Work to shoot a film based on a planet where human life is extinct is underway on Morecambe Bay.
A team of Cumbrian filmmakers, including former Cartmel Priory School and Kendal College students Sam Mason, Ed Fraser and fellow Cumbrian student Herbie Harrison successfully raised money for the production, which has a working title of Landing Nowhere.
The team and around 18 others have spent hours refining a script and planning the shoot which is being supported by Bay Search and Rescue.
Its members are overseeing the production to ensure crew and cast are safe.
The charity will benefit from the group’s film-making skills in having a new film made to publicise their vital voluntary work.
If the shoot progresses as planned, the film itself will be premiered at the Bay Film Festival in 2026.
SAm. of Allithwaite was inspired by the sands of Morecambe Bay within sight of home as the perfect place to bring the mix of awe-inspiring beauty and risk of danger his latest project needed.
“As far as I know it’s never been used as a location for a science-fiction production yet when you think about the otherworldly feel of the Bay, it’s absolutely perfect – it’s a set that’s already built for us,” Sam told Cumbria Crack.
Sam is no stranger to film-making. He’s won awards for his earlier work which has already been shown at the Morecambe Bay Film Festival as well as being showcased further afield.
This summer will see his most ambitious project yet take shape.
“We’re trying to bring sci-fi to the north and we are using a mostly northern crew,” Sam said. “Our goal is to bring the film industry to the Lake District. While it has been used for locations in films it’s an area that has never been home to a studio and we’d like to change that.”
Making the science-based props and equipment needed is down to Ed, the production’s head of props and equipment, and another former Cartmel and Kendal College student.
“We’re creating a lot of the props ourselves and by using the specialist vehicles from Bay Search and Rescue this will add another dimension to the production,” Ed said.
The full-time York St John student is also creative director of his own 3D printing company which specialises in producing models for the games industry.
Designing and producing a landing suit, biological carry-cases and tubes which may offer humanity’s last hope for survival is no mean feat.
“We’ve been talking about this project for a while and it’s brilliant to see all our plans come together for what I hope will be the start of something inspiring,” Ed said.
