| Welcome to the fourth episode of Pizzaman. Will Taj take a beating? Will Becky come to her senses? Who is the new trainee? And what on earth is on his face? (Click The Numbers To View) 
What The
Papers Said New internet drama 'Pizzaman' gives wannabe actors a break Dec 10 2009 by Gareth Evans, South Wales Echo Filmmakers’ new internet drama gives wannabe actors a break
A PIZZA delivery man is the subject of a new drama series shot entirely in South Wales.
The takeaway driver is the focus of a £100,000 project dreamed up by filmmakers James Robson and Teilo Trimble.
Robson and Trimble, who met at Newport’s International Film School of Wales nine years ago, reunited last summer to set the camera rolling on Pizzaman.
The 15-part series of short films was shot at locations across Cardiff.
“We wanted to make something that would represent Cardiff in a modern light,” said Teilo, 29.
“We wanted to give everybody an opportunity but we couldn’t pay them and it was all done voluntarily.”
James and Teilo advertised in universities, shops and community centres to find the ultimate low-budget cast.
The pair settled on 39 different parts with railway workers, administrators and hedge-cutters filling available roles. Social networking sites like Facebook and Bebo also helped locate local talent.
“We wanted to give people who were not necessarily in the industry some experience,” said James, 29.
“The thought of giving the local community a route into the media is what gets me up in the morning.”
The idea was spawned six years ago when James was working as a pizza delivery man in Cathays – and curious Teilo tagged along with a camera.
“I found it interesting that James was meeting all these weird and wonderful people,” said Teilo.
“You get all these momentary reactions and there was a lot of scope to get lots of actors involved.”
Pizzaman follows the trials and tribulations of a student-turned-delivery man called Taj.
“He’s stuck in a rut and trying to get out,” said James.
“He’s working to save money to go travelling like I did. We’ve drawn on our own experiences – if you didn’t it wouldn’t be real.”
With Teilo’s story – and backing from his Birchgrove-based production company Kapaw Ltd – freelance director James set about writing the script.
It took two months to complete and the series was shot over a hectic fortnight in August,” said James.
“I really wanted to give it a dynamic and every person their own story.
“Financially we took a risk but we really had to make it happen.”
The “gamble” has left James and his new wife Marlene living in his parents’ loft in Rhymney.
But crippling production costs are the least of his worries, as the team battles to cram 38 hours of footage into 90 minutes.
“Everyone I’ve shown it to is very excited and looking forward to seeing the whole series,” said Teilo.
“You don’t necessarily need a huge budget to do it, just a good idea and commitment.”
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Watch the whole series at your leisure. Have it forever to treasure the moments you helped create together. You are clever people. Buy now. Click the film reel. 
To us, episode four is the start of the series. Everything is flowing, we know our main character and the drama intensifies. It’s the first episode where the major logistics of a zero-budget production come into play as well. New characters are introduced, new plots established, its filmed in different countries and there's the first taste of real action. Incidentally the scene where Taj speaks to his sister was the first scene that was ever filmed on the first day of principle photography. The scene with Hetal (Taj's sister) on a bridge in London talking back to Taj was the final day ever filmed. It was certainly hectic, Teilo drove the actress (Hetal Panchmatia), a soundman and himself to London in the morning to meet James for the filming and then drove back to Cardiff in the evening after they'd wrapped. Teilo tells me they were fed Coffee and got straight into Central London finding a great spot on Millennium Bridge with St Pauls in the background. Ian’s assailant in the pizza-shop was one of his close friends whom he’d performed with many times. It wasn’t designed that way but became one of a set of positively strange coincidences that happened during the shoot. (This will be touched on again in further newsletters.) The front door at the end with Ian’s second assailant was James' grandmother's doorway. She was sitting in the front window watching the filming as the action took place. We're almost a little scared to ask her what she thought about it. Take a look and I think you'll know what we mean. Thanks again. Tell the world!
Fresh Ties is proud to start a new kind of night in Cardiff, one which supports all the arts, entertains while raising funds for some very deserving grass roots charity organisations. 
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