AN AWARD-WINNING East Lancashire based actress will be turning her hand to directing with a set of locally sourced young actors and is looking for the public’s help doing so with her debut short feature In Bluebell Wood.

A cast of over 30 children including a pair of talented young sisters, Isla and Sienna Williams from Bolton, have been assembled by writer/director Laura Ellen Wilson, who has teamed up with producer and co-director Laura Saxon, for the intriguing fantasy picture.

They hope to pique public interest with fascinating insights into the film making process and that potential audiences will help the crowd funded project reach its new goal of £5,000 having already smashed an initial target of £3,025.

Ms Wilson said: “It kind of came from nowhere, I worked with some of the children on another project and kept in touch with the mums.

“They wanted the opportunity to get more experience and that was how this script came about.”

Ms Wilson, from Chorley, is already experienced with acting roles in several horror and thriller features aimed at adults including Friday the 13th: Vengeance, Survivor Girls and Surprise for which she won best actress awards at the Tagore International Film Festival, The Scene Festival and the Prague International Monthly Film Festival

She says that though In Bluebell Wood will be more family friendly, the film will maintain elements of mystery and suspense.

The film will focus on a young schoolgirl named Emma who, on moving to a new school and joining the brownies, discovers mysterious goings on in the woods while on a survival training trip.

Of course, directing throws up all kinds of new challenges which an experienced crew has helped her to get to grips with.

Ms Wilson said: “I have a really experienced crew, a couple of cinematographers have worked on the One Show and for ITV, so what I’m doing is bringing the vision of the script onto the screen and they’re giving me the technical advice.”

In Bluebell Wood is set to begin filming next year with a premier planned for the following Autumn.

To find out more about the crowd funding campaign, go to: www.indiegogo.com/projects/in-bluebell-wood/.