Roy Spence

For over 50 years, Roy Spence has been making low or no-budget films in rural Northern Ireland, with subjects including leprechauns, aliens, fifties rock ‘n’ rollers and the undead. It Came From Comber gives an honest and revealing account of Roy’s problems, techniques, solutions and successes in low-budget filmmaking.

Rosemary Wilson leaves home one morning for a very important interview, but finds her car has a flat tyre. Luckily ‘a friend’ of her husband spots her dilemma and offers her a lift. After a series of setbacks they reach the Town Hall, 15 minutes late. Here, Rosemary discovers that the fact that the job has already been appointed isn’t the only shock that awaits her.

Two children playing hide and seek stumble upon a strange visitor on the beach. This sparks a chain of bizarre events inspiring civil disobedience in a Newtownards housing estate.

Two children playing hide and seek stumble upon a strange visitor on the beach. This sparks a chain of bizarre events inspiring civil disobedience in a Newtownards housing estate.

A geologist uncovers a ring of oddly-marked stones in a lonely mountainous area. The markings and size of the ring would suggest the landing site of a spaceship. In the centre of this ring is an unknown electronic device. The geologist discovers too late that he has stumbled upon an alien recording device left behind to monitor and relay information about planet Earth.

A geologist uncovers a ring of oddly-marked stones in a lonely mountainous area. The markings and size of the ring would suggest the landing site of a spaceship. In the centre of this ring is an unknown electronic device. The geologist discovers too late that he has stumbled upon an alien recording device left behind to monitor and relay information about planet Earth.

Considered to be one of the most ambitious short films made by the Spence Brothers, this stone-age alien extravaganza has everything a true sci-fi fan needs in spades. The mission is simple: aliens must capture and record living specimens from earth. However a violent earthquake forces the ship to take off whilst a giant robot, used to collect specimens, is swallowed up in the eruption. During quarry excavations in the present day the robot is re-animated, and the mission is still on.

Considered to be one of the most ambitious short films made by the Spence Brothers, this stone-age alien extravaganza has everything a true sci-fi fan needs in spades. The mission is simple: aliens must capture and record living specimens from earth. However a violent earthquake forces the ship to take off whilst a giant robot, used to collect specimens, is swallowed up in the eruption. During quarry excavations in the present day the robot is re-animated, and the mission is still on.

A short documentary film on the privately owned Tudor Cinema built and run by Roy Spence’s identical twin brother Noel. The film shows the preparation and organisation involved in running the small 66 seat private cinema and is a loving tribute to classic cinemas of a bygone era.

In this Roy Spence film, created for the Ulster Folk Museum, Joe O’Neill shows a range of blacksmithing skills and techniques using tools and methods that have not changed in centuries. These include heat welding, scarfing, scrolling, curling and bending. All completed in a traditional simple forge. The original version of the film included an audio track explaining the history, tools and techniques of a blacksmith, however even as a silent film, the powerful visuals of this timeless skill remains evident.

Meet the people reliving the 1950s in the outskirts of 1980s Belfast. This Spence Brothers documentary gives an enjoyable glimpse into a family reviving the Teddy boy culture in 1980’s Northern Ireland. Follow John ‘the Ted’ as he shows you where to get the records, clothes and learn the essential moves, all in the outskirts of Belfast. Then meet the other committed members of Greenisland’s Junior Rock ‘n’ Roll society dedicated to this bygone era.

Low budget science fiction spoof. A trip to rural Northern Ireland in search of Viking remains leads to contact with alien invaders.

Low budget science fiction spoof. A trip to rural Northern Ireland in search of Viking remains leads to contact with alien invaders.

Short historical film with a surprise twist filmed at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum.

Short historical film with a surprise twist filmed at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum.

A remote rocket-station in the desert is on the point of launching a nuclear-powered rocket when an alien craft appears, at first playing havoc with computer read-outs, and then blasting the station to ruins with deadly rays. Only a handful survive the attack. Now the story is told again in shortened form, with a narrator reading the story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11.

A remote rocket-station in the desert is on the point of launching a nuclear-powered rocket when an alien craft appears, at first playing havoc with computer read-outs, and then blasting the station to ruins with deadly rays. Only a handful survive the attack. Now the story is told again in shortened form, with a narrator reading the story of the Tower of Babel from Genesis 11.

A newcomer at a select gentlemen's club is invited to prove his worth by telling a suitably chilling ghost story. The stranger elects to relate a fact-based incident from his own life. By the time he has finished, he has genuinely shocked all present.

A newcomer at a select gentlemen's club is invited to prove his worth by telling a suitably chilling ghost story. The stranger elects to relate a fact-based incident from his own life. By the time he has finished, he has genuinely shocked all present.

Attempting to resurrect two former high priests of the Brotherhood of the Wolf through Black Magic, a newcomer transforms a young artist into a werewolf. The ceremony goes wrong at the crucial moment and the newcomer is carried off to another dimension.

A young man travels to his uncle’s lonely castle to give him a rare tractate. His uncle enlists his help in summoning up the ancient demon Cthulu, using secret rites of Black Magic which involve grave-robbing and murder. As the demon is summoned, the young man fears the worst and is forced to make a life changing decision.

A young man travels to his uncle’s lonely castle to give him a rare tractate. His uncle enlists his help in summoning up the ancient demon Cthulu, using secret rites of Black Magic which involve grave-robbing and murder. As the demon is summoned, the young man fears the worst and is forced to make a life changing decision.

A miner finds an ancient Druid artefact which released a beast on a small Welsh town

The tormented ghost of a young woman, who was burned at the stake as a witch by New England puritans, is laid to rest by a traveller who realises the solution to her torment.

The tormented ghost of a young woman, who was burned at the stake as a witch by New England puritans, is laid to rest by a traveller who realises the solution to her torment.