NEVER mind The Archers or Emmerdale, a new film is in the pipeline which could lift the lid on rural life in Worcestershire.

It’s being planned by Nick Jones, a former pupil at the King’s School, Worcester, who was brought up on the family farm near Stourport-on -Severn.

According to Nick, an A-list actor is interested in taking the lead and a BAFTA-winning editor is attached to the project. The only hitch is that a final £20,000 is needed before everything lifts off.

On the upside, Nick has excellent form in the film-making world. Last year he co-produced a hit internet television show, which has so far been viewed about two million times. Called The London Affair and aimed at the 15-25 year-old audience, the romantic comedy charted the love lives of seven main characters and got onto the top 10 of the most watched internet programmes of all time.

Now, Nick, who works as a salesman to finance his filmmaking, is turning his attention to a topic he knows well – rural affairs.

He said: “My father is a farmer, as was my grandfather, uncle and various members of my extended family. I grew up on a farm in Stourport and as far as I’m concerned it’s the best environment a child could hope for. I think the rural way of life is one that should be cherished and one that the country has been built upon.

“After I left King’s I set up a small production company called Grass Roots Media based in Worcestershire in 2005. I have seen the highs and lows that farming has gone through in recent decades from, BSE, foot and mouth, bird flu and challenging government and European policy. I wanted to make a film that highlighted those plights and often the lack of understanding from people that are not familiar with the rural way of live.

“The film, to be called The Banker’s Choice, is about a second generation farmer on the verge of bankruptcy and his meeting with the new young city bank manager.

“It deals with the differing backgrounds and opinions of two men with not much in common and a lack of understanding of how each other’s world operates.

Through the course of the film the audience will see what happens when the banker is understanding of the farmer’s predicament and when he isn’t.

“The film is designed to be poignant and leave people thinking about what has transpired. Hopefully giving them a greater insight into the challenges farmers face.”

The profits from the film are going to RABI (the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution) and the Countryside Alliance Foundation, to help farmers and those in the rural communities who need it most.

Nick said: “To raise money for the project we are organising a raffle. Many kind people have donated prizes including a holiday to Spain.

“The full list and details are on our website grassrootsmedia.co.uk. It is a limited number raffle with 2,000 tickets at £10 each so the chances of winning a prize are good, while helping a worthwhile cause. If supporters don’t want a raffle ticket but just want to donate any amount of money they can do so on the website.

“They will then be invited to an exclusive screening of the film.”

Which won’t just be in the local village hall.