A former Oldham actor turned director is working on her first feature film after a number of shorts.

Marie Hynes has lived in Shaw her whole life and was working as an actor when she decided to take the leap into writing and directing. 

As an actor, she worked alongside big names such as Ian Somerhalder, Liam Cunningham and Robert Carlyle.

Marie Hynes is looking to make her first feature filmMarie Hynes is looking to make her first feature film (Image: Marie Hynes)

She then began to create short films and has made a total of seven as either writer or director.

However, she says she is ready for the bigger challenge of creating a feature film.

Called Girl Fight it will follow the story of a female boxer who must take on a bare-knuckle fight against a bigger opponent organised by a drug dealer to solve her father's debts.

Bill Fellows starring in the short film version of Girl FightBill Fellows starring in the short film version of Girl Fight (Image: Marie Hynes)

Along the way, the film explores the challenges this poses for her, the love she finds and at what point enough is enough between her and her father.

Marie said: "It's about being on that rat wheel of life and then just deciding you don't want to do it anymore, at any point in your life.

"There's definitely a strong message behind it."

Marie Hynes on the set of the Girl Fight shortMarie Hynes on the set of the Girl Fight short (Image: Marie Hynes)

Girl Fight was made into a short film in 2019 but Marie is revisiting the story and hoping to gain investors to be able to bring the story to life in the way she feels it deserves. 

Marie is trying to raise the funds to create the trailer for Girl Fight before filming the whole film, in hopes that the trailer can then be used to recruit investors to help fund the feature. 

Graham Saxon in the short film version of Girl FightGraham Saxon in the short film version of Girl Fight (Image: Marie Hynes)

She said: "Because I'm a new director and I'm mixed race and female, it's so hard to get funding. 

"So by making the trailer, as if it's already been made, I can one, show what the film is about and two, show what sort of director I am and that I can do the job."

To raise money to create the trailer, Marie is hosting an event at The Shawside on Grains Road and has thanked the community in Shaw for 'really coming together' and donating raffle prizes and tombola prizes. 

Marie Hynes will be hosting a fundraiser for her trailerMarie Hynes will be hosting a fundraiser for her trailer (Image: Marie Hynes)

The day will see a children's fancy dress, face painting, raffles and tombolas and will be held this Sunday, October 13 from 2pm until 6.30pm and will cost £3 entry with children's entry being free.

Raffle prizes include signed images and Facetime calls from Coronation Street's Bill Fellows and Brookside's John McArdle.

Bill Fellows also starred in the original short of Girl Fight.

There will also be signed photos of Grace's John Simm and Richie Campbell.

It is not all film themes though, with pampering prizes for both men and women, children's play centre vouchers, food and drink gifts and health and lifestyle prizes up for grabs.