Eastenders and The Bill actor joins cast of 7 Days film on Blind Dave Heeley
Filming of the movie 7 Days, about marathon fundraiser Blind Dave Heeley, has now passed the halfway mark and seen experienced actor Robert Harrison join the shoot.
Robert has been in many TV dramas as well as EastEnders and The Bill and will be playing Dave's running partner Mac.
Dave is the first blind man to complete seven marathons in seven continents in seven days. This story, and many other of his great achievements, will be told in the 40-minute film due to be released later this year. It is based on his book, From Light to Dark.
The last shoot before Christmas took in the last of the 'young Dave' scenes involving young Charlie Boswell who is making his acting debut in the film. The older Dave is played by Jack Lane.
In their latest blog about 7 Days, Pixel Revolutions Films say:"We’ve now just past the the half way point of the filming process and have continually pushed the boat out in terms of effort and quality with each and every shoot so far. We’re extremely proud of what we have achieved."
Dave, who discovered he was going blind at the age of 10, has told of his pride about the film.The 59-year-old’s achievements include finishing the gruelling Escape from Alcatraz swim, running 10 marathons in 10 days from John O’Groats to Land’s End and a 700-mile week-long bike ride between Zurich and Birmingham. Last year heran each of the 25 Great Run events.
He said: “I feel quite privileged and also very proud that somebody wants to do it.
“When the book came out I still didn’t really believe I’d had a book published and what had happened in my life was between the covers.
“Stuff like this doesn’t happen to us lads in West Bromwich.
“I’m quite excited for it. To be honest I think it’s absolutely bloody fantastic.
“The support I’ve had from a lot of people in recent times – including the Baggies, where I’ve been on the pitch and got the Freedom of The Hawthorns – has been unbelievable.”
The film, called 7 Days, will be about 40 minutes long so it can be shown at specific movie festivals.
Blind Dave said: “It’s going to be a short film and hopefully it gets the message across to people that anything is possible.
“It will focus on me doing the seven marathons but also have flashbacks to when I was younger and losing my sight.”
Pixel Revolution Films have teamed up with South and City College Birmingham on the film.
