The latest dramatic film showing locally wasn't made by a Hollywood director, but by a Bermudian.

Llewellyn Emery's film 'The Fabian Diaries: A Blow-by-Blow Account of Hurricane Fabian in 2003' will be showing at the Neptune Theatre in Dockyard all winter on Saturdays at 3 p.m.

It is a 40-minute documentary adaptation of his book by the same name.

The book was released earlier this month and is available at Brown & Co.

"When the cruise ship season opens up we might add some weekday showings," said Mr. Emery. "If it is popular then we will add some extra times. The film is a great opportunity to promote the book."

Hurricane Fabian struck Bermuda on September 5, 2003 as a category three storm. That day winds reached 115 miles per hour and four people died when their cars were washed off the Causeway in St. George's.

It was the strongest hurricane to hit Bermuda since Hurricane Arlene in 1963, and it was the first hurricane to cause loss of life since 1923.

Mr. Emery and his family were very lucky during Hurricane Fabian.

"I live in Spanish Point in a valley," said Mr. Emery. "It is fairly well sheltered.

"Most of the winds started from out of the southeast and moved around to the south.

"It wasn't until the eye passed and the winds started to come from the west that they were blowing straight into our yard, but by then they were starting to peter out a little bit. So we got a strong blow."

In fact, he said he spent most of the storm standing with his front door open, looking out at what was happening in his yard.

Mr. Emery started writing notes for 'Fabian Diaries' early on when he realised that the storm was going to be "monumental".

"The day before, I was travelling around looking at the ocean," he said. "I started logging some things that were going on.

"When the winds started picking up, we made one last run to the dump with stuff we didn't want to blow around. At that point we were getting early thunder storms, wind and rains.

"The people at the dump yelled at us to go home, so after that we stayed put."

Mr. Emery was without electricity for 22 days. One of the chapters in his book is called 'Life Without Power'.

"Most of the book is sombre, but this one has some levity," he said. "It is a tongue-in-cheek chapter of what happened each day that went by without power."

He said after awhile he was desperate to watch television or even use the microwave.

"Eventually, you do get an appreciation for what your parents and grandparents went through," he said. "Some people have no clue how to dip water, and they don't even know where the tank is."

He said for the first two days, being without power was an adventure, but after awhile the novelty began to wear thin.

"I think people will identify with that, because there were a lot of pockets on the Island that were without power for a long time," he said. "But the house across the way from us, within ear and eye shot, got power back really quickly.

"We thought ours would come on any second, but days later we were still without power."

On a more serious note, the book and movie also remember those who died in the storm.

Part of the proceeds from the book, priced at $12.95, will go to the September 5 Foundation Fund.

This is an educational fund for the children of those lost in the storm.

"The idea to make the book into a movie came about when I was trying to find illustrations," said Mr. Emery. "I said, 'Hey, this could actually work as a movie'."

He used the software programme Movie Creator and several sound editing packages to make the movie work.

A storm chaser from Florida who was in Bermuda for the storm, contributed to some of the material in the presentation.

"He was on the Island taking footage for overseas media," said Mr. Emery. "I had tried to get some local footage, but I just kept running into roadblocks and delays.

"No one else seemed as passionate about it as I was."

The book and movie also contain many of his own personal photographs.

"Some material I have been able to get from Government Information Services (Department of Communication and Information), the Parks Department and one or two other people," said Mr. Emery. "I have blended that in with the actual video footage.

"It is an interesting presentation. It starts off with just still pictures. There is a build up and then action scenes start."

Since airing the film, several people have suggested that he show it in the Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF).

"It never occurred to me to enter it in the film festival until after it was done," said Mr. Emery. "I don't know if I am going to do that, but it is a possibility."

Mr. Emery is pleased that interest in 'Fabian Diaries' the book is starting to gather some momentum, although the word has been a little slow to travel.

"My postman said this morning, 'Hey, I hear you have a movie out'. So the word is getting out."

To write the book, Mr. Emery received a grant from the Bermuda Arts Council, and the Ministry of the Environment.

After the movie has its run in the theatres, Mr. Emery hopes to release 'Fabian Diaries' on DVD.