Projects in genres: Drama

Synopsis

Chris, a cocky young traveller in Africa, loses his passport in an altercation with the police, and has to stow away on The Gull, a cargo ship bound for Marseilles to get home. On board, he quickly discovers that The Gull is no ordinary vessel, and that its crew - led by the enigmatic, haunted Captain Brookes - harbours a terrible secret. Chris hides and watches, increasingly disturbed by what he witnesses. Discovered, he fears for his life, but is reprieved by Brookes who – drawn by the young man's naivete and spirit - offers him his protection. Both compelled and repelled by the Captain, Chris accepts reluctantly, and is set to work in the kitchen with Baptist, the cook. Tensions rise amongst the volatile sailors, and despite himself, Chris is trapped in their desperate, deadly pact. When crew members begin disappearing, it becomes apparent that he is not the only stranger on board. As paranoia mounts, as the remaining crew grow increasingly violent, and as Brookes' precarious mask of sanity begins to slip, Chris is forced into a lethal game of cat and mouse, faced with the unbearable choice between fighting for survival at all costs, or following his conscience and risking his life. What's in the hold?

Synopsis

The incredible true story of how an orphaned Jamaican baby, adopted by an elderly white couple and brought up in an all white area of London, became one of the most feared and respected men in Britain. Cass grew up in a time before political correctness and was forced to endure racist bullying on a daily basis, until one day when the years of pent up anger came out in a violent burst. Cass found through violence the respect he never had and became addicted to the buzz of fighting. His way of life finally caught up with him when an attempted assassination on his life, saw him shot three times at point blank range. His inner strength somehow managed to keep him alive but he was left with a dilemma; whether to seek vengeance as the street had taught him, or renounce his violent past. This is the extraordinary story of his life.

Synopsis

'Cassandra’s Dream is the story of two brothers, their problems (blind ambition and compulsive gambling), their family, their women, their romance, passion and their chasing of dreams which end in terrible tragedy. It is a movie of the same type as Match Point set in contemporary London and it’s environs and full of suspense and tension. In this case the brothers are working class and brilliantly acted by Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell. Tom Wilkinson also appears as he's never been seen before and Sally Hawkins plays Colin's loving, terrified fiancée, while Hayley Atwell plays the ravishing, unattainable love/sex object of Ewan McGregor. The photography is by the brilliant Vilmos Zsigmond and the astonishing score by the great Philip Glass. A very powerful suspense drama,' (Woody Allen).

Synopsis

Locked, bound and chained, a 7ft tall ominous crate arrives at the house of an unsuspecting family, mistakenly delivered to the residence. On the very same night a mysterious death occurs. They soon realise that a dark presence is held within and the family is torn apart. A young man's only option is to confront the entity before the sun sets and the evil rises to kill again.

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A class of teenage schoolboys are oblivious to their teacher’s attempts to question them about the wider world. But they are about to have a lesson they will never forget and one that will change their lives forever.

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A young westernised South Asian doctor visits an elderly Indian woman and soon discovers the immense healing power of storytelling and belief.

Synopsis

Jim's throwing watermelons off his office roof, testing the effect for a possible suicide. But then there is Sammy on an adjacent roof about to jump herself. Together they set off searching for other ways out than down. Sammy's ex-boyfriend, Dean, an artist struggling with his creativity, needs a muse - and who better than Gina, the experimental prostitute with dodgy legs who lives upstairs. However, Dean soon finds out that Gina never does anything for free. Sexually confused Olly is forced to look after his deaf-mute brother Chris for the day. Not only does Chris have gay feelings too, but is more comfortable with them than he is. They embark on a searing quest through Soho's gay community to help Chris loose his virginity. No-one has more to hide than oldest brother Pete. He's being stalked by Carol, a timid old lady looking for her son - a guy Pete knew from his violent drug days. Fearfully Pete opens his frozen heart to Carol and they begin a treacherous journey to find her lost son. By the end, each lost soul finds a solution in darkness or in light.

Synopsis

An office worker discovers how easy it is to break free from his dull job, start a band and get the girl - realising his passion for music. Music video for the song by Common Rotation.

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Evaristo (12) and Luis Antonio (11), indigenous children from La Sierra Tarahumara in northwest Mexico, are sent to deliver a package to a far off community. After losing their horse they decide to part. Luis Antonio will look for the horse while Evaristo delivers the package. The trip becomes much longer than expected. On their journey they both discover sides of Tarahumara culture that was previously unknown to them and that hugely influences their lives.

Synopsis

Maria Del Conte, a 26-year-old attractive and intelligent banker has made a decision to take her life on her 27th birthday. Having had an unhappy and troubled childhood, she moved to London and carved out a successful career as an investment banker in European media investment. It is through one of her rich clients, geeky 22-year-old Bruce Day, that she is introduced to Michael - a small time film producer. Maria finds a renewed interest in life by her association with Michael, a charismatic and worldly man, slightly jaded by a life full of disappointment. He asks her out for coffee. After many refusals she finally agrees to meet. Maria doesn’t drink coffee - she orders herbal tea. They start to meet on a regular basis in front of a backdrop of guerrilla film making, young entrepreneurs Russian ‘trophy’ girlfriends, beef-cake actors and temperamental directors in a modern day, multi-cultural London.   We discover the truth behind Maria’s ‘birthday’ decision, the reason for Michael’s cynicism, Maria’s new passion for strong cappuccino and observe an unusual sexual and intimate chemistry develop between the two of them…more is never enough.

Synopsis

Control is the story of Ian Curtis, lead singer of the now-legendary band Joy Division, who killed himself at the age of 23. Ian is a complex character. Marrying at 17, his relationship with his wife Debbie is remarkable in its normalcy - a picture of the young Northern couple trying to create a life. Ian works in the Employment Exchange and Debbie is a homemaker. However, Ian's love of music and literature defines his life. We see the drive of the man, resulting in Joy Division's growing success. As the band's profile grows, Ian is diagnosed with epilepsy, leaving him unsure of himself and his future. While dedicated to his wife and baby daughter, Ian yearns for real compatibility. He finds this in the form of a bright young journalist. The ensuing conflict between responsibility and desire, coupled with the increasing responsibilities of the band and the toll of performance, renders Ian incapable of dealing with the world, and he chooses what for him seems the only way out.  

Synopsis

A would-be car thief finds the car of his dreams, but his bungled attempts at stealing it attract the attention of an eagle-eyed security guard who is determined to stop him.