Skids

Original article from the Bedford Today website
Thanks to Justin from Bedford for pointing this out

A FILM crew has been stationed at various locations in Bedford shooting a movie that is set to be released at cinemas nationwide next year.

Former singer of The Skids, Richard Jobson, who is now a successful filmmaker, is the writer and director behind the film called The Somnambulists, which tells the story of 15 soldiers who died in the Iraq war, and what they left behind.

Filming has been taking place in different locations in Bedford for the last several weeks, and on the last day of filming the Times & Citizen were given exclusive access to the crew on location.

The film tells the testimonials of 15 soldiers who lost their lives in the Iraq conflict, and delves into the lives they lost.

Mr Jobson, who lives in Toddington, decided to shoot a number of scenes in Bedford as he regularly visits the town with his son, who attends Bedford Modern School.

He said: “I have a real fondness for Bedford, my son attends school here and we regularly come here at the weekend to the market and the river. I was going to shoot the scenes in Scotland, but I realised that Bedford has all of the things that Scotland has to offer.

“I felt very angry about the Iraq war and this is a reflection of that. People just seem to have forgotten all about it, we were sleepwalked into that war.

“People will probably think its the characters that are the somnambulists, but it’s actually the audience.

On Friday the crew finished its filming in Bedford at Michael R Peters in Tavistock Street, The Piazza, a council flat and Harrowden Middle School.

Managing director at Michael R Peters Paul Mead said: “They only approached us a couple of days ago with the idea of shooting outside the shop. It’s quite exciting for us and a great chance for us to get our name out there. It’s a great opportunity for Bedford as well.”