Ambleton Delight


Ambleton Delight is a 2009 British independent drama film. Filmed exclusively in East Sussex, UK, it is directed by the Brighton and Hove based Daniel Parkes, based on a script by the Japanese writer Itsuka Yamasaki and Ben Rohde, produced by Sinéad Ferguson and starring the veteran Coronation Street actor Brian Capron.
The production company is Parkes Productions Ltd based in the Brighton Marina on the south coast of England. The film score was composed by Iain Cameron and includes appearances by the British bands Swallowing Shotguns and MellowSun.

Plot

Ambleton Delight is a drama based on a true story, set in a small contemporary Sussex village by the name of Ambleton during the apple harvest season. When Ambleton is faced with a proposal for a nearby motorway, the mayor is quick to reject it in an effort to protect the tranquility of the village. However, the forward thinking restaurant chef and councillor John Miller embraces the proposal, seeing it as an opportunity to increase business. The ensuing stand off not only divides the community, but the ramifications ultimately lead to devastation and inspiration, as observed through the eyes of a young restaurant pianist and would-be filmmaker.

Cast

From script development to final cut, Ambleton Delight was completed within 9 nine months. Principal photography consisted of twelve separate shoot days, mostly nights and weekends, between November 2008 and January 2009. Second unit photography was completed in March 2009. It was premiered in April 2009.
Filming was completed using a digital cinematography JVC GYHD201 camera recording 720p at 25fps to hard drive and tape. 35mm lenses were used to attain a cinematic shallow depth of field via the SGPro relay adapter.

Critical response

Ambleton Delight received mixed to positive reviews. On the Internet Movie Database, the film holds a score of 6.2 out of 10, based on nine reviews.

Awards

The film was premiered at The End of the Pier International Film Festival and won the award for Best UK Feature 2009. Jos Lawton won the award for Best Actor at the 2009 International Filmmaker Festival. The film was Best Feature Film at the British Independent Film Festival 2010.

Next-to-nothing budget blog

With interest in how the film was produced on a low budget, The Recipe to Ambleton Delight blog detailing production information and tips was started in August 2009 along with a popular 8-part video series on YouTube.