Bands battle for movie gig

A Silent Film

Six Oxford bands are in the running to perform on screen in a new independent film based on Philip Pullman's novel The Butterfly Tattoo.

Filming started in Oxford this week, but the production crew is yet to choose which band will play in a pivotal scene in the film.

Director Phil Hawkins is currently trying to decide which band will be filmed performing at the Jericho Tavern, in Walton Street, after an appeal was launched for demos from Oxford-based acts.

A gig was held at the Purple Turtle, Frewin Court, on Friday, to hear from shortlisted bands Lightbox, The Plugs, Not My Day, Fatally Yours and Amber State.

The crew also went to see a rehearsal by A Silent Film earlier in the day, as the band could not attend the gig due to prior commitments, and the band will also be included in consid- erations.

Production manager Carolita Lamas said: "Our director has not reached a decision yet and is very torn between two bands.

"Every band simply blew us away.

"We thought it would be easier to choose and it just really wasn't, they were all so good. It was a really, really good atmosphere and everybody had a really good time."
"Every band simply blew us away. We thought it would be easier to choose and it just really wasn't"

The band which will perform on screen is expected to be announced in the next few days, and other acts may also have a chance to be involved by providing original songs for the film's soundtrack.

The Butterfly Tattoo is a contemporary love story set in Oxford and the scene which will feature the band playing will show the two main characters, who are already falling in love, go to a gig at the Jericho Tavern with a band playing in the background.

The couple only meet a few times during the course of the story as everything works against their love, so the scene is pivotal to the plotline.

The production crew, which is based in Woodstock, filmed in three locations on Monday, in two houses and at the youth hostel near the railway bridge in Botley Road, Oxford.

Miss Lamas said: "Everybody is so excited, which is good. It is all going smoothly so far, which is great news."

Filming, which will include locations in St Giles and the Cowley Road, is set to take six weeks.

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