Projects in genres: Comedy

Synopsis

Shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, Viola finds herself in the midst of a fairytale. Shot entirely on location in the Greek islands, this jazz-age take on Shakespeare is a laugh-out-loud portrayal of romance at its most chaotic. It follows Viola’s strange and often hilarious encounters with the inhabitants of Illyria, and her struggle to survive in an unknown and bewildering country. An unrepentant dreamer, she finds happiness by retreating into her imagination – only to discover that, in Illyria, fantasy can turn into reality overnight. But if everyone’s dreams can change the world, then you’d better hope that no-one starts dreaming about you – especially not Illyria’s love-struck Countess, who’s hell-bent on getting her happy ending - A tribute to imagination, friendship, and imaginary friends, Twelfth Night’s laughter is tempered with a touch of melancholy, and another of wonder. ‘Just for once, you should believe the hype’ (BBC Radio). Dream on.

Synopsis

Christmas morning. The Tompkinson family’s peace is shattered by the arrival of narrow-minded Uncle Douglas. Michael and Sarah Tompkinson’s only solace is that Douglas’s wife Pat has proved to be an invaluable shoulder to cry on for their father Barry, and they appear to be growing closer by the day.

Synopsis

Future Legend has made several fictional films covering a range of genres. Always setting themselves high standards, their emphasis has been to produce high quality short films with a clear narrative, strong characters and wry humour.
 
In their latest production, ‘Up The Hill Backwards’, Future Legend has emulated what you might categorise as the classic European film style. The Director Richard Mann has followed his cinematic influences, such as Jacques Tati, Laurel & Hardy and the Ealing Comedies, to produce a highly stylised and distinctive film.
 
Set in a lively and energetic café ‘Up the Hill Backwards’ follows the mishaps of our hero, Charlie (played by Richard Mann). Charlie has just moved to town and is enjoying the active café culture when he catches the eye of Nadine (Beccy Killgariff). Stopping him in his tracks she hands Charlie her number with the intention of meeting for a date.
 
However, Nadine realises that Charlie isn’t all he is cracked up to be.

Synopsis

There’s nothing special about Pamela Plagely: her husband doesn’t understand her, her son is doing time for dealing skunk and her doctor wants to fill her up with chemicals.

But she’s not having any of it.

With a little cross-cultural communication Pamela discovers the remarkable medicinal properties of yam and begins to take an interest in promoting her own well-being.

But Pamlela’s alternative health choices attract unexpected attention. Events sweep her out of her predictable daily routine and into public view, where the media machine is waiting.

Synopsis

A conversational comedy that delivers testimonies of four very different characters, each of whom have a room to let

Synopsis

When Dan gets home from the Gym, there's no sign of his wife. The phone rings. An ominous voice tells him that if he wants to see his wife again, he will have to deliver £10,000 to the kidnapper within the hour. But for Dan, collecting the cash and making the ransom drop turn out not to be as straight forward as he might hope, in what turns out to be a slightly surreal black comedy.

Synopsis

Commissioned as part of the 2003 S4C Short Shorts strand, Griffilms' short, A Frog's Life, takes a humourous look at the life of a frog from birth to adulthood.

Synopsis

Based on the Oscar Wilde play entitled Lady Windermere's Fan, A Good Woman is a scandalous but comic drama set in New York and the Amalfi coast during the 1930s. Mrs Erlynne is an audacious and well known woman of a certain age with a reputation for entertaining wealthy, married men. Leaving her problems and unpaid bills in New York, she sets sail for the Amalfi Coast to pursue Meg and Robert Windermere, one of the most high profile couples in 1930s New York society. Once in Europe, she becomes embroiled in a family scandal which becomes an intriguing story of betrayal, and, ultimately, surprising loyalty.

Synopsis

My Mum's a Morris dancing vicar. Her Morris dancing friends are a diverse bunch, an opera singer, a long distance lorry driver and an engineer, united by this odd English tradition. By day they hold down responsible jobs, by night they dress in eccentric disguise and dance a strange jig.

Synopsis

Anna Spud is not a happy little girl.

Synopsis

A naive young poet pays a visit to his intemperate mentor, with surprising and amusing results.

Synopsis

Julia Lambert is a celebrated and glamorous actress, famous throughout England and happily married for years to her agent, Michael. But underneath the artifice, she is tortured by her fading looks, her philandering husband and her estranged son. When she meets Tom, a young American fan, she is swept off her feet, and embarks on a secret and passionate affair which threatens to create a social scandal that could destroy her career and marriage; until she discovers he has had an ulterior motive all along. There is no way that Julia Lambert is going to be taken for a fool, and she plans her revenge, the ultimate act of a woman scorned.