Dearne Valley-shot film out on DVD

Film-maker Rebecca Sills and actor father Dean’s film may have largely been produced from their Bolton Upon Dearne home but it will be available across the UK, Europe and North America.

A Dollar To Die For, which will be released on Amazon from Monday October 16, won 50 awards in International Film Festivals and was selected as a Classical Western Best Short at the Golden Dust Film Festival in Mexico.

The short movie features Dean as Joe Wade, an outlaw who teams up with Jess Clay, played by Keiron Goodwin, for one last bank robbery before they put down their guns. The raid takes place while the town of Deadwood is empty due to everyone being at Judge Morgan’s funeral, but Wade feels their time is finally running out waiting for the Sheriff and his posse to track them down.

The DVD will also feature a number of Rebecca and Dean’s wildlife shorts – filmed to pass the time during lockdown – including Pond Life, A Snowy Christmas, Down by the Riverside and Rebecca's award-winning documentary Looney Toons featuring the Rotherham Advertiser’s cartoonist Andy Cartledge – known to most as Blist – and editor Andrew Mosley. There will also be trailers, outtakes, a director's commentary and photo gallery.

Rebecca says: ”We are very proud of our achievements. My dad has helped me grow as a filmmaker. We work well together. It was also great to get my brother Daniel in the western.”

Dean said: “It’s low budget but we think people will be surprised by what we have created on screen.

“As a Clint Eastwood fan, I wanted to make a western in the style of Sergio Leone, the Italian film director. We even included the extreme close-up shot frame which he was famous for. I also think it’s pretty cool this is the first western shot in Bolton Upon Dearne. The DVD is a PG rating so it’s perfect for all the family to watch.”

Dean and Rebecca plan to make more films after they finish their wildlife film on the Yorkshire Coast with Keiron Goodwin. Filming has already taken place in Whitby, Scarborough and Flamborough Head.