FILM MAKER Julian Richards is jetting to Hollywood to audition as the director of a £30 million blockbuster horror movie.

Julian, 34, (pictured) who grew up in Christchurch Road, Newport, will fly to Los Angeles in nine days' time for what could be his shot at the big time.

The movie he is bidding to direct is Freddie v Jason - a film reuniting the baddies of two of the most famous horror movies of all time, Freddie Kruger, and Jason, of the Friday the 13th film series.

For horror fan Julian it could be a dream come true. He said: "This could be my dream job. I am a huge fan of the horror genre and I grew up watching Hammer House of Horror films.

"But I know that I am up against some stiff competition. "This would be my chance to make a name in Hollywood, and if your film is a success at the box office, it virtually guarantees you another five films."

The actors who played Freddie and Jason in the previous films, Robert Englund and Kane Hodder, are tipped to take on their roles again for the film.

Julian said: "I am reading the script at the moment, and it needs a lot of work, probably about six months.

"So with that and filming, it is not going to be ready for release until 2003." Julian's first film, Darklands, a horror movie, provoked a storm of controversy when it was released on television, and the genre has made a comeback in recent years with releases like Scream and Blair Witch Project.

Next week, Julian's second feature film, Silent Cry, starring Frank Finlay, Kevin Whately, Emily Woof and Douglas Henshall, will be premiered at the Welsh International Film Festival.

Silent Cry, an urban conspiracy thriller about a single mother's search for her stolen newborn baby, will premiere at the Cardiff UGC on November 28 at 9.00pm as part of the Welsh International Film Festival.