Two local writers were thrilled to see their scripts transformed into short films with a special preview screening at The Harbour Lights Picturehouse, Southampton.
In 2021 Film Expo South, launched a global scriptwriting competition with ‘blind’ judging and received many entries from around the world. However, they were delighted to discover that the two winning scripts were both by local writers from the South of England.
Steve Langridge from Farnham was winner of the gold award, with Playing Away, a heart-warming and bittersweet film about recapturing romance after many years of marriage. It was directed by A.D. Cooper and starred Derek Griffiths (Coronation Street) and Rowena Bentley (Eat the Rich).
Steve was over the moon to see his film on the big screen. He said: “The entire process has been inspirational from start to finish. I’ve watched extremely talented and committed people giving up their time, to produce and film a story that had lived in my head for the past ten years, and only came into being due to a badly-built sandcastle.”
Director A.D. Cooper has directed a slate of short award winning films and longer theatre pieces. She was keen to direct Steve’s script and said: “It was such a charming story I couldn’t resist“.
The silver award went to Southsea’s Carol Younghusband whose script ANNIE PANNIE which is about a disturbed girl seeking revenge. It was produced and directed by New Forest based Director and Producer Deanna Dewey and starred Georgia Henshaw (Waterloo Road) and Nick Bartlett (Gangs of New York).
Carol said: “It’s always a huge thrill to have so many talented people work on your idea to bring it to life and I know how much work and effort has gone into the making of ANNIE PANNIE so a big thank you to the Director, Deanna Dewey, and all the talented cast and crew. It was great to see it come to life on the big screen!”
Film Expo South was launched in 2016 by Gillian Tully, based in Southampton, it’s aim is to help professionals and students connect, develop and work within the Film Industry and build a self-sustainable Film Office model to help showcase the skills and talent across the film industry in the South and is now building an ongoing Film Funding Pot to reinvest in the local community talent.
Gillian, who was overwhelmed with the amount of support that the competition received, said: “Crew from the Dorset and Hampshire Film Office came together to support the script competition winner and Alumni and students from Bournemouth, AUB, Solent and Portsmouth Universities joined the teams for on set experience.
Asked if Film Expo South would be launching another short film competition in the future, Gillian added: “Working on it already.”
The support was extensive and included:
Score by Matt Black of Hangover Hill in Dorset; Casting by Mandy Steele Casting Director in London with casting support from Hashtag Talent Agency in Dorset and Shine Performing Arts in Hampshire; ON SET CATERING from Dorset supplied the food; Emily Claydon a Solent University Graphics student created the winner’s poster; Editing by Tenerife Film Production with a base in Tenerife and New Forest and Gary Tobyn Editing in London; Charlie Forshaw on Make Up based in Dorset; Performance Film and Media from Surrey donating the film insurance; Norman Court near Salisbury providing the main film location…