By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 14:15, Friday, 25 May 2012

The hills came alive with sound of movie making as a crew moved in to work on a film commissioned for the London 2012 Festival.

Douglas Gordon

Scenic tranquility near Brampton was interrupted when Scottish director Douglas Gordon, whose credits include Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait – a film about French footballer Zinedine Zidane – spent time at Talkin Head making The End of Civilisation.

The film was Gordon’s first to be shot in England and was filmed overlooking what he called the ‘Barbarian Border’ between England and Scotland.

A beacon hidden deep within the Cumbrian landscape re-enacted an ancient tradition, but this was no ordinary burning. Gordon destroyed a grand piano – one of the western world’s great icons – to serve as a warning and a celebration.

A film crew arrived at the home of Alan and Anne Sykes at Talkin Head Farm last Friday and finished filming on Monday.

The movie will premiere on July 5 at the Tyne Theatre in Newcastle, which is built on the site of a stretch of Hadrian’s Wall.

London 2012 Festival director Ruth Mackenzie said: “Douglas Gordon is one of the UK’s most exciting artists and this commission for the festival, Great North Run Culture and Locus+ has an episode which will truly be a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.”

First published at 14:08, Friday, 25 May 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk