AN actor and amateur film-maker is having a scream directing his first film – a horror movie set in woods close to his Derby home.

Darren Lynch, 25, wanted to have a go at directing after watching the best directors in the business at work on some of the movies in which he has appeared.

He appeared as an extra in Screwed, which tells the story of a prison guard, and Bond 23, the latest Bond film with Daniel Craig, both of which come out next year.

Darren said: "I loved the whole experience of being on a film set and I liked the work of the director.

"I got a taste for it when I was watching them work.

"Everything developed from that and I set about writing my own script.

"I know working with a small number of people is different from being on a big Hollywood movie, but you've got to start somewhere."

Darren's film is a horror movie called Ouija and the majority of the filming is being done in Calvary Woods, in Shelton Lock.

The film tells the story of nine friends who go into the woods at night with a Ouija board and summon a demon.

Darren said: "I've always been interested in horror films and wanted a scary film to direct.

"The film is low budget. I'm funding it myself and all the actors and crew are doing it just to get some experience in film.

"I live in Shelton Lock and the woods nearby seemed perfect for the look and feel I wanted.

"It had to be intimidating."

All the equipment being used belongs to members of the crew who are involved in the shoot.

Darren said that none of the people involved were being paid and instead were using the film as a way of gaining valuable experience for their future careers.

Darren wants big things for his film.

He said: "I want to take it all the way, I want to get it to a DVD release. This is what I want to do, so I want to do everything I can to make my first film a success.

"It's brilliant being in the woods and seeing everyone act out my film. I love it."

Darren studied at Merrill College but had some acting lessons as the Derby Academy of Acting.

His day job is running his own cleaning company, Xtreme Cleaning, but his real ambitions lie in the movie business.

"I want to be involved in the world of film," he said. "It's my passion."