Watershed moment for West director

THE man who wrote and directed iconic British films like Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead has revealed how he fell in love with cinema in Bristol – and actually went to the same screening as his leading man without realising.

The Watershed is celebrating its 40th birthday and invited people to share their memories of visiting the harbourside arts centre on social media.

And among them was Edgar Wright, who created the Cornetto trilogy of movies that have become synonymous with British cinema in the 21st century, with the likes of Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead and The World’s End propelling Simon Pegg and Nick Frost to Hollywood stardom.

And Mr Wright, who grew up in Wells in Somerset, also said that he and Simon Pegg only realised that they’d been sitting in the same audience at the Watershed six years before they met for real in London.

Praising the independent cinema, Mr Wright recalled how he would make the 20-mile drive up the A37 to Bristol as a teenager.

“As soon as I could drive, age

17, I raced to the Watershed to see all the indies my local would never play: Barton Fink, Delicatessen, Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer et al,” he said.

“I pretended to enjoy black coffee and carrot cake to be a real cineaste. (I love them both now). Happy birthday.”

He added: “Also, me and Simon Pegg were both in the audience for the Watershed UK premiere of Akira in 1989, six years before we actually met for real in London.”

The Watershed tweeted that its audiences, customers, staff, former staff and supporters ‘make our hearts swell’.

As soon as I could drive, age 17, I raced to the Watershed to see all the indies my local would never play EDGAR WRIGHT