The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

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By Gordon Young, Editor

September 6, 2012 | 2 min read

A new horror firm premiered in London last night, which was co-produced by Bil Bungay - the other 'B' in advertising agency BMB.

'When the light went out' was written and directed by Pat Holden, Bungay's former creative partner, and is based on a 'true' story of the haunting of his aunt Jean's council house in the 60s.

The film, which launches in around seven cinemas from tomorrow, is set in Pontefract, Yorkshire, and tells what happened to Holden's relatives as they realise they are sharing their new home with some unpleasant supernatural house guests.

The film injects a doze of some gritty social realism, as well as some obvious fiction as it follows the action of what is claimed to be Europe's most 'violent' poltergeist.

But Bungay has also managed to inject a bit of pizzazz into the launch. He discovered the actual house where the haunting took place was for sale, so decided to buy it.

In advance of the premiere a competition was run - where the prize was the chance to see the premiere in the actual house.

A Skype link between London and Yorkshire showed the 'lucky' winners walking along a red carpet and then into the modest house for the screening.

However, being Skype the link was a little unreliable. Bungay told the audience at the London cinema during an awkward break in the transmission who he believed was to blame: 'the poltergeist!"