A MECHANIC has created a 12ft robot which will star in a new sci-fi film based on the children's story Jack and the Beanstalk.
Former soldier Shaun Morgan, from Heybridge Basin, usually spends his days fixing ambulances and police cars.
But the father-of-three was asked by a Hollywood producer to create the larger-than-life creature after a chance encounter in Belize.
"Some time ago I was working with the British Army in Belize and the director was there filming," said Shaun.
"I got talking to him and showed them a few things such as how to hold weapons for the film.
"When we were talking I mentioned I'd made a few things for other films and he said if he was ever filming in England he'd be in touch.
"You don't think anything of it, do you?
"But then I got a call from him saying he was in Iceland filming and would be in the UK and wanted a 15ft robot built, I couldn't believe it.
"Me being me, I said I couldn't do a 15ft one but I could do 12ft if he was okay.
"I had three weeks to design and make it which was quite a challenge."
Balancing running his business Seylec EVS, Shaun began to design and dream up the robot.
He added: "They gave me a description of what they wanted; the robot had to have a space for a human to sit in and be seen like in the film Avatar, but they also wanted it to have a vintage feel, like a robot from the 1930s to 1950s. I thought how on earth do you make a vintage robot, but the producer approved the design within 24 hours and I started working.
"Its made of lightweight materials and wood, carefully constructed so an actor can climb inside and move the arms and legs to make it work like a futuristic fork lift.
"It also has working lights and dials to add authenticity with an extra set of real metal claws with a blow lamp made for close up scenes.
"Luckily the lead actor is 5ft 7ins, the same height as my middle son so he's been modelling it for me."
The robot which was too big to fit in Shaun's workshop was picked up by a box truck to ferry it to Wales where the film is being shot.
"What I know about the film is that it's called Jack and is a futuristic version of Jack and the Beanstalk.
"It's scheduled to be released in March next year.
"The last feature film I made something for was Children of Men, starring Clive Owen, and in that I didn't make it onto the credits, but this time I will, which is fantastic.
"It's definitely different to the day job."
