We started our localized PR campaign this week and top of the list of publications we needed to contact was Round&About. With their coverage of over 140,000 homes in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire using the Royal Mail door to door service, we knew Round&About would be absolutely key to letting the world beyond our village know about the making of The Husband Obedience Trials.

So we called them up to tell them all about the film, had a chat and sent through our press pack. Ten minutes later they called back to say that not only would they feature us prominently in July's editorial spread but that they loved the whole idea behind the film and therefore would like to support us by sponsoring us financially as well.

Peter Savage, Editor said "When you are editor of a local, monthly magazine circulating to every home across South Oxfordshire, an event of this magnitude hits you as a truly interesting, endearing and wholly worthwhile venture and how fabulous that the entire Kingston Bagpuize and Southmoor village are a part of it. Great stuff! And now we're part of it, too!"

Guy Browning said "The whole story of the film so far has been about getting support from people round and about the local area. In spite of being a fantastically varied place, there are a few things Kingston Bagpuize and Southmoor doesn't yet have so we're absolutely delighted that Round&About are helping us put the word out."

Round&About was first published in 1994 with the primary editorial objective to bring as much local information as possible to each of the nine editions published every month. It is the abundance and diversity of well-written and presented material in a superbly designed, handy-sized magazine that ensures that recipients will, and do, read it avidly.

The Husband Obedience Trials features the young, lovelorn gardener, Tom working at ‘the big house’ looking after the giant trees in the more remote parts of the estate as well as the manicured gardens. As such, it struck us that a tree services company would make a very appropriate sponsor so we contacted Ringrose Tree Services who have a twenty year history of providing comprehensive tree care in and around Oxfordshire. We were delighted when they agreed to support and sponsor our film.

Simon Ringrose said: “We loved the fact that this film is not only a feel good romantic comedy but features scenes in the beautiful grounds of Kingston Bagpuize House with a local hero respecting nature and the environment just like we do.”

Guy Browning said: “Ringrose are our sponsors and the film’s tree consultants because they know just about all there is to know about them. We have important scenes involving trees and Ringrose will make sure we don’t waste time barking up the wrong ones”

With two decades of comprehensive tree care and woodland management in and around Oxfordshire, Ringrose Tree Services have developed an excellent reputation. Trees are living assets. At Ringrose Tree Services they understand that people and trees need to co-exist within an urban environment. With this in mind they are particularly interested in finding solutions for arboricultural problems.

Not only do we need to feed our actors and crew but additionally we need to house them. We had a flurry of Kingston Bagpuize and Southmoor residents eagerly signing up to offer accommodation especially when the rumours that Colin Firth and Keira Knightley were appearing in the film started to circulate. Then we were contacted by the family run business O’ Leary Caravans who very kindly offered us help in the form of some mobile homes. As some of the actors and most of the crew will need to be in the village for the shoot’s duration we were very grateful to be able to offer them permanent accommodation for the whole six weeks.

Guy Browning said: “This timely offer from O’Leary Caravans is fantastic and will be a great help to us over the course of the summer. I am bowled over by the continuing generosity of local businesses in these difficult times.”

James O’Leary said: “When we heard about the making of The Husband Obedience Trials we wanted to offer our support and feel part of the whole caravan of love which is the film.”

O’ Leary caravans have been market leaders for over 40 years they are a family run business specialising in the Static Caravan and Mobile Home trade.

They stock a large range of quality pre-owned Static Caravans and Park Homes and will deliver direct to your land.

They have extensive experience of solving the temporary accommodation problems of Agricultural, Equestrian, Construction and Self Build sectors.

http://www.olearycaravans.co.uk/index.html

With six weeks filming due to commence in the third week of June a very important aspect we needed to consider was how best to feed the actor’s and crew. Luckily our local W.I. and other volunteers have offered to do all the catering with the talented ‘Two Sues’ - Weaving and Melling stepping into the breach to head up the team. The next step was furnishing them with provisions and who better to supply great quality, fresh local food than our very own Millets Farm? When we approached the Carter brothers they asked us to send them a ‘wish list’ and promised to see what they could do. Happily for us they came back to say they could help out so now all we need to make sure of is that our actors can still squeeze into their costumes by the end of the shoot!

Tony Carter said: “The making of this film ticks all the boxes regarding the sorts of projects we like to support being local, innovative and home grown. We were delighted to be approached and look forward to watching as The Husband Obedience Trials grow to fruition.”

Guy Browning said: “Millet’s Farm is a fantastic sponsor to have on board. It is fitting that their local produce will be helping to feed and fuel our actors and crew during the making of our film, a big thank you to Millets.”   

Millets Farm Centre offers a taste of the countryside at its natural best. The extensive Oxfordshire site is open 7 days a week and has Free Entry to great visitor and retail facilities, including over 800 Free Car Parking places and disabled friendly access throughout. The farm shop provides great quality, fresh local food straight from the fields at Millets Farm, or sourced from local suppliers. Savour the flavours of fresh fruit and vegetables, award winning apple juice, the best local meats, tasty fresh fish, superb cheeses and home baked bread... all under one roof.

http://www.milletsfarmcentre.com