Project Detail

Five Seconds to Spare

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.

Details

Year: 2000
Type of film: Features
Director: Tom Connolly
Music: Ben Pope.
Dir: Tom Connolly. 1999. 35mm. 102mins. Exec prods: Nik Powell, Stephen Woolley, Peter Fudakowski. Prod: Amanda Posey. Scr: Jonathan Coe, Tom Connolly. DoP: Ashley Rowe. Prod des: Mark Tildesley. Ed: Caroline Biggerstaff. Main cast: Max Beesley, Ray Winstone, Anastasia Hille, Valentina Cervi, Andy Serkis. Budget: $5m. Funding: Matrix Films, Arts Council of England, Advanced, BBC, WavePictures.

Production Status

Complete

Production Company

SCALA/WILDGAZE FILMS 15 Frith Street London W1V 5TS Tel: (44) 20 7734 7060 Fax: (44) 20 7437 3248.

Sales Company

Winchester Films (44) 20 7851 6500 Territories sold: Eastern Europe, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, South Africa.

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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.

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