West Midlands based writer Ross Berkeley Simpson has teamed up with Stourbridge based producer Warren Evans to create a series of horror movies filmed in the area under the name Base Studios Productions. Filming comes on the back of Ross’s successful work as a playwright.
This week his new play Heterophobia – a ‘flipped’ gay rights play, which tells the story of a woman arrested for being straight – is featured at the Turbine Theatre London as part of its LGBTQ Rally Fest, starring Downton Abbey’s Paul Copley and Dame Maureen Lipman. ‘I feel genuinely lucky to be working with such stellar actors,’ said Ross, ‘and it is thanks to both casting director Polly Jerrold and our tireless director Scott Le Crass that all this has happened’. Ross’s last play ‘Warheads’ – a co-write with actor Taz Skylar – was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2020. But it is film and television where he now sets his sights.
‘I’ve been working with Warren Evans at Base Studios for a few years now on small projects, but we’re finally ready to go up a few notches. We have been building a little army of horror feature scripts, so that we can hopefully develop a run of work that will keep us busy for a few years.’
Together as Base Studios Productions Warren and Ross have already produced multi award-winning short film ‘Antique’ starring Laura Rollins (Innocent ITV, Doctors BBC). They have also recently finished a Sitcom Pilot called FABA starring Fizzog Productions and Australian celebrity chef Lyndey Milan.
‘Obviously coronavirus really blocked our plans,’ said Warren, ‘but hopefully the vaccines will mean we can finally get back to work on our first full feature production’.