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Title: EVANESCENT HERB GARDEN OF DEATH, the

Reference number: 7948

Date: 1993

Director: d. Stephen Chester

Sponsor: Scottish Film Council First Reels Scheme

Producer: Colin Fraser

Sound: sound

Original format: 16mm

Colour: bwcol

Fiction: fiction

Running time: 18.47 mins

Description: An aspiring goth rock band decide that the best way for them to get ahead is for one of them to die. The lead singer is chosen to die in a blaze. However when he reaches the afterlife there is a dispute over whether he sold his soul to the Devil. The lead singer is released on a technicality and returned. The style of the band drastically changed!

Originally shot on 16mm. See also ref. 8098 for raw interview footage with director Stephen Chester about the making of this film.

First Reels - a joint short film initiative from Scottish Screen (and its predecessor body the Scottish Film Council) and Scottish Television. First Reels was launched during 1991 by Scottish Film Council in response to a perceived need for small grants to help young and first time film-makers to make or complete their first film or video project. Scottish Television came in as co-sponsor at an early stage and as well as contributing to half the funds they have given the scheme a tremendous public relations boost by running three half hour documentaries showing excerpts from the First Reels. Applicants were invited to submit projects in any format and on any subject they chose. All entries were considered by a jury and thirty five projects were given grants varying from £50 to £2000. On show at the GFT are a representative selection of the best of the films and videos supported by the scheme. [Editorial from Scottish Film Council held in paper archives]

Credits: Cast
Horace Mortimor Mark Markham
Phil the Drummer Stuart McQuarrie
Ian the Bassist Simon Crowther
Gary the Good Angel Steven Leach
Mike Mephistophilis Steven King
Phil's Mum Ann-Louise Ross
Journalist Chris Craig
Death John Fairfoul
Pensioner Andy Pritchard
Box Office Girl Christine McInnes

Cameras supplied by GHS (Glasgow)
Filmstock kindly supplied by Kodak (Motion Picture Division)
Colour by Metrocolor

Crew
sc.supervisor Jill Punton
sd. rec. Guy Satchwell
boom operator Jackie Kevan
focus puller Chris Burns
clapper / loader Sam Pilling
grip Lucien Grieves
make-up artist Debbie Peake
p.buyer / set dresser Becky Lloyd
second ass. d. Juliet Knight
first ass. d. Jonathon Sendal
avid ed. Peter Blackie
on line ed. Bill Gill ( facilities kindly provided by IVPTV )
lighting cameraman Andy McLeod
m. Dave McNiven
exec. p. Ginnie Atkinson

© Stephen Chester 1993

We would like to thank the following, without whom this film would not have been possible: Scottish Film Council First Reels Scheme, Area 5 Productions, Shepley-Shepley Trust, Prince of Wales Trust, Edinburgh District Arts Council, Light Track, Micheal Samuelson Lighting, Hammerhead TV, Black Light, The Kings Theatre (Edinburgh), The Citizens Theatre (Glasgow), The Calton Centre (Edinburgh), The Dolphin Arts Centre (Glasgow), Psion PLC [... et al ...]

Soundtrack unavailable on cassette or CD.