Watching

SynopsisABOUT THE FILM

Josh sits alone in a café, happy watching the world go by. Even if that means denying his longing for the waitress, Annie. But when Carrick walks into his life the scene is set for an opportunity that could change Josh forever. Suddenly the ability to spot where truth lies, and lies begin, will make or break you in this edge-of-your-seat thriller.

Cast & Crew21.12.09

Watching developed out of a wager between Charlie, Christian and Nico. The gauntlet was whether or not Nico could write a short film in 5 days or else lose 500 pounds. Money, that is, not weight.

After these auspicious beginnings (Nico won his money back) the three gamblers set about getting a crew together. Max came on board as director, then Ben as producer, and from then on in, a crack team of accomplished, award-winning young professionals was assembled.

Playing an intense, darkly bewitching antagonist, Ian Hart added the final layer to the high-caliber of talent that makes Watching such an impressive short film.

Director: Max Myers

Max Myers is a graduate of the London Film School where he directed several highly-acclaimed shorts on 16 and 35mm. He is currently signed to the production house Annex Films as a music video and commercials director.
Max was short-listed in the Sharks Awards Young Director category and is featured in the Shots Director Showcase 2007.

Producer: Ben Hilton

Following several years in TV production work, including 2 years as a live gallery producer, Ben moved to Capitol Films & ThinkFilm International eventually becoming Technical Manager.

Since leaving, he has set up his own company Low Fat Films where he has produced award-winning short films such as Dear Steven Spielberg & Sunday Morning gaining international screenings and broadcast including BBC & ITV screenings, producing corporate & viral campaigns, music promos for the likes of Turin Brakes and Kate Walsh, broadcast documentary, low budget feature ‘Dead Cat’ and several live events with DirtyBootsLondon.

Co-Producers: Dakus Films

Charlie Cattrall, Nico Mensinga & Christian McLaughlin set up Dakus Films together to facilitate their film making ambitions. They have made countless low-budget shorts together and award-winning promos for the likes of The Cinematic Orchestra and are currently being mentored by Sophia Coppola’s The Director’s Bureau.

Writer: Nico Mensinga
This will be Nico’s first major short as a writer, having previously worked as a production intern at Number 9 Films on such films as And When Did You Last See Your Father? and How To Lose Friends And Alienate People.

DoP: Dan Stafford-Clark
Dan completed his MA in Cinematography at the National Film and Television School under the tutelage of Brian Tufano BSC (Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary, Quadrophenia). He has shot countless shorts on a variety of formats, from 16 to 35mm to high end HD, as well as shooting music videos for the likes of Roots Manuva, Dirty Pretty Things and Mystery Jets.

He won the Best Cinematography award at the Kodak Film Competition 2007.

Music and Sound Design: Amory Leader

After finishing his degree in sound engineering, Amory went on to make music with LV, appearing on several records for the label Hyperdub, as well as becoming a regular feature on Marry Ann Hobbs’ Radio One show. In 2008 he collaborated with Massive Attack and The Heritage Orchestra undertaking the sound design for the sell-out live orchestral performance of Vangelis’ Blade Runner score (Meltdown Festival, Royal Festival Hall).

Since moving into film, he spent much of 2009 composing the original score for acclaimed director Tony Kaye’s (American History X) latest feature Black Water Transit (in production 2010).

Art Director: Livi Vaughan

Livi graduated in theatre design at Central St. Martins and is currently Associate Designer for theatre company Punchdrunk, working on Faust, The Masque of the Red Death, It Felt Like A Kiss and most recently Sleep No More with American Repertory Theatre in Boston. She has art directed promos and commercials for the likes of MTV and Annex Films.

Ian Hart
Ian Hart is a highly regarded actor with a varied and distinguished career, having won a best actor award at Venice Film Festival (Nothing Personal) as well as being nominated for a Bafta (Blind Flight).
He’s played John Lennon in Backbeat, been Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in Finding Neverland and has lent his talents to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and The End of the Affair, to name but a few.

Charlie Cattrall
Charlie studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Since leaving he has performed in theatres across the UK and Europe, working at The Gate (Big Love), The National Theatre (Faust) and La Mama (Ifigenia), with the likes of Punchdrunk, Gardzienice and Rough Fiction. This is Charlie’s first major short film performance.

Susannah Fielding
Susannah is an up-and-coming actress who has successfully made the leap from the stage to the screen, having been in Wallander alongside Kenneth Branagh, and is set to feature in Noel Clarke’s new film 4.3.2.1.