Projects in categories: Fiction

Synopsis

A young Japanese man, who is living in self-inflicted isolation, meets an old man who is waiting for his death. They develop a silent friendship.

Synopsis

Based on Jonathan Coe's novel Dwarves Of Death, Five Seconds To Spare is the story of William (Max Beesley), a young aspiring musician who arrives in London in search of success and romance, only to find himself the sole witness to a bizarre murder. The film marks the feature film debut of award-winning commercials director Tom Connolly and is produced by Amanda Posey, who says she optioned the rights to the book in 1995, because of its "vividly cinematic premise". Coe wrote a number of drafts for Five Seconds To Spare before Connolly, also a screenwriter, came on board as director and re-wrote the final draft. "Tom had a very strong, coherent and complete vision of both what he wanted to do with the script to give it a visual vibrancy, and how that translated into shooting it as a director," says Posey. Despite his experience as a musician, Beesley, who hit the spotlight with his performance as the BBC's Tom Jones, was not at first an obvious choice for the part of William. "Max is magnetic and confident, in complete contrast to the character of William," says Posey. "But he worked because he counteracted any possibility of William seeming drippy." Music plays an integral part in the film, which boasts an original score by Ben Pope and even features a cameo by Radio One DJ John Peel. Five Seconds To Spare premiered at the Greenwich Film Festival in June.

Synopsis

Woven in with a constantly surprising and colourful thriller plot, Five Seconds to Spare is the witty and poignantly observed story of William, a young aspiring musician who pins his hopes in London, the dream city which will bring him rock 'n' roll success and true romance. Only trouble is, in reality, William's life is beset with frustration: his witless band seem intent upon turning his dark, heartfelt songs into commercial pop; the coolly desirable Madeleine hangs out of reach and even catching a bus on a Sunday seems a hopeless act of faith. Things could hardly get any worse, but they do - when he becomes the only witness to a bizarre murder.

Synopsis

Two inner-city policeman are on a stakeout, but how far are they willing to go to get their man?

Synopsis

A family implodes. Penelope is rich, beautiful and unhappy. Her marriage is cracking and her relationship with her daughter is strained. A weekend with friends spells disaster when an extra guest appears.

Synopsis

Following is a wickedly clever story of how a young man's obsession with following people leads him into a dark underworld. Bill, the unlikely hero, is a marginalized but intriguing Everyman who follows strangers at random on the street. When Cobb a man Bill has been following, catches him in the act, Bill is drawn into Cobb's world of breaking into flats and prying into the personal lives of their victims. In Cobb, Bill finds a strange companionship, part mentor, part confessor and part evil twin. With an ingenious structure that involves flashforwards and doubling back, the film test and teases our knowledge and understanding just as it leads its hero into deeper and darker waters. This first feature heralds, in Christopher Nolan, a promising new talent to the indie film scene.

Synopsis

Hannah is a streetwise pickpocket, but a cruel turn of fortune teaches her a harsh lesson.

Synopsis

Every little boy's dream of becoming a football star.

Synopsis

1974, Alan Riply (Joseph Fiennes), a young idealistic 23 year old, works as a beach boy at an exclusive Miami resort. There he dreams of one day owning his own Hotel but resists the temptations and short cut to riches taken by his peers by dealing in drugs and working in the underworld. Alan meets the recently married Ella (Gretchen Mol), the young wife of middle-aged and ruthless New York businessman Mark Brice, with whom she is on vacation. Alan falls deeply in love with Ella and against her instincts and knowing it's wrong to do so, she starts a passionate affair with him. Aware the liaison is doomed, Ella determines to finish it at the end of her trip but Alan will not be thwarted and follows her back to New York. There, he continues to court her but when Ella loses her nerve and confesses all to Brice he becomes mad with rage and takes swift and vicious retribution. He frames Alan in a drugs raid and subsequently visits him in prison and on hearing Alan remaining defiant and still refusing to stay away from Ella, attempts to have him killed by other inmates during a routine prison transfer. Although, unknown to Brice that his action has failed, Alan is left permanently scarred, both physically and emotionally. He retreats to Florida to begin a healing process which will take years but never forgets his love for Ella nor forgives her husband. He also changes, literally, into a new man and after thirteen years certainly not the one recognisable as the young beach boy in Florida. 1987, in the intervening time Alan has become successful and formidable in his own right with his own dubious connections. At last he goes back to New York with a new identity, 'Manuel Esquema', to claim his lost love. He returns to find Brice has huge legal and political problems and not recognising Alan, is desperate for help. He has no idea that Alan has come back to gain revenge and reclaim the lost love of his life . . .

Synopsis

A dad-of-four marries his foster daughter. Two people cross moral boundaries when falling in love. The film goes behind closed doors to hear the candid confessions of the betrayers and the betrayed. This is a sensitive and serious approach towards a story that was trivialised and stereotyped by the British tabloid press.

Synopsis

Forgive And Forget is a the story of David (Steve John Shepherd), a builder, and Theo (John Simm), a student, who have been friends since childhood. When Theo's relationship with his new girlfriend Hannah (Laura Fraser) begins to develop into something serious, David's world begins to unravel as he is forced to confront his sexual identity and admit to desires and longings that have long been kept hidden. He becomes obsessed by confessional day-time chat shows and decides that appearing on one is the only way he can resolve his emotional problems. The film marks the television debut of writer Mark Burt, who wrote it as his graduation piece from the Northern School of Film and Television. It was picked up by producer Simon Passmore and director Aisling Walsh. Passmore describes the piece as "emotional, raw and powerful. I think it is a drama for the eve of 2000. It is a story of betrayal, confusion and denial but at the root it is all about love. It's a love triangle with a twist. Each of the three major characters has their own journey and totally different characters emerge at the end." Filmed in and around London in June last year, Forgive And Forget is one of those rare films made for television that find success on the festival circuit. It premiered at the London Film Festival last year, was transmitted in the UK in January and has subsequently been screened at several international festivals including the San Francisco Gay And Lesbian Festival.

Synopsis

Forgotten Pilots celebrates the achievements and passion for flying of the women who were ferry pilots during World War II. They transported all types of aircraft, often in hazardous conditions, from factories to squadrons for Britain's Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA).