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Director chooses west country locations for two films

John E Fry Luke Dejahang and Vivien TaylorJohn E Fry
Luke Dejahang and Vivien Taylor filming Confines in Corsham Park

An award-winning director has said using west country locations for his productions was "incredible".

Richard Bazley made two of his latest movies at various Wiltshire locations and in Somerset's Cheddar Gorge.

In a screening of the movie Confines in Los Angeles he said it was "fantastic to see a film made in Box playing in the heart of Hollywood".

The two movies, Confines and Censure are being screened at Marlborough's Parade Cinema tonight.

Emmy-nominated director Mr Bazley is a former Disney animator, and previously worked on films including Pocahontas and as lead animator on Hercules, before working on the Harry Potter films.

John E Fry Luke DejahangJohn E Fry
Confines centres around a character who is a prisoner of his own mind and can't escape, seen here at Cheddar Gorge

Mr Bazley said his two live action films were made on a budget over the last two years, so they had to think about the number of locations and making it affordable.

"I'd seen Blind House numerous times.. it's a small building next to the pub in Box where they used to lock up drunks and criminals," he explained.

"I had a look in there and thought it would be a really interesting spot for a monologue."

The location was used for the beginning of Confines, a film that grows around the idea of the lead character who is "a prisoner of his own mind and can't escape".

John E Fry John E Fry and Richard Bazly with their back to the camera and actor Connor WulfricJohn E Fry
Censure is about an introvert named Aaron who is struggling with something in his life

Confines scooped a number of prizes at the I AM Film Festival in London, including Best Cinematography, and honourable mentions in the Best Director and Best Actor categories.

It also won best actor for Mr Dejahang at Cannes.

His other recent film Censure is about an introvert named Aaron who finds himself "struggling to find a place he feels able to breathe".

"We didn't have much money so we all decided to chip-in and do what we could and we were amazed at the results," Mr Bazley explained.

John E Fry L-r, director of photography John E Fry, 1st Assistant director Angela Hughes, lead actor Connor Wulfric, director Richard Bazley, boom operator and photographer Caspar Hubbuck-WHitehallJohn E Fry

The director worked with screenwriter Neil Bason, who he called "an incredible writer", on both films, adding he had been "lucky to work with such "talented people".

He said although he has feature films he has been planning for some time, they take a lot of time to raise money and have everything signed off.

With live action shorts, "the shooting can get done in a week or two and the development and post [production] can happen in a few months...which is the beauty of live action", he added.

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