BUDDING DIRECTOR PLEADS FOR SPONSORSHIP TO MAKE MUSICAL SING

A young film director from Staffordshire is appealing for investors to help him create the next musical hit.

Andrew Davidson, a film, television and radio studies graduate from Staffordshire University, is hoping local businesses will provide the £10,000 in sponsorship he needs for the low-budget feature-length movie. Mr Davidson, aged 23, believes the film, which will be shot in Staffordshire, will have all the ingredients to appeal.

'During the 50s musicals were in their hey-day,' he said.

'It went through a period where nobody liked musicals they felt they were forced. But they have now become very popular again so it is a good time to make one.

The most notable recent musical success was Moulin Rouge staring British heart-throb Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman. Like the Hollywood hit, Mr Davidson's movie, called The Musicals, is also a love story, but centring [sic] round a rather unusual family. 'Their surname is Musicals and they communicate through song,' he said. 'They are seen as freaks by the rest of the community. It is a love story between the daughter of the family and a young lad from the community that falls in love with her and has to fight against the prejudice of everyone to win her heart.'

The film is scheduled to begin shooting in February next year but Mr Davidson fears production will have to be postponed without sponsorship.