Posted in: Movies | Tagged: Comics, film, In transit

Comics Infused 'In Transit' Film Premiere Comes To Birmingham

By Olly MacNamee

Once again, Birmingham was chosen as the desired place to premier the upcoming welcome return of BBC2's Peaky Blinders, back for a third season, and so it didn't surprise me to get a phone call from Geeky Comics' Vic Wright, asking if I wanted to get involved in another premier for the city. How could I say no? given that Birmingham's current trajectory is only on the up and up thanks to the promise of faster train travel between here and that there London, with the constant reminders we have from the London based UK press, that Birmingham is the place to be.

Having lived here over a decade, the optimist in me thinks that Birmingham is finally waking up to the realisation that it is a city with so much to offer.  Film premieres coming here are a welcome addition as well as a further step up to becoming to a truly cosmopolitan city.

Coming to Broad Street's Cineworld, on May 23rd is a new film, by newcomer Marius Smuts, who describes it as follows:

This is the story of Matt – a quirky daydreamer, stuck in that awkward 20-something malaise – and his slightly bonkers housemates, including love interest Jess.

The only problem? Jess has a boyfriend and Matt – whether he knows it or not – has feelings for his lifelong friend, Tina.

As an aspiring writer with big ideas, Matt spends his time working on his comic book, RABBIT, a tale of a half Rabbit/half man who travels through time correcting the errors of mankind. The story of Rab is influenced by the happenings in Matt's life and the people he encounters. As Matt and his interactions with his housemates become more complex, so does RABBIT.

In Transit is a feature length film that deals with real life relationships and lost opportunities.

A small budget film with big aspirations, In Transit is accompanied by an original 80 page graphic novel, Rabbit, the very same book Matt works on in the film and part of the reason for Geeky Comics' partnership with Smuts, being the publishers behind the book. Talk about meta! If you liked Spaced (and who doesn't?) then you might like this.

As for my involvement? It seemed like a no-brainer to ask me, your local Bleeding Cool Midlands' correspondent, to lend a hand and either help moderate the Q and A accompanying the film, where I will be chatting with the cast and crew about the film, or looking like an idiot. That's right, a proper film premiere with red carpet, the stars and a chance to get up and close with them after the screening, and ask them your own probing questions. Oh, and your chance to bag a copy of the original graphic novel, Rabbit and have it signed by the cast, the crew and Smuts himself who not only wrote and directed the film but scripted the graphic novel too.

Tickets are very limited, so if you are keen, book them now via the Geeky Comics website, here.

I'll see you all there. Now, where's that suit of mine?

Olly MacNamee teaches English and Media, for his sins, in a school somewhere in Birmingham. Some days, even he doesn't know where it is. Follow him on twitter @ollymacnamee or read about his exploits at olly.macnamee@blogspot.co.uk. Or don't.

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