Fledgling film maker Rodney March has taken a love of science fiction and used it to create a space-age vehicle for the good news.

Mr March, a member of St Paul's Carlingford, is the driving force behind a dramatic retelling of Jesus' parable of the ten virgins.

The five minute feature, "Escape', is set aboard a failing space station orbiting a dieing world.

The production has quickly become a prominent entry in Ignite, the Christian film festival.

Mr March acted as first-time writer, director and producer for the film.

Though he works as a character animator for an animation company, Mr March has never taken the reins of a production.

He says he owes a lot to ground-breaking sci-fi thrillers like "Blade Runner' and "Solaris' for the tension that makes his tale turn.

"Escape' combines 3D animation, special effects and scale models to create a believable home in space for a crew who find themselves unready for a rescue mission.

Creating the space ship and the set at the centre of the story took Mr March days of grubbing around in garages, dumpsters and hardware stores " not to mention a large quantity of silver paint.

But camera difficulties almost killed the production, with crucial equipment arriving only one week before the film's deadline.

Deb Chen, one of the Ignite organisers, says "Escape' is a tribute to Mr March's determination and creativity.

"Rodney's film is just the sort of production that will help break down the "cringe' many people feel when it comes to Christians and the arts," Ms Chen says.

"It would be a first rate film in any competition " we're just glad we've got it in ours!"
"Escape' will be screening at the Sydney Town Hall as part of the Ignite film festival on November 6.

Details available at the Ignite site