CAMERAS are ready to roll for the filming of a new romantic comedy set in Oxford.

The team behind the rugby-based movie, called No Balls, say it will star British sporting personalities and high level international actors.

And Oxford folk are needed to step forward as extras in the production.

No Balls tells the story of rugby-mad American Chris, who goes undercover in a women’s team after being dropped from the men’s side.

Oxford-based independent film company ChalkStar Films describes the flick as “Bend it like Beckham meets Tootsie in the world of women’s rugby”.

The film, to be shot almost entirely in Oxford, is due to be released in September to coincide with the Rugby World Cup.

Writer and director Martyn Chalk and co-writer Simon Poritt said No Balls would be a community project.

The pair said they wanted people in Oxfordshire to be involved in every stage of production, with auditions for extras, open calls and events in and around the city.

In particular, the final Oxford vs Cambridge match scene will require a rugby crowd of 1,000 people.

Mr Chalk and Mr Poritt, both based in East Oxford, recently co-produced feature film The Last Seven, released last summer, which starred Danny Dyer and Tamer Hassan and premiered at number one on the Tesco Blu-Ray chart.

No Balls producer Rubia Braun, of Indian-based production company Metrobrava, said: “We are really excited about this project and it is turning out to be much bigger than even we had anticipated.

“We think that No Balls will get a reasonable cinema release and will showcase Oxford at an international level.

“People have a pre-conceived idea of what Oxford is like.

“This is a great city, which is very diverse and interesting and an excellent location for a film.

“We would like the premier to be held in Oxford that will be a red carpet event and will attract some huge names.”

Mr Chalk said “The story took two years to write and we are now concentrating on the shooting script.

“We have really gone to town on this production using international cinematographers and producers.

“An awful lot of talent is being employed on a huge scale and we really think this is going to be a hit on an international level. We’re going to put Oxford firmly on the map.

“I am really excited about the soundtrack, we have really been utilising the Oxford music scene.”

Mr Chalk said he could not reveal which actors his firm was currently in negotiations with, but promised they were “big names”.

The production has been supported by Film Oxford and further information can be found at noballsmovie.com