Christopher Walken will be working for 12 hours a day for 15 days

David Ball, producer

In Wales for the very first time, Walken will play an ambitious American funeral director in a darkly humourous look at the undertaking business in the Valleys.

He recently starred in a stylish pop video, for chart-topping DJ Fatboy Slim, which won six gongs at the MTV Video Awards.

Alongside will be British stars including Brenda Blethyn, Lee Evans and Miriam Margoyles, as well as the young Australian rising star Naomi Watts.

Long-term effects

Cardiff-based production company CF1 is working on the movie with Brighton film company The Spice Factory and American company Snowfall.

CF1 producer David Ball is delighted to be involved in the project and said: "It is terrific for south Wales and a real boost in the arm for the film industry."

Shop fronts in the Valleys have been transformed for the movie

In the short term, CF1 has employed Welsh crew for the film, but the movie could also have longer term effects.

Film publicist Anne Chamberlain agreed: "The benefits are already seen with the financial injection of people in the area and the extra services being used.

"But it also shows the area in a great light and may attract more people to come and make films."

Fictional village

The movie's action will be set in a fictional south Wales village, but producers have already shot scenes in the real-life locations of Ynysybwl, Treorchy and Cwmparc.

Mr Ball added: "Over the next six weeks, we will also be shooting in Pontypool and, of course, Llantrisant."

Talking about the big American trump card, he said: "Christopher Walken arrived last week for rehearsals and started work on Saturday.

"We are bedding him in at the moment, but he has some meaty bits coming up, and he will be working for 12 hours a day for 15 days."

Eighth film

The film is expected to be released in the summer of 2002, and giants Miramax have already signed up as its North American distributor.

Plots With A View is CF1's eighth film since the firm started in 1997.

Previous movies include House, starring Kelly MacDonald; The Testimony of Taliesin Jones, starring Jonathon Pryce, and psychological drama Alone, which will be premiering at this year's International Film Festival of Wales in Cardiff.