Corner of Oldbury used to recreate Japanese atomic bomb wasteland (From Halesowen News)

Corner of Oldbury used to recreate Japanese atomic bomb wasteland

8:00am Tuesday 14th August 2012 in Local

FILM-MAKERS turned a corner of Oldbury into a post apocalyptic wasteland as they recreated Japanese city Nagasaki in the aftermath of the atomic bomb.

This week a special effects team turned a derelict yard in Langley Green Road into a film set depicting Nagasaki and filmed a host of actors made to look ravaged by war.

Birmingham brothers Dominic and Ian Higgins, of Major Oak Entertainment, and producers Joel Fletcher and Nigel Davey, are making a powerful docu-drama provisionally called All That Remains.

The film is about the life of Takashi Nagai who tended to the dying and wounded after the blast then helped rebuild the devastated city.

Directing duo Dominic and Ian plan to use state-of-the art computer generated animation to re-create the harrowing moment the Americans dropped the atomic bomb; while live action scenes are being filmed on location in and around Birmingham and the Black Country.

Nigel Davey, who produced charity films Expresso and Waiting in Rhyme with Halesowen film-director Kevin Powis, said: “The site owned by Express Bondings and Gaydens Transport is just standing empty and they’ve smashed all the buildings down so they said we can use it for a bomb scene.”

The movie-makers decided the story of courageous Christian convert Takashi Nagai, who many believe should be made a saint, had to be told.

The brave doctor, who was left to care for his two young children after his wife was killed in the blast, wrote the bestselling book The Bells of Nagasaki and dedicated the rest of his short life to promoting world peace.

He died in 1951 of leukaemia brought on by prolonged exposure to radiation. Twins Dominic and Ian have been working closely with leading authorities on Dr Nagai and the history of Nagasaki - and the movie will include candid interviews with friends and family of the doctor.

The entire project has been made possible through a ‘crowd surfing’ campaign - funded by donations from members of the public. Dominic said: “We are overwhelmed by the response we’ve had in terms of donations and support. “The generosity has been incredible - a lot of people are waiting for this film to be made.”

Ian added: “We’ve spent a year of our lives researching and developing this movie - we want Dr Nagai to be watching down upon us, nodding his head in approval.” The film, for which donations are still being sought, is expected to be released in spring 2013.

For more information visit www.majoroakentertainment.com/allthatremains.