Following the success of their first major short film project, "Projection", ITV West Television Workshop are back with "Coldharbour". This dark
supernatural chiller is Scripted and Directed by Paul Dudbridge, and features a cast and crew drawn entirely from the young people of ITV West Television. This time they are joined by professionals Johnny Rodgers (Director of Photography), Simon Cole (Sound), Peter Higton (Lights) and assisted behind the scenes by students of Cardiff's Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. "Coldharbour" also features SFX make-up specially designed by make-up artist Mark Henderson and an original music soundtrack, composed by John Tippet as well as special cameo appearances by ITV West newsreader,
Jenny Hull and regular ITV presenter, Sherrie Eugene.
During location scouting in Autumn 2002, five mansion houses were viewed as possible locations. Bristol's Kings Weston House, which dates from 1710, was secured as the ideal backdrop for this supernatural
chiller. Filming took place over four days, entirely on location at Kings Weston House, with a cast of over 60 and crew team of over 20.
Workshop co-ordinator Lisa Ruthven comments "We wanted to make a totally different style of film, in terms of story, visuals, mood, subject and tone. "Coldharbour" deals with a far darker subject than our first film. We've achieved this through use of location sound and dialogue, non-natural light and an eerie soundtrack consisting of both original
music and creepy sounds recorded on location."
The latter part of the film takes place in the corridors and kitchen deep in the basement of Kings Weston House. This required extensive lighting set-ups to create the mood for the scenes. As director Paul
Dudbridge comments: "The look of the film needed to follow the story, so as the narrative gets gradually darker - so does the lighting."
Director of Photography, Johnny Rodgers adds : "In a movie like this, darkness is equally as important as the light."
The story follows a group of school pupils on a visit to "Coldharbour", an old country mansion. After one student, Kate (played by Holly Black)
goes missing, her boyfriend Andy (played by Shaun Steer) goes to look for her. But things turn nasty as the young lovers travel deeper and deeper into the bowels of "Coldharbour"...
As well as cameo appearances from TV presenters Jenny Hull and Sherrie Eugene, who play school teachers, Coldharbour also features Wilf Adcock as the Manager of the house. The majority of the cast were auditioned from ITV West Television Workshop. After the principle actors were cast, in November
2002, extensive rehearsals followed. In a film such as this the actors had to rely on their imaginations, because rehearsing in the brightly lit Workshop was a lot different to being in the cramped, dark basement
used on location.
 Filming in this environment lent amazing reality and focus to the young people's performances. The only drawback to being on
location in early January being the exterior scenes... "They were bloody cold!" said documentary film-maker Will Griffin, who followed the entire four day film shoot, recording interviews and filming the entire process
involved in bringing "Coldharbour" to the screen.
Sound was as important as the pictures and sound recordist, Simon Cole, was able to capture various different strange sounds whilst on location.
Footsteps, bangs and crashes, screeches and breathing will all lend the film's overall effect and mood when utilised in the editing process.
 Johnny adds: "There are movies where you are shown everything right up front. There's no mystery and no work for the audience to do. Everything is handed to the viewer on a plate. Paul's script was far
more subtle than that and neither of us wanted this to be a cheesy haunted house movie with a ghost that goes: "Boo!" Our intention has always been more in the style of 'The Others,' 'The Shining,' 'The Sixth
Sense' or 'Signs' - where the viewer is part of the action and must watch and listen to unravel the plot. Things aren't spelt out. It might even require a second viewing!"
Actress Holly Black, who plays Kate, comments: "It's been a lot of hard work, but I've learnt a lot about my acting and the film making process. It's been a lot of fun... Uncomfortable - because it was cold filming
outside and hot shooting in the cramped cellars inside - but fun!" And Holly's advice to actors new to the film making process? "Take a warm coat for exterior scenes in Winter and an ice-pack for interior scenes
shot in confined spaces!"
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