Author wins role in film (From Oxford Mail)

Author wins role in film

9:16am Wednesday 6th September 2006 in Oxford By Maddy Biddulph

A movie crew flew in from Kansas yesterday to film a cameo role for former Oxford Mail literary editor and acclaimed science fiction writer Brian Aldiss.

Mr Aldiss was written into the film, Waiting for the Son, which was inspired by his novel Supertoys Last All Summer Long, after befriending its producer.

The same book also inspired the Steven Spielberg blockbuster AI: Artificial Intelligence.

Waiting for the Son stars Lupe Ontiveros, who was nominated for an Emmy for her role as Mama Solis, the interfering mother-in-law of Eva Longoria's character Gabrielle in Desperate Housewives.

Producer Kevin Willmott asked Mr Aldiss to be in the movie after they met at a film festival in Switzerland last year.

The American crew were shooting scenes at the 80-year-old's Headington home yesterday.

'It seemed appropriate that he would play the creator of the android as he is such a prominent figure in the science fiction world'

Director Marlo Angell

Mr Aldiss joked that they were looking for an "ancient, handsome Englishman" for the part, and added: "I feel very privileged that they've flown over just to film my scenes."

The film is a psychological drama about a 'woman' called Eve, who suffers from amnesia.

When she starts digging into her past she discovers she is an android, and begins questioning her place in the world.

Mr Aldiss plays Virgil, the artist who created her.

Director Marlo Angell said it was a privilege to have Mr Aldiss in the film.

She said: "It seemed appropriate that he would play the creator of the android as he is such a prominent figure in the science fiction world."

Waiting for the Son should hit the big screen next year.