A documentary to protest against the threatened closure of libraries across Somerset is being filmed next week.
Glastonbury Festival organiser Michael Eavis has pledged his support and will be one of the many people from across the area interviewed for the filming.
Glastonbury-based Kevin Redpath, film and multi-media producer, writer and presenter, and fellow-film-makers Ken Kutsch and Garfield Kennedy, a Mendip district councillor for Shepton, have joined forces with film editor Martin Wells and Julian Fellowes, the acclaimed actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter.
Mr Fellowes created period drama Downton Abbey, wrote the script for Gosford Park, and won an Oscar for Best Screenplay in 2002.
Mr Kennedy said he had also had a pledge of support from Dame Judi Dench, who would have also been involved had she not had to fly out this week for filming commitments in Los Angeles.
Directed by Mr Kennedy, the production is being produced by Mr Redpath and Mr Kutsch for screening on the internet, in cinemas and made available to broadcasters.
The finished production is due for release at the end of January.
Mr Kennedy says the film will feature a series of fast-moving vox pops - giving people the chance to say how important their libraries and books are to them. The filming will be focussed on Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet - two of the towns whose libraries are under threat.
Filming takes place at Tor Leisure Centre in Glastonbury on Monday from 2-8pm, and at the Paul Street Community Centre, Paul Street, in Shepton Mallet from 2-8pm on Wednesday.
"We have already chosen several key people to come along and have their say, based on their experiences and strong feelings about libraries - but everyone is welcome to come along and be involved," said Mr Kennedy.
"We are not trying to get at Somerset County Council which obviously has some serious financial problems to solve. We are trying to highlight there must be alternative solutions before such a drastic step as closing libraries is taken which is such a permanent and so totally unacceptable step.
"We don't want to hang county leader Ken Maddock from a gibbet on camera and it is not just for people have a rant - but of course if they want to have a rant they can," Mr Kennedy added.
He said he was very grateful to his colleagues for giving their services for free and supporting the film. Mr Wells will cut the film and editing will take place in a production suite at Bristol which again was offering its facilities for free.
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