The Guardian is working with Pulse Films on a short documentary about one of the paper's best loved setters: John Graham, who died last November.

The working title is, simply, Araucaria. When the director, Matt Houghton, discovered the puzzle in which Araucaria announced to Guardian solvers that he had cancer, he was, he tells me, immediately drawn to the story:

I was fascinated by the idea that over time, and solely through the black and white squares of a crossword, a solver could develop a relationship with a setter. I am not what you might call a crossword person but there was a human aspect to this very unusual way of letting his solvers know what was going on that I felt needed exploring. I went to Somersham to see John and after two minutes, I knew that I needed to make this film.

We've looked here before at how crosswords are portrayed on screen, and the challenges of conveying an internal, quiet world in film. Matt says, teasingly, that ...

... boundaries and restrictions can so often prove to be the catalyst for new and unexpected approaches. This has very much been the case with Araucaria. I won't say too much but I will say that I am extremely excited about the approach that we're taking in making the film.

Finally, as David McKie reminded us last year: "John's life ranged far wider than crosswords." Matt says:

When I started the project, I listened to John's brilliant Desert Island Discs. It is absolutely fascinating listening. After speaking to him, it was clear very quickly that the film should be something more than biographical. It's informed by his upbringing, his faith and his approach to writing crosswords but it is not an informational film. The way I like to look at it is that it is a portrait of a person at a very particular moment in his life.

If you're interested in taking part in the film, Pulse is looking for fans of Araucaria who are willing to be filmed while solving. The recording will be in the south of England some time between 16 and 19 August and you are invited to send an email to francesca.boyce@pulsefilms.co.uk with a photograph of yourself and your name, location and availability.

• Araucaria speaks!

• Crossword blog on Araucaria's announcement

• The A to Z of Araucaria

• That 'Lord Archer' clue