A Good Spell - heads to Torino via Madrid

Our feature project 'A Good Spell' has been selected to take part in the prestigious Torino Film Lab. Taking place in Madrid during September 2021.

The film

A Good Spell is currently in development with BFI Network backed Short Circuit in Scotland

Set in 1970s Glasgow, this film tells the story of 13 year old Charlie Adair - a bullied effeminate outcast, who prefers dancing to Kate Bush over playing football.

When his mother tells him he’s a witch, Charlie has to learn to find power in his own uniqueness.

'Bubblegum Boy' Maryhill 1970s - photograph used with permission of Douglas Corrance

The script is being written by BAFTA winning writer Michael Lee Richardson and will be produced by Bombito's Reece Cargan.

TFL Extended - Project Development - Feature Film

TFL Extended - Film was created for teams of international professionals, with projects at an early development stage who are willing to 'dive deep into the writing process through an intensive development workshop'.

Participants will have the rare opportunity to discuss their work in group sessions and one-to-one meetings with high profile tutors and to develop their projects with the help of a creative team of talented writers.

Writer - Michael Lee Richardson

A Good Spell is a story I’m really passionate about telling, and it’s in such a good place for the Lab.

I’m really excited to meet the tutors and the other participants, and to start putting some meat on the bones of this story.

I’m so grateful to Short Circuit and Screen Scotland for their support - I definitely wouldn’t have been able to attend the Lab without it.

Producer - Reece Cargan

Twenty five international projects were picked and we are excited to be one of them.

We can't wait to get started. Thanks to Screen Scotland and Short Circuit for their continued support.

More information

Find out more about Torino film lab.

In Her Corner wins the EIFF & Procam Take 2: Short Film Pitch.

We are delighted to announce that In Her Corner won the Short Film Pitch competition at this year's edition of Edinburgh International Film festival.

The details

Shooting later this year, the team will benefit from a £5,000 equipment hire voucher from leading cinematography rental facility Procam Take 2.

Procam Take 2 has an extensive equipment inventory, meaning the prize voucher can be used to hire cameras, lenses, lighting, monitors, grip, and audio equipment for our short film.

In Her Corner

Our short film is an adaptation of the play 'In her Corner' by Mikey Burnett which played to rave reviews at Edinburgh Fringe 2019. We’re delighted to be teaming up with Laura McBride of Lothian Films to co produce this project.

"Trainspotting Meets Rocky"

This amazing film comparison is how our latest project has been described. But imagine if Sylvester Stallone as Rocky was female, a teenager and living in Pilton, Edinburgh.

A teenage girl desperately fights to join her local boxing gym in order to escape a life of violent crime.

We are putting our twist on the urban working-class crime drama to tell a fast paced coming of age story about perseverance and self-belief.

The story

We’re taking the central premise from Mikey’s play and follow a teenage girl desperate to escape the gangs threatening her future by joining her local boxing gym. By delving deep into the central character’s perspective, we will be able to create a high-drama, self-contained short film.

We aim to explore a female-centred world that is rarely shown on screen using vibrant, realistic dialogue in North Edinburgh dialect reminiscent of Irvine Welsh.

"Piltons gonnae be a mere fitnote when they talk aboot aw the hings you're gonnae achieve."

This story tells the truth about the anger and desperation of vulnerable women living in a society that won’t accept them, fighting against everything for a better life.

Meet the team

L-R: Reece Cargan, Emma Ramsay and Laura McBride

Mikey Burnett - Writer

Mikey is one of the BBC Scottish Voices of 2020 and BBC Drama Writers Room 2020. He has adapted his stage play to screen with support from both BBC Writersroom and advice from industry mentors.

Mikey is an Edinburgh playwright who writes predominately in the east coast dialect. His past work comprises both drama and comedy. Focusing mainly on working class stories and characters. In Her Corner enjoyed a highly successful run at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019 and was later shortlisted for The Papatango new writing prize.

Previously, he has won an attachment to The Traverse Theatre, as part of the prestigious ‘Traverse fifty’.

Emma Ramsay - Director

Emma is a director with a strong track record in scripted development. Emma knows how to craft a story and has a strong visual style. Emma is currently working in-house at World Productions.

Laura McBride Producer (Lothian Films)

Laura is an Edinburgh based producer and founder of Lothian Films. Laura has produced award winning short films, including recently completed SCUZZ, written and directed by Alia Ghafar which was commissioned by BFI Network/Scottish Film Talent Network . Laura and Alia have a feature 'Yellow Moon' in development

Reece Cargan Producer (Bombito Productions)

Reece is a Glasgow based producer and founder of Bombito Productions.

Reece specialises in projects that discuss, provoke and reflect the current environment and societal issues. Reece has 2 features in development with Bombito Productions A Good Spell with BAFTA winning writer Michael Lee Richardson & Boifriend with writer director Jack Goessens.

Our thoughts on the short

Mikey and I are both passionate about boxing and are coincidentally from the same Edinburgh village (where some of the characters are drawn from) and we instantly found a creative connection. The addition of Reece and Laura who have connections in boxing and who champion working-class and LGBT stories via their own production companies, complete the team.

Emma Ramsay

Images

All images courtesy of Andrew Perry | www.andrewperry.co.uk

Prosopagnosia to screen at the Edinburgh International Film Festival

The latest documentary from writer, animator and illustrator Steven Fraser will premiere at the 74th edition of the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

The film

Steven's film uses expressive animation to investigate intimacy, communication and memory.

Prosopagnosia

Prosopagnosia means face-blindness and to understand this neurodiverse behaviour, the contents of a memory box are intricately explored.

Steven uses his sketchbooks, photographs and diaries to tell a unique, engaging and personal story.

View the trailer

Get tickets

• You can watch this film from 22 August and stay tuned for a Q&A with Steven and the filmmakers from Bridging the Gap.

• Get your tickets and watch online.

Further information

• Developed and supported by the Scottish Documentary Institute's highly acclaimed Bridging the Gap programme and Screen Scotland.

• Written, animated and edited by Steven Fraser

• Produced by Reece Cargan

• Composed, sound designed and mixed by Tom Drew

• Colourist: Jack Lang