Blacksmith forge at Redland Museum to feature in movie

Russell Dinte of Thornlands said the filming was a “once in a lifetime” experience and something he would always remember.

Mr Dinte pumps the bellows in the scene while offsider Adrian Watson is the striker. Resident museum blacksmith Paul Jones of Redland Bay has three spoken lines in the film where he waits on the Templar Knight and is asked to make some spikes strong enough to carry a knight.

“I think the three of us did really well. We play these roles anyway at the museum. The whole thing was a lot of fun,” Mr Dinte said.

Set in 1244, the medievel film is a dramatisation of real events at a time of religious conflict and the crusade. In the film, Pope Innocent IV and King Louis IX try to eradicate the Cathars resulting in 100 knights holding out over an army of 10,000 at the Castle of Montsegur. It is believed the Cathars were the guardians of the Holy Grail.

Writer and director Paul Day of Angel Studios said he heard about the blacksmith’s shop through local contacts.

“This is where a girl goes to have a sword made. A knight stops this from happening and suggests she needs a crossbow instead. In the scene, the girl storms out,” he said.

“It’s a small scene, but a significant one.”

Lead actors include Logie winner Rowena Wallace as Lady Corba de Pereille and Joss McWilliam as Lord Raymond de Pereille (Neighbours, Water Rats, Coolangatta Gold).

Mr Day said this was the studio’s fourth feature film with the other three all works of science fiction. He said he hoped to release the film in local cinemas, before it went to DVD and had overseas distribution.

Mr Day said there were only about 10 scenes remaining to be shot before post production. He hopes to see it released later this year.

“Ideally, I would like to see it released at Cineplex, Victoria Point,” he said.

Mr Dinte said there weren’t many working blacksmiths around, and hoped the opportunity might crop up again.