Projects in categories: Fiction

Synopsis

Set in pre-World War II London, Mrs Henderson Presents tells the remarkable true-life story of one of England's most prominent and eccentric society figures, Laura Henderson, who founded the historic Windmill Theatre.
 
Driven by the desire to win back the dwindling music hall audiences who had been lured away by the advent of 'talking pictures', this charming lady and veritable force of nature was aided by equally formidable and tenacious theatre manager Vivian Van Damm, as she set about her task with the kind of vigour and determination which belied her advanced years.
 
This wonderfully argumentative pair were complete opposites, but their extraordinary partnership proved fruitful when Mrs Henderson's influence in society enabled her to take advantage of a legal loophole which permitted the theatre to show entirely nude models on stage - provided they didn't move a muscle. From here it was an easy step to the 'Nude Revue,' a musical extravaganza which became a roaring success and cemented the Windmill Theatre's reputation and place in history.

Synopsis

Unfortunately the rest of the world often forms its opinions of the US and its citizenry based on Hollywood, events at the White House and the archetypal American Tourist. Using a global and popular perspective, Mullets and Bars maintains a positive and humorous narrative as it builds a profile of the real America - playing to, yet debunking, many of the global myths and misconceptions of American stereotypes along the way.

Just how misguided is the rest of the world when it comes to the American Stereotype? And what does the rest of the world make of America's world leading capitalist exports, go-getting economic tourists in loud shirts and gung-ho business people? 

Interviews with Americans are intercut with the local opinions of stand-up comedians, Canadians, passers-by, historians and anti-globalists in order to create a degree of levity between the opposing views while keeping a balanced perspective.  No stone is left unturned as we dissect and discuss all aspects of US culture: the films, television, food, music, hairstyles, oversized cars and the ideal behind the proclamation of truth, justice and the American way of life. 

You'll laugh, you'll scream, but you'll have to agree: 'Americans - don't we just love them...'

Synopsis

Jacob, a journalist in his thirties, is coming to terms with his sister Julie's attempted suicide; she is now seriously disabled and wheelchair bound. Jacob feels somehow responsible.
 
Meanwhile, Julie has struck up a romance on the internet with the slightly odd yet seemingly decent and kind Anker. The couple soon announce their intention to marry.
 
After some initial doubts, Jacob accepts Anker as part of his sister's life, pleased that Julie has managed to find some kind of happiness.
 
Jacob's girlfriend Nina has been struggling for sometime to keep their relationship afloat and the fact that Jacob is now feeling better about himself gives her cause for renewed hope.
 
But on her wedding night Julie commits suicide and the family is devastated. Months later, still haunted by the grief and armed with suspicions about the true circumstances of Julie's death, Jacob tracks down Anker to the village of Murk, an apparently peacful yet desolate spot in provincial Denmark. Here Jacob discovers that Anker is about to marry Hanne, another disabled woman.
 
Murk's silent streets, filled with eerie empty houses and run-down hotels, gradually undermine Jacob's grip on reality. The people of Murk see him as an intruder not to be taken seriously. Alone and frustrated, Jacob tries to discover the truth about his sister's death.

Synopsis

Children have many wishes, some of these are especially great ones. Marietta has just the one - she wants a dog. Her parents are not keen. Especially as they have their four year old son Tobias to look after too.
 
For years Marietta pestered her parents, but to no avail. But then, on her tenth birthday she gets a magic stone from a child the family is sponsoring in Africa. Alledgedly it can fulfill a person's greatest wish.
 
One day, Marietta sits on her bed with the magic stone in her hand and wishes as hard for a dog as never before - she would give anything in exchange. A minute later the most amazing thing has happened: the sweetest dog in the world is sitting outside her door. Marietta is delighted and wants to show her brother the miracle, but he seems to have disappeared.
 
After searching frantically without success Marietta suddenly discovers a mole on the dog's stomach,  just where Tobias has one.

Synopsis

As father of seven of the naughtiest children in the world, Mr. Brown has lost control. Seventeen nannies have been driven away and he has lost all hope of ever finding another. But then, one day, a mysterious and magical figure turns up at the door. Her name is Nanny McPhee. With her bizarre looks and special powers, it seems that the Brown children may finally have found their match.

Synopsis

Jed and Chloe, in their early 20s, live a very simple life in the city. They love each other, find happiness in the smallest things and plan to get married.
 
One day the death of Chloe's cat triggers an inconsolable sadness and deep confusion for both Jed and Chloe. Chloe's tears keep her home but Jed begins a fruitless search for the meaning of life, hoping he can bring back Chole's smile. Alone at night he sees a tramp, Max, on TV whom he believes may hold the key. Jed visits him in the city dump. The awkward duo start a journey that unexpectedly brings new hope to both men and Chloe.
 

Synopsis

Nine Days of Hell is a pulp film following two policemen in their hunt for a serial killer in London. Following the death of an investor, detectives Galloway and Kahn look into the investment bank Bernstein and Shah. Bicker, a manager there, wants to end the murderous way of life he has been living with his PA and fellow cohort in murder Antinori. But she doesn't want to let go and lures Bicker into killing again. As the detectives are getting closer to Bicker, he kills detective Kahn - setting up Antinori with the murder. The film climaxes in a Timecode-style finale shot in real time using four cameras to follow the key protagonists, Bicker, Antinori, Galloway and Van Doon, to the showdown.

Synopsis

James feels an itch, then a scratch, then a nip. He has nits. But for a seven year old, there are some things even more worrying than hair lice. When his parents return from the hospital James learns that grown-ups can sort out the nits, but there are some things they can't explain so easily.
 

Synopsis

Northern soul tells the story of Mark Sherbet. A lonely young man who is obsessed with American wrestling. His dream is to become a professional wrestler and compete against his hero’s in the WWE. There’s only one problem, he weighs nine stone and has the pain threshold of a two year old child.

We begin our story with Mark in his tiny bedsit. His room is a shrine to the WWE. Stone Cold Steve Austin Bedspread and Curtains. ‘The Rock’ Wallpaper and Hollywood Hulk Hogan dinner service for one. The shelves display over 300 wrestling figures, ostentatious replica belts and many other items of WWE paraphernalia collected over the last 20 years.

From the solitude of his bedsit he talks of his ambition to become WWE champion. Everything has been planned down to the finest detail.
His wrestling name - “The Purple Salamander”
His special wrestling moves - “The Checkerboard and How d’ya like them apples”.

Estimated time until champion - “One year”.

We chart the highs and lows of Mark’s journey around the wrestling halls of Great Britain, as he tries to launch the career of ‘The Purple Salamander.” Although he is ridiculed and suffers many physical injuries, his endless sense of hope, and undying enthusiasm for the sport is hugely endearing.

Although the world of wrestling may never know his name, Mark ‘Salamander’ Sherbet deserves his chance to fail. This film is dedicated to all of those who chase implausible dreams.

Synopsis

Steve describes how whenever he thought of Saddam Hussein he thought that he was contributing to the conflict in the Gulf. Walking, talking, eating, and drinking - all these actions had to be completed in the absence of an intrusive thought about Saddam, otherwise he would have to repeat the action again and again and again. A rare glimps into the struggle for those faced with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Synopsis

"Street kids are hard to rehabilitate.

They are used to their freedom, they behave the way they want. They smoke and take drugs. The street is the only life they know... So it's very difficult to tell these kids what to do."
 
Shot on the streets of Dakar, Senegal.

Synopsis

Set in 1848, Oliver Twist is the story of an orphan, born in a workhouse and brought up in harsh and cruel conditions, half-starved by the corrupt parish authorities. He is unlucky enough to be chosen to ask for more gruel and is immediately found employment in an undertaker’s establishment where he is treated quite as badly as he was in the workhouse. He escapes and makes his way to London where he falls in with the Artful Dodger, a boy of his own age, who introduces him to the villainous Fagin. Fagin runs a gang of boys who are pickpockets and thieves, and whose associates are Bill Sykes, a violent criminal, and his girlfriend, Nancy.
 
Oliver is caught up in a series of misadventures in which he is wrongly accused of thieving, is taken in by Mr Brownlow, a kindly benefactor, and is recaptured by Fagin. Forced to take part in a robbery with Bill Sykes, Oliver is saved by the humanity of Nancy who betrays her former friends. Bill Sykes murders her and is himself eventually trapped but dies before he can be arrested. Oliver is taken in by Mr Brownlow and given the promise of a better life.