"LIKE Croydon, purgatory isn't as bad as people think," says Michael Ellis, the producer of an upcoming film which compares heaven's waiting room to a stint in Croydon.
He insists the movie, called Limbo, is about challenging stereotypes rather than mocking a town – which is no stranger to being the butt of one or two jokes.
"When we say to people we're making a film about purgatory and it's being shot in Croydon, some have said it's well out of order," said Michael.
"I think people should hold on a minute and explore a bit more about what the film is about.
"Some people might by sceptical and think we are Croydon bashing, then they watch Walking in Croydon and they change their minds."
Walking in Croydon, a promotional video for Limbo, features lead actor Phil Labey singing a take on Marc Cohn's classic 1991 hit while touring some of the borough's best known locations.
The music video, shot in black and white, was filmed around Old Town, a traditional male grooming salon in Addiscombe and in The Orchard pub, in Cherry Orchard Road.
"Kate Moss, Tracey Emin, will you look down over me," sings Phil, adding: "Yeah, I've got a pre-paid Oyster, but I'm as blue as a boy can be."
"Then I'm walking in Croydon, walking with my feet in Addington Hills. Walking in Croydon, but do I really feel the way I feel."
In another verse, Phil sings: "I saw the ghost of Arthur Conan Doyle, in Creigen Avenue.
"I followed him up to the gates of Fairfield, then I watched him walk on through.
"Now security they didn't see him, they were watching Derren Brown. He was doing his thing, with a piece of string, bringing the house right down." http://youtu.be/WQ76PEv0LTA
Jenx Films hopes the song, which has had more than 5,000 views since it was posted on YouTube a month ago, will help promote Limbo, a dark, romantic comedy which sees lead character Luke waking up and finding himself in purgatory, which is modelled on modern day Croydon.
"The film plays on stereotypes," said Michael.
"Our angel is a little bit of an ass and our devil is love sick. We're playing with preconceptions.
"In terms of the location, we could have chosen anywhere. The director was travelling on a tram through Croydon and thought 'this could pass for purgatory'."
Phil said: "Matt suggested recording a take on Walking in Memphis to promote the film and asked if anyone could sing. I enjoy singing so I said I would give it a go."
The actor, whose career highlight to date is playing a young Arnold Rimmer in an episode of cult comedy Red Dwarf, added: "I had only been to Croydon once or twice before we recorded the short. It was good fun. I travelled on the tram quite a bit and got to see a lot of the town, which was nice. People who don't know it have a certain perception of Croydon, but there are some really pretty places."
Jenx recently turned to crowdfunding to help transform their 12-minute Limbo short, shown at last year's Cannes Film Festival, into a feature-length production, and are now looking for private investors.
