YOUTH EXPRESS

BRITISH FILM BLOSSOMS

Who says the British film industry is dead? Dark Summer shows the cynics where to get off. Charles Teton, a young man from Liverpool begged and borrowed to make the film - a simple urban love story, a tale of lost innocence between Jes (Joeline Garner-Joel) and Abe (Steve Ako). It follows them through one long summer of struggle and achievement, love, death and ultimately failure which is not so much a choice they make but one fate throws on top of them.

The two leading roles are played by newcomers who are now pursuing careers in film and TV. Joeline was only 15 when she was cast and is now screen-tested as a presenter for a pilot music programme. Steve is being screen tested for a LWT production of the life of Liverpool boxer John Conteh.

The film is on release from Friday opening at the Prince Charles Theatre, Leicester Square, London and then through the independent cinemas nationally.

The soundtrack is also available on CD and LP format and is called 'Rebel Rock Reggae - This is Augustus Pablo', on Heat Beat Records.

This is not some flash Hollywood production with special effects to wow you but the Hollywood with all its money has produced enough turkeys to show us that money is not everything. The quality of the film counts for a lot. If we don't get out there and support small films like Dark Summer then we have no-one to blame for the demise of the British film industry but ourselves.