Your Stories

Robert Golcher from Willenhall is the film's writer, director, editor...you get the picture. A Jack (Black) of all trades you might say:

Who murdered Abi?

Film Noir fans

"It's a film noir murder mystery/who did it? in the West Midlands film making community based in Birmingham. Basically the biggest actress in Birmingham gets murdered and her old friend investigates who did it.

"I came up with idea of what would happen if a massive star got killed, how would you react to that, and the story developed from that."

Robert Golcher

It's Robert's first feature film, although he has a lifelong passion for film, having studied it, produced shorter films and worked in his local cinema.

"After Uni I enrolled on a video production course at the Lighthouse Media Centre in Wolverhampton" says Robert. "It was at this point I needed to get a job in order to buy the film equipment so I took a job at Cineworld Wolverhampton, working in a cinema really helped as you get to see all the latest releases for free and you can do lots of market research on what customers go for.

Music and movies

Robert went on to make music videos for local band Acacia, produced and directed a 45 minute film called Stand Up, which he took to the Cannes Film Festival.

"Round about the same time I did a short 8 minute film called Box Office which was filmed at Cineworld which starred Simon Marriott (the lead actor of The Screenwriting Detective) and I defy anyone to find a copy of it."

"A city is a work of art"

In 2007 Robert and Simon Marriott (the co-writer) came up with The Screenwriting Detective and the film has beenin production for the last year.

The plot

When Birmingham's biggest actress is murdered, down and out screenwriter and old friend Joe Langdon takes it upon himself to investigate her death.

Joe delves into the murky world of the West Midlands film making community meeting such shadowy figures as 'the director' and 'the extra' whilst also having to battle writers block and a zero bank account in order to meet a deadline to write a screenplay for a gangster turned film producer who may have had a role to play in the actresses death.

The Screenwriting Detective

Joe finds himself increasingly unable to determine what's real and what's not as his screenplay and reality blurs into one as he pursues a murderer, a script and a finality to his unrequited love for the dead actress.

Word up!

The film boasts cameos from Kerrangs Emma Scott to Professor Carl Chinn MBE and Raindance film founder Elliot Grove.

The film was shot on location in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Gloucester making it a true Midlands film production.

Abi Simpson on Birmingham's Walk of Stars

"I wanted to promote Birmingham, there's no films you can attach to it as a city, I just want to boost the profile of Birmingham and the West Midlands.

The film has been one year in production and has been entirely financed by Robert:

"It been a passion - lots of blood, sweat and tears - but you cant put a price on what you love doing."