SPACESHIPS have arrived in York and are pictured here, hovering outside Stonebow House and the nearby telephone exchange.

But don’t head for the hills just yet – these are actually scenes from the latest movie to be made by York film-maker Christopher David.

Mr David, boss of Flash Frame Productions, who created The Press’s recent York Means Business film and earlier made one for our Live Now, Drive Later campaign, is usually found shooting documentaries, corporate films and TV commercials around Europe”.

But now he says he has turned his attention to making a science-fiction short film, set in the near-future, when the authorities round up all the supposedly “insane” people in the world – “the people who don’t conform to their ideal profile.” He said: “There are so many, and they are considered such a threat, that there’s no alternative but to dispatch them into giant, orbiting asylum spaceships.” He said the story, originally inspired by a song from the rock band Marillion, was quite thought-provoking.

“Hopefully it causes us all to question what insanity is, and who should decide. Things are never what they seem, and this film has a twist ending which hopefully makes us question ourselves and look at what is right and true and precious.”

While Avatar, currently wowing cinema audiences around the world, had a budget of $300 million, Mr David said his film had a “tiny” budget – “less than a five-figure sum” – but it benefited from the support of local businesses and local creative talent.

He said it was set in futuristic locations around and above Manchester and Leeds. “But eagle-eyed viewers might also spot fleets of ‘arrester craft’ hovering over the Stonebow building or landing alongside the nearby telephone exchange. Although Stonebow isn’t my favourite building it fits the requirements – it’s austere and futuristic!"

Visual effects were created with a combination of live action, computer-generated images and models made by Mr David and his team. More scenes are still to be shot, including some dialogue, action and stunt scenes and the film – which as yet is untitled – is expected to be completed by Easter.