A Hollywood composer stood outside a West End cinema and flagged down customers for her new film - extending its run for a third week.
Hélène Muddiman, originally from Fairfax Avenue, Ewell, provided the musical score for Skin, which tells the true story of Sandra Laing, a South African girl born with black skin pigmentation to white parents.
Skin opened in Leicester Square on July 24 and audience numbers leapt from just four at the first screening to eventual sell-outs last week, beating rivals such as Oscar-nominated Frozen River.
It earned a third week at the Panton Square Cinema, Leicester Square, after Miss Muddiman stood outside and flagged down people in the street to watch it.
Mrs Muddiman, who lives in Wandsworth, said: “I’m delighted with the third week, especially with no budget. We hope people will spread the word further and support this genre of movie.
This should prove to all cinema managers that people do like these kinds of thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating films, not just blood and guts.”
The Epsom-born mother-of-two used a string section from Johannesburg to record the score and describes it as a “hybrid of Western and African musical styles”
But the cinema the 44-year-old most wants to see the film in is the Odeon Epsom.
She said: “I’d love to see it open in Epsom, my home town, which would make me so proud but I’m thrilled we’ve earned a third week at the Panton because many films, with larger budgets than ours, don’t last beyond a week.
“I really hope the film can stay at cinemas for as long as possible because the small screen really doesn’t do the stunning scenery or the film in general any justice.”
The film stars Jurassic Park actor Sam Neil and Sophie Okonedo, who was Oscar-nominated for her role in Hotel Rwanda.
The Sunday Times described Skin as “emotionally mesmerising, unmissable” and it picked up an award at the Santa Barbara Film festival.
Music became Miss Muddiman’s passion because of a teacher, Mrs Barker, who taught her at Rosebery School for Girls.
“I’ve already had lots of my old friends come up to me in the street, congratulating me and reminding me of our old teacher, a true inspiration.”
For more information visit skinthemovie.net.
Cinemas showing Skin this year:
August 21 Cinecity, Norwich National Museum, Bradford Kino Kawkhurst, Kent August 28 Ritz Belpar, Derbyshire September 4 Filmhouse, Edinburgh Edencourt Inverness September 11 Chapter, Cardiff Potters Wyllyots Theatre, Potters Bar September 15 Strode Street, Bath October 2 Roses, Tewkesbury Riverside, Hammersmith October 16 Filmhouse, Glasgow October 23 Trinity Art, Tunbridge.
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