‘Guernsey nature and Jurassic Park kindled my love of film’

A filmmaker from the Channel Islands said growing up surrounded by nature helped ignite his imagination and love of film – along with the dinosaurs from Jurassic Park films.

Joshua Fletcher, who is originally from Guernsey, wrote and directed Albert, a short film about folklore and witchcraft on the island.

It stars Jersey-born actor James Howard, who had “previous experience” with supernatural projects, having originated the role of Draco Malfoy in the West End.

Mr Fletcher, 36, said he “grew up in St Andrew, which was quite amazing, surrounded by quarries, nature and the odd German bunker or two”.

Mr Fletcher, who now lives in Brighton, said Steven Spielberg’s films “resonated” with him as a child, especially the first Jurassic Park film.

“The idea of bringing dinosaurs back to life, I think film is the only place where you can make that happen.”

As a child he tried to recreate a waterfall scene from the film – where one of the characters gets attacked by a venom-spitting dinosaur – by putting down “blue jumpers [on my stairs] to simulate the water”.

He later moved to the UK to study graphic design and discovered world cinema and art house films, such as those of director PT Anderson.

Mr Fletcher discovered he also enjoyed making films during his final year project, a “Tim Burton-esque” stop-motion animation about a book whose letters came to life.

Mr Fletcher’s latest film also follows a book, this time an indestructible enchanted one called Le Petit Albert.

He said he became fascinated during the Covid-19 lockdown by the island’s folklore and real-life witch hunting, such as the Guernsey Martyrs – a trio of women, one pregnant, who were burned at the stake in St Peter Port.

Mr Fletcher said he became “obsessed” with the real book, which was said to be unlucky to touch, and decided to visit Guernsey to see a copy which the Priaulx Library holds.

“I needed to see what it was about, to see it in person and understand the story a little bit more.”

He said he was excited by the cinematic possibilities of “burying a book at sea and then going all the way home to find it there waiting for you on the table”.

Mr Fletcher said he had “no idea” Mr Howard had moved to Guernsey and was excited to secure a “super talented” actor.

“I was looking for someone to play the rector that had a similar kind of profile… and could bring that weight to the role,” he said.

Albert, which co-stars Guernsey actor Cameron Ashplant, was filmed last autumn on the island and has just completed post-production.

The film has already been selected for the New Renaissance Film Festival in London, a qualifying festival for the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs).

Mr Fletcher said he hoped to arrange a Guernsey screening later this year.

He said it would be “nice to round off the production” by showing it a year after it was filmed.