s debut story ‘The Eleventh Hour’. The adult Amy Pond was of course played by Caitlin’s real life cousin Karen Gillan. Several decades earlier Frazer Hines played Jamie McCrimmon opposite the Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton. Now these two companions from very different eras of Doctor Who unite for a new drama, Sundown.
Sundown
Sundown tells the story of William (Hines), a man in his 70s who is taken on a timeless journey through the eyes of Abi (Blackwood) to come to terms with his own mortality.
Caitlin Blackwood, still only 16, said, “I think this project is important in terms of highlighting the issues the film delves in to. I have the opportunity to bring a youthful insight to a role that you’d normally expect to played by an older actor.” Frazer Hines added, “Sundown is a beautiful script that really gives both myself and Caitlin the chance to really shine as two very real and complex characters.”
Director and Co-Writer Ryan Hendrick describes the emotional drama as, “a story about how a person’s perception on life can change once they accept their own mortality. Our goal is to explore these ideas and try to give a subjective view from a fresh perspective.” His writing partner Clare Sheppard added, “On the surface, William is on a journey we all must travel eventually, but dig a little deeper and you realise, his is a road we’re all already on. I am very, very proud to be involved with this film.”
Sundown marks the 3rd screenwriting venture between Hendrick and Sheppard. Their last short film Perfect Strangers enjoyed worldwide success. It received more than 18 film festival selections, 3 awards and 4 nominations including a BAFTA Scotland Nomination for Clare Sheerin in the Best Actress category. Their second venture is the upcoming road movie Journey Bound starring Ford Kiernan, Clare Grogan, Sylvester McCoy, James Kirk and Caitlin Blackwood to name a few.
The writing pair have high hopes that Sundown will prove as successful as their previous venture, “This is a story that needs to be told. It carries a universal theme that everyone can relate to.” Sundown Producer, BAFTA Award Winner David Newman said, “We’re planning to take this short film to the next level. We achieved a milestone in terms of production values on Perfect Strangers, so this time we need raise the bar even higher. This is why we have launched a crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo. We have the workings of a beautiful film with an excellent and well loved pair of actors. I have high hopes for Sundown.”
