Rise of the Footsoldier made by family based in Benfleet

The firm is owned by Canvey Island father and son team Mike and Andy Loveday, together with cousin Terry from Thundersley, who clubbed together six years ago to set it up.

Their latest project, Rise of the Footsoldier, is released at cinemas today and has caused something of a stir thanks to its shockingly violent portrayal of events leading up to the Rettendon murders of Pat Tate, Tony Tucker and Craig Rolfe.

"The majority of the company is based on Drury Lane in London," says Mike.

"But we keep an administrative branch here in Benfleet because it's convenient for us."

You would never know it was there. Behind iron gates lies a drab non-descript building, where hidden away is a multitude of high-tech equipment, including a top of the range boardroom and a fully-equipt music studio. These boys mean business.

Carnaby International has been responsible for Lighthouse Hill starring Jason Flemying, Spivs with Dominic Monaghan and Nick Moran, a spoof world war II film called Last Drop with Billy Zane and rom com Are You Ready For Love? with Ed Byrne.

"As executive producers, we raise all the finance and get the scripts and then we employ a producer to go out and hire the crew to actually make the film," says Mike, who reckons between ten and 20 scripts get sent to them a week.

"Everything is ultimately the producer's decision, but you really listen to the director and what he wants. The art of being a good director is getting the best people for the littlest amount of money - which isn't easy."

Carnaby approach investors to fund the films and say the average backer is not, surprisingly, always a millionaire.

"Anyone who wants to do it can," says Mike.

"You could invest just £2,000 and if the film took off you'd make a packet and re-coup the cost. If you've got a good reputation then people know the film is going to be made and are more likely to trust you.

"Carnaby is well known in the industry now - at the moment we're probably one of the only independent film companies still going."

The company has expanded into sales and marketing of films, as well as making soundtracks.

"The music element is a massive part of films," says Mike.

"The costs of what we were paying for tracks before was ridiculous. The trend was to use tracks from established artists, but for example you would have to pay between £80,000 and £100,000 for the right to use a Rollin Stones tracks, when you might only need a few bars. So we've started to have the music made in house."

The Lovedays, however, admit they are not film fanatics.

"It's just business," says Mike.

"There's a small market for independent films, but you never know when you might get a big hit.

"Now and again one breaks through, like Bend It Like Beckham or the Full Monty and we think we might have that with Rise of the Foot Soldier. Everyone is raving about it."

The movie has been criticised for dragging up events many would prefer to regret.

But as convicted killers Jack Whomes and Michael Steele get set to appeal their sentances, executive producer Mike insists Rise of the Footsoldier raises questions about the murders which need asking.

"Basically, the word on the street is that they did not do it," says Mike Loveday, the film's executive producer.

"Our the film shows three different endings." In addition to the version of events accepted by the jury, themovie presents a scenario in which a rival gang might have been responsible - and a third, even more controversial one, in which the police were to blame.

"It shows there's doubt," Mike suggests. "Any one of them could have done it."

A narrative on the film, which opens in cinemas across the country today, says the police's motive would be to get rid of three of the south east's most prolific drug dealers, following a series of high profile drug deaths.

Essex Police have so far declined to comment, but Jack Whomes' solicitor was sufficiently interested to go along to one of the screenings last week to see for himself what was being suggested.

"We weren't sure whether to do it or not at first," says Mike.

"But the director, Julian Gilby, came along with the script and convinced us. We thought if we don't get this boy now, we never will. We have absolute faith in him - I think he could be the next Tarrantino."

Rise of the Footsoldier is not focused entirely on the triple killings and instead follows the life of local football hooligan and gangster Carlton Leech.

The film spans three decades of his life, following him from football hooliganism, through to his burgeoning career as a bouncer, his involvement in the criminal aspects of the early rave scene and subsequently his rise to power as one of the most feared and respected criminals in the country. The story concludes with three members of his firm being brutally murdered in the shot-gun slaying at Rettendon.

"Carlton was involved in the making of the film," says Mike.

"It was quite funny actually because he got all his old mates out to help as extras with the football crowd shots etc. But these guys are knocking on a bit now and had to run a fair way, screaming and shouting and after a few takes they were pretty knackered. It was good fun to make."