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One of the stars of the Sister Act franchise and the man who played the Vicar in Hot Fuzz have been cast in a short film set in a 1980s East Germany short thriller film which will be filmed largely in Guernsey.
Wendy Makkena and Paul Freeman, also stars of State of Play and Raiders of the Lost Ark respectively, are on board while other actors from the United States, UK and Germany have also signed up, with filming set to begin next month.
The biopic thriller 'Whipsers of Freedom' is being produced by local firm Golden Goat Films with several local actors also called in for supporting roles ranging from border guards, radio operators, and secret police.
UK theatre actor Darragh Cowley is also featuring, while Academy Award nominee Jonathan Tammuz is producing.
The cast will seek to tell the following true story: “When Chris Gueffroy becomes increasingly disillusioned with his life in 1980s East Germany, he hatches a plan with his friend, Christian Gaudian, to escape the isolated Eastern bloc state without telling his mother, Karin.
“The pair believe that the standing order to shoot anyone who crosses the Berlin Wall, as ordered by the General Secretary of the Socialist Unity Party, Erich Honecker, has been lifted due to the state visit of Swedish PM Ingvar Carlsson.
“The young men seize their chance and attempt the fateful escape to the west."
The film is directed by local writer, director, and producer Brandon Ashplant.
Pictured: Brandon Ashplant.
Mr Ashplant said the heavy subject material and true account meant there was a “burden of responsibility to get it right”.
He has developed the screenplay with a network of leading historians, authors and institutions to guide the films production in contact with family members of Chris Gueffroy.
The German DDR museum is also providing support, offering up staff members as executive producers and arts enthusiasts.
Mr Ashplant added: “With the important and valued involvement of these key pillars of East German history, I have no doubt that we have laid the groundwork to tell this story right, and do it the justice it deserves."
Shooting begins next month in Guernsey, London and Berlin. It’s hoped the film will be ready in time to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
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