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![\"Etienne](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/dfe8c6f0-84ef-11f0-b599-154efb9f3687.jpg.webp.webp\")
Etienne Laine<\/p>\nJack SilverBBC News, Channel Islands<\/p>\n
Etienne Laine<\/p>\n
Joshua Fletcher, from Guernsey, wrote and directed Albert, a short film about folklore and witchcraft on the island<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Joshua Fletcher, who is originally from Guernsey, wrote and directed Albert, a short film about folklore and witchcraft on the island.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
Mr Fletcher, who now lives in Brighton, said Steven Spielberg’s films “resonated” with him as a child, especially the first Jurassic Park film.<\/p>\n
“The idea of bringing dinosaurs back to life, I think film is the only place where you can make that happen.”<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The film stars Jersey-born actor James Howard, who starred as Draco Malfoy in the West End production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child<\/p>\n Mr Fletcher’s latest film also follows a book, this time an indestructible enchanted one called Le Petit Albert.<\/p>\n 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> – a trio of women, one pregnant, who were burned at the stake in St Peter Port.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> holds.<\/p>\n “I needed to see what it was about, to see it in person and understand the story a little bit more.”<\/p>\n 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”.<\/p>\n Guernsey premiere<\/p>\n Mr Fletcher said he had “no idea” Mr Howard had moved to Guernsey and was excited to secure a “super talented” actor.<\/p>\n “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.<\/p>\n![\"Andrew](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/aabd2ca0-84ef-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp.webp\")
Andrew Butler<\/p>\n