When Southend filmmaker Daniel Keeble put a message out on social media last week asking if people would be willing to help film a last-minute horror film, he wasn’t sure what response he would get.

Luckily, the filmmaker, from ARK Pictures, was inundated with offers of help from actors and filmmakers.

Echo: Actors - Briony Taylor and Harry SandersActors - Briony Taylor and Harry Sanders (Image: Daniel Keeble)

Daniel made the social media post on Friday October 20 and the film Freybug was written and shot in Southend by Sunday 22.

“I made a social media post saying I'd like to challenge myself in making a new short film to show on Hallowe'en. I didn't have a story, or a script, or a cast or crew,” said Daniel.

“I was inundated with messages from local Southend actors and other likeminded filmmakers, wishing to also make something. So over two days, a script was written by writer Kevin Mears, props were made and actors were cast.

“I can't believe we pulled it off, to be honest. Filmmaking is so hard and this would usually takes weeks or even months of planning.”

Echo: Filming in Leigh - behind the scenes Filming in Leigh - behind the scenes (Image: Daniel Keeble)

It tells the story of a young couple Freya (played by Briony Taylor) and Jake (played by Harry Sanders) in a parked car who are approached by a distressed dog walker (played by Alice Ryan) who says they have lost their dog. Jack gets out to help and the Freya stays and waits, and the spooky tale unfolds.

The five minute horror was shot on the outskirts of Belfairs Woods in Leigh and it will be shared on Halloween night on October 31.

“Within only two days, we went from a blank page to a full script and ‘Freybug’ was filmed in three hours,” said Daniel.

“The cast and crew were so passionate about the project and it all came together. For actor Briony Taylor it was her debut film and she did a great job.”

Echo: Filmmaker - Daniel KeebleFilmmaker - Daniel Keeble (Image: Daniel Keeble)

The crew includes director Daniel Keeble, cinematographer Benjamin C Mills, writer Kevin Mears, Assistant Camera Ashley Garwood, sound Christopher Roberts, gaffer Joe Duncombe and music Kelly Anne Buckley.

Ark Indie Productions is a film company based in Leigh. To see the film on Halloween go to WWW.arkpictures.co.uk/films/freybug.