Update November 2006 - we have been back to Scotland in mid October 2006 for the third and final session with the boys. We also filmed a short 'surf horror' film for the 14day halloween horror challenge while we were there - a bit wooden but loads of fun to do !

"Take a group of surfers and get them to improvise a horror film - then film it and edit it up in 14days in time for halloween.. that was the challenge. We didn't have a script or a plan and had to fit in around 3 surfs a day and just see what we could do. We filmed loads of extra death scenes but they just couldn't be fitted in the 10 minutes available" said mark Brindle from maniac films. "Its not that scary and in fact was going to end up more as a comedy ! We will be adding deleted scenes into Half-Life, especially some of the great 'Scottish comedy voice' sequences with Ken 'your all doomed' Wells"

Sandside Experiment is about a drug trial - Paul is trying out an experimental drug on Tim and then Dave. But Ken is convinced that Tim has been poisened by the radiation from nearby Dounreay nuclear power plant. We did have other script ideas involving people being chopped up into the black pudding but did'nt get time to film those.

We had great sunshine for 4 days - was very unusual to be in T-shirts in Scotland in mid October - but the high pressure effected the surf a bit so we didnt get Thurso working until the day we had to leave unfortunately. But Brimms was working every day - clean and very blue indeed. We also visited a few more different surf spots that will be seen in Half-Life soon.

We will now be editing up Half-Life into a full-length feature - due early 2007.

Update September 2006 - we are back to Scotland in mid October 2006 for the third and final session with the boys. We have some extra interviews with Hector Christie regarding Wind power verses Nuclear energy to add into the mix too. More coming soon.

MANIAC films is commissioned to make a film about the ongoing adventures of three surfing buddies whose travels have taken them back each year to Scotland's North West coast for epic winter barrels.

"We joined the guys - Tim, Dave and Matt on the tenth anniversary visit to Scotland and scored some perfect waves at Thurso" said Mark Brindle of MANIAC films. "the conditions were far from perfect when we arrived, but we managed to find places to surf every day"

The film will be a mix of old and new footage - from Scotland to North Devon, France and the Maldeves. This will be a limited availability release on DVD - to be first screened in North Devon.

"The mix of surfing, kitesurfing, fun and road movie combine to make this appeal to quite a small audience" said Mark Brindle "but you never know with these things..."

We now have agreement by the Hives to use one of their songs on the film and also music from Pete Bruntnell, The Universe Inspectors, Lyrical Madmen, UDLRF and My Pet Cow.

Check out the surfing photo gallery for Scotland surf stills.