Cllr Dan Putty has link to Batman (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Deputy mayor of Basingstoke appears as film extra

11:00am Tuesday 28th August 2012 in Local By Gazette reporter

THEY are both pillars of the local community, are involved in upholding the law, and they’ve appeared in the same movie.

Yes, Batman and Councillor Dan Putty, deputy mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, certainly have a few things in common.

Cllr Putty, who is in line to be first citizen in 2013-14, has spent his free time working as an extra, appearing in promotional videos and adverts for Marks and Spencer, Basmati Rice and a host of other companies.

But he really hit the big time in 2008 when he was cast to appear in Christopher Nolan’s highly acclaimed The Dark Knight, the blockbuster sequel to Batman Begins.

Cllr Putty, who lives in Gloucester Drive, Basingstoke, appeared in the film’s climactic scene along with hundreds of other extras on a ferry rigged with explosives as part of a deadly game set up by The Joker, played by Heath Ledger.

The 63-year-old, who represents the Hatch Warren and Beggarwood ward, told The Gazette : “That was a lot of fun, I really enjoyed that. It was a two-day shoot at Pinewood Studios and we were all told to look terrified as we were in danger of being blown up.”

Cllr Putty, who also works as a magistrate alongside his commitments at the Civic Offices, said he first got involved in extra work six years ago when he met an agent at a business meeting. He then signed up to Casting Collective, based in London.

However, the Conservative councillor said he had never watched himself in any production, including The Dark Knight. He said: “I don’t do it for any recognition or payment – I do it because I enjoy it. I have made some really good friends.”