A TEEN film-maker from Chafford Hundred has made a film thatwill be shown in Odeon cinemas – with the help of Thurrock businesses along the way.

Simran Kaur Shokar was 17 when she started making her short film about fictional gangsters in gyms across Thurrock – inspired by Martin Scorcese’s Casino.

Going from a shoestring budget to a cast and crew of 40 plus – some of them professionals donating their time for free – Simran found businesses across Thurrock surprisingly willing to lend a hand.

Among businesses who got on board was the Underwater Studios, which allowed Simran to film underwater for free; Lakeside Mercedes- Benz car dealership, where she shot gangster scenes; and Fast Tracks Ltd, Ab-Salute Gym and La Tasca at Lakeside.

Her personal trainer at Valentines Gym, in Grays, Robert Thomson, became her leading man and many of the actors in the film joined in from businesses where they shot scenes.

Even Pinewood Studios loaned out some props to Simran, now 18, of Chestnut Avenue, Grays.

The story in the 12-minute film centres on a self-made millionaire who finds himself in a destructive relationship with a younger woman.

Simran, who made the film for her A-level in moving image arts at Harris Academy, will go on to study film at Regents Park University, in London.

She said: “I’ve always lovedmovies, but this was my first chance at making something realistic and I’ve loved every minute of it.

“My self-confidence was really low at the start, but now my film teacher is so impressed with my final film thatwe are currently trying to enter it into short film festivals. Even my family are surprised I managed to produce such an amazing project.”

The finished movie product, Don’t Look Back, will be shown at the Odeon Camden cinema in London at a date to be announced in the summer and has also been entered into Thurrock Film Festival.

For more information, email Indra Singh at fasttracksltd@hotmail.

co.uk