CINEMA is clearly in the blood for an aspiring Leftwich film auteur who plans to make the Regal the star of his latest movie.

When the London Road cinema closes its doors to the public in January, filmmaker James Kennedy, of Granville Road, plans to use the picture house as the set for his first feature length horror movie, Dead City.

Set in an abandoned cinema, the plot focuses on a failed medical experiment which unleashes a virus on a city, turning three quarters of the population into zombies.

And as a former employee at the cinema the 21-year-old has all the right credentials to make the film a success.

He said: "The Regal has been a big part of my life, most of my family have worked there and I worked there for about three years too.

"It's given me a real education in film and has helped me develop my style."

James began making films at 13 and went on to study media at Mid-Cheshire College.

He attended Bradford University for a year but realised his time would be better spent getting hands on experience in the industry and has worked for Granada TV as well as making a number of short films.

Dead City will feature a local cast and crew and there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved as extras during the eight-day shoot.

James said: "I've always wanted to make a film in that cinema and I think it's important if it's set in Northwich to use local talent."

Once the film, which James has financed himself, is complete he plans to take it to movie festivals and hopes his talents will be picked up.

He said: "I'm not interested in being famous. It would just be nice to be able to have someone else to fund the films.

"All I want to do is make a living from making film rather than it just being an expensive hobby."

l James is looking for extras to appear in Dead City. He can be contacted at james_kennedy2002@hotmail.com.