Film challenging disability cited in 2008 capital bid

Black comedy Killer Cure is the third film made by Shout Your Mouth Off, a group of disabled people in Middlesbrough.

It will be shown at the National Film Theatre, in London, next Thursday and featured recently at a conference held by the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

The actors are volunteers who responded to adverts or had been involved in previous arts projects backed by Cleveland Arts.

They have been involved with every stage of the film-making process, working alongside Newcastle production company Carpet Films.

Their project has been cited in the North-East's bid to become Capital of Culture 2008.

Paul Collard, head of programme for the Newcastle-Gateshead Initiative, which is spearheading the Capital of Culture 2008 bid, said: "The European Capital of Culture 2008 bid is all about encouraging local people to raise their aspirations and confidence and make a real difference within their communities. These film-makers are a prime example of how people in this region have earned that scholarship - this is an innovative production which will help challenge attitudes to disability."

Killer Cure was inspired by comments made by England football manager Glen Hoddle in 1999 that disabled people were created that way because of bad karma from a previous life.

The central character of Glenda Hobble kidnaps disabled people to "cure" them, before sending the more perfect specimens to meet their maker in a gruesome way. One of the victims turns out to be less disabled than she thinks and helps the survivors escape.

Film project manager Karen Sheader, who plays Glenda, said: "It is all done with a sideways glance - it is a black comedy really."

Karen Kelly, who plays one of Glenda's victims, said: "The film is concerned with issues I feel strongly about."

The script was written and directed by Steve Carolan. Also involved were Anthony Bassett and John Partlett, who has cerebral palsy. The film was shot in Middlesbrough.