Verve Pictures presents

Transcription

1 Verve Pictures presents CRAIG ROBERTS STARRING CHARLOTTE RITCHIE 80 MINS / COLOUR / 2013 / CERT TBC IN CINEMAS JUNE 6 For all publicity enquiries please contact Caroline Henshaw Rabbit Publicity caroline@rabbitpublicity.com For publicity materials please visit

2 SYNOPSIS Jamie Adams feature debut stars Craig Roberts (Submarine) and Charlotte Ritchie (Fresh Meat) as an up and coming folk duo. 19 year old Jolene is having trouble convincing her writing partner Benny to become more commercial. Too many industry types get involved, leaving Jolene feeling dazed and confused and Benny marginalised. Now they are on a crowded tour busy on their way to a festival in the most beautiful, yet remote, location - forcing them to confront their ambitions and emotions for the first time. Can they both get back to where they once belonged, and move forward together, or will all be lost in the noise and confusion? An introduction to the production Inspired by the American Independent movies of the Duplass Brothers, Kate Asleton, Drake Doremus and Daryl Wein, I wrote a ten page outline which alluded to the structure of the story and where each of the characters figured within that story. I then approached anyone and everyone I knew who might be interested in funding a low budget movie During a recession this was always going to be a difficult task, however I never once thought that it might not happen, I had set the dates for the production and had agreed these dates with Charlotte Ritchie, our lead actress, so that was that, it was meant to be and thank God a few days before I was preparing myself to push back the shoot several months, the guardian angel that is Jon Rennie, our Exec Producer/ Producer, stepped up and captained the ship. I reached out to the actors I really wanted to be involved, actors that had already shown true talent, not just a clear sense of comedy acting but actors that embraced responsibility. Again it really was meant to be as Charlotte agreed to be at the heart of the movie and this led to comedians Tom Rosenthal, Nick Mohammed, and Ian Smith coming on board, followed by the instinctive comedic talent Rosamund Hanson, and a week or so later local hero Craig Roberts jump aboard. I believe that they were all excited and intrigued by the premise the thrill that comes with being a part of something new, or at least a part of something that very rarely has happened/ will ever happen the thrill of Jumping off into the unknown.

3 CAST CRAIG ROBERTS as BENNY In 2010 Roberts had world--wide success playing the teenage lead role in Submarine, directed by Richard Ayoade and also starring Paddy Considine and Yasmin Paige. Since then Roberts has appeared in the BBC hit television show, Being Human (2011) and the on--line spin--off series, Becoming Human (2011) as Adam. Over the past few years Craig has acted alongside Robert De Niro and Sigourney Weaver in Red Lights (2011), starred in UK Indie Comes a Bright Day (2012, and been directed by Tim Burton in a Killers music video. He is now about to star in The Double (4th April 2014) with Jesse Eisenberg, Bad Neighbors (9th May 2014) with Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, and Rose Byrne; and 22 Jump Street (6th June 2014) with Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. AWARDS Bafta Cymru Awards, 2012, Best Actor for Submarine (2010) British Independent Film Awards, 2011, Nominated, British Independent Film Award, Most Promising Newcomer for Submarine (2010). Empire Awards, 2012, Nominated, Empire Award, Best Male Newcomer for Submarine (2010). London Critics Circle Film Awards,2012, Won, ALFS Award, Young British Performer of the Year for Submarine (2010).

4 CHARLOTTE RITCHIE as JOLENE Charlotte first caught the eye in short film The Open Doors with Michael Sheen and went on to play Emily Owen in the much loved BBC ONE sitcom Life of Riley. In 2011, Charlotte began starring as Oregon in the Channel 4 comedy series Fresh Meat, which has gone on to become a huge award winning success. From the creators of Peep Show, Fresh Meat (now in its third season) is the highest rated comedy show on British Television, and Charlotte s performance as Oregon, one of the six leads in the ensemble cast, is receiving rave reviews. She is currently filming a new BBC Three series, Siblings, alongside Tom Stourton. She is a multi talented creative who has an amazing voice, which has been noted by Classical fans during her time in classical all girl group All Angels who became the fastest selling classical act in the UK in She has recently formed a folkduo with her brother, Luke Ritchie, releasing their first single Hammerite as a free download. They will be performing in Bethnal Green on January 30th. In Benny and Jolene Charlotte Ritchie brings her voice along for the ride as the head strong, charming, and idiosyncratic Jolene.

5 ROSAMUND HANSON as NADIA Rosmand landed the role of Smell in Shane Meadows award winning 2006 film This Is England. In 2010, she reprised this role in the television sequel This Is England 86 appearing in all four episodes in the series. Her latest television appearance was in season eight of British drama series Shameless. In 2011, she appeared in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant s television comedy series Life s Too Short playing Cheryl, Warwick Davis secretary to rave reviews both in the UK and USA. TOM ROSENTHAL as TOMMY Tom won several comedy awards before turning to comic acting as a lead in Channel 4 s Rose D or winning sitcom Friday Night Dinner. His recent first series of BBC comedy Plebs won New Sitcom Award at December's British Comedy Awards. He is now filming a second series of Plebs, and has filmed a third series of Friday Night Dinner. DOLLY WELLS as ROSAMUND (JOLENE S BIOLOGICAL MUM) Dolly has produced, written and starred in her very own comedy series for Sky TV, starting February, called Doll and Em co written with Emily Mortimer and directed by US Indie Director Azazel Jacobs. As well as starring in award winning Sky TV show Spy, Channel 4 s Campus and will always be remembered for her many comic impersonations in Star Stories.

6 CREW JAMIE ADAMS WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/EDITOR Jamie Adams is a thirty-two-year-old Writer/Director living on the South coast of Wales, who studied under Gideon Koppel (Sleep Furiously, 2009) at Royal Holloway University of London; graduating with festival favourite Chopping Wood (2001). He developed his Film practice within the Camera Department on BBC Drama Outside the rules/into the void and Feature film Plots with a View (Dir. Nick Hurran) before moving into the Cutting room as first assistant editor on Carrie s War (2003, BBC Wales), Dr Who Series 1(2005, BBC Wales), The Things I Haven t Told You (2007, BBC 3), I Know you Know (2010, Parallax East Films) and State of Play (2009, Universal Pictures). In 2010 Jamie returned to the director s chair with acclaimed web series All Shook Up! starring Tom Cullen (Weekend, Desert Dancer) Brian Hibbard (Twin Town), Siwan Morris (The Machine, Skins) and Alex Vlahos (Merlin) about an ageing actor, Brian Hibbard, looking to make extra cash as the best Elvis Tribute Act in the World. Praise for All Shook Up! Congratulations on your excellent work! (Jesse Armstrong -- Writer, Peep Show, Fresh Meat, Four Lions, In The Loop) Congrats!! Loving the Norman Leslie Character! Tristram Shapeero (Director Community, Parks and Recreation, Alan Partridge, Pulling, Smack The Pony) Really nicely observed and executed -- spoof documentaries that look like documentaries don t happen very often and it looks like it s just happened with this. A Very funny show. Matthew Gravelle (Actor Patagonia)... it looks absolutely great -- brilliant performances and it looks gorgeous!...top quality work. Alice Lowe (Actress Sightseers, Hot Fuzz) Recognising the need to keep moving forward, or risk becoming a dead shark, Jamie forged a writing threesome with Comedian Ian Smith and Cambridge Footlights star Ben Ashenden. The result was a story about a dying Table Football Club which needed to come together and fight to save their Official League Status

7 securing the future of their club. Back of the Net! was shot over two days under the stewardship of In The Loop alumni Greg Duffield on DoP duties, and once again starred a plethora of comedy talent; including Bafta Award winning Nia Roberts (Patagonia), Boyd Clack (Pirates of the Carribean), Keiron Self (My Family, BBC One). Back of the Net! received its premiere screening in London in December 2011 and then in Cardiff and Birmingham over the next few days. After much talk about developing it into a TV show, Jamie put it online and was once again praised for his ensemble work, and his natural rhythm for improvisation and for having a developing, distinctive, voice as a comedy film maker. The most memorable praise came from Fresh Meat actress Charlotte Ritchie. This of course led to a January meeting at the Tate Modern and a promise that they would make a movie together that Summer. Jamie wrote the outline, developed the central character with Charlotte, and raised the funds; If you build it, they will come I did, and they did! is supported by Barry Mendel (Bridesmaids, This is 40 Producer), Drake Doremus (Douchebag, Like Crazy Writer/Director), Daryl Wein (Breaking Upwards, Lola Versus Writer/Director), Jesse Armstrong (Four Lions, In The Loop, Fresh Meat Writer/ Producer) and many more. DIRECTOR S STATEMENT Benny & Jolene is a relation to the movies of the American Independent scene such as the work of Drake Doremus, the Duplass Brothers and Joe Swanberg via the British sensibilities of Shane Meadows more comedic work and the organic natured and character based relationship movies of Debbie Issit and Mike Leigh. Shot over five days (for very little money) across the M4 and A470 Benny & Jolene picks up the gauntlet laid down by Meadows' 'Le Donk & Skorzayzee' and Build upon that platform to create a modern love story... In a way. Benny & Jolene is not a mockumentary but a relationship comedy that tells the tale of two teenagers trying to get to grips with 'love' in such a polarised and heightened moment in their lives.

8 RYAN OWEN DIRECTOR of PHOTOGRAPHY Ryan has recently shot Gruff Rhys (Singer/Songwriter with the Super Furry Animals) latest feature documentary American Interior, along with several web series for BBC ONE. ANDY LOVEGROVE COMPOSER Andy Lovegrove is the lead vocalist with EMI s chart topping supergroup BREAKS CO-OP with Zane Lowe (BBC Radio One) and Hamish Clark. Andy has been busy working on his next solo album but took time out to create several instrumentals for Jolene. Original & Recorded Music From: Los Little Mouth Tom Bromley & Gareth Seapony Gruff Rhys Avi Buffalo With You Gyrru, Gyrru, Truth Sets In Seapony, Subpop Records Gruff Rhys, Rough Trade Avi Buffalo, Subpop