Three films directed over three years. With wild variations in directorial ability.
Turns out filmmaking is hard sometimes? Who knew! It's also very stressful, and I still don't really know what I'm doing. But I know a whole lot more than when I directed 'Cuffed' in first year. I also know that this is my favourite thing to do and I never want to stop.
@thedameandtheactor is still underway, but I can't wait to be able to share it.
(Also I have done other things, not just these three films. Little videos you can find over on the YouTube. I also wrote essays and stuff.)
📸 credits:
- BTS photos of Gold Star by @darcytbradbury
- BTS photos of the Dame and the Actor by @adamhollingworthphotography
AAAAAAAAH!!!
WHAT. A. NIGHT.
I didn't take enough photos so have stolen these from our official post, as well as some that technically aren't posted yet but I'm a rebel and do what I want (I asked politely)
Helping to put together this year's Golden Lobes was incredible. Like any good awards ceremony I have too many people to thank, all of my lovely friends/family that helped either on the night or just by being supportive. Our hosts and all of the presenters/performers were so incredibly kind and patient with me but I've been told I did a half decent job for my very first time stage managing anything. But my biggest thanks are to Giles and @mikeyniss_video who have been such a wonderful team to work with, and generally delightful people.
There were so many wonderful people that came. It was all a bit of a whirlwind and I am very glad I managed to catch @glennrogermoore and the team on his way out to relay how much I adore @buttonboyspod and that I promised to buy @pierrenovellie and @milo_edwards a beer post-show in October and never did. I will get around to it!
Long live @cheerfulearfulpodfest ❤️❤️❤️
2025 overall has felt stagnant, however looking over what has occurred it's certainly been rather fun.
I've done a lot of tech, for @girlfriendclubcomedy , for @theawkwardsilencecomedy in their very first Soho theatre run, for @giddyauntcomedy , for the @oxfordimpstagram in Edinburgh, and for three different shows with @tom_skelton as well. I got the pleasure of producing @improvsherlock and working behind the scenes on @cheerfulearfulpodfest
I've worked on two short films which were great fun. And I've visited Scotland twice which were probably two of my favourite moments this year. I'm so glad I've got so many friends asking me to bits and bobs on their projects otherwise I'd have done very little this year. It was my intention going into the year to find a full time job in film, TV, or theatre and to move out, however as I enter 2026 I have the same goals but many happy memories. So overall 2025 was alright.
However this year I have been absolutely crap at taking photos, so I've put them all in black and white to seem better than they are (I did that with a short film too)
I have had the most delightful week of working, being an administrator/production assistant/sound recorder for @cheerfulearfulpodfest
It was the MOST fun time and a pleasure to get to see so many cool and fun people on cool and fun podcasts. Also, whilst most of my time outside the festival was spent data wrangling and sending emails, I was still in a lovely hotel room with a big mirror, aka my happy place.
I've stolen one of the light blocks. It's mine now, you can't have it back Giles.
The last of my 2025 fringe shows has been performed, just a half run for me this time, I'm sticking around for a few days but the hard part (and most enjoyable) is done for another year! Thank you so much to Racing Minds and especially @jenny__kg for allowing me to helm the tech for a run, it has been the pleasure of a lifetime. And I have produced a fringe run with @improvsherlock that I am so proud of my involvement with. Sharing three shows a day with @tom_skelton is the pinnacle of fringe enjoyment, he's a gentleman and a delight to be around. The kindest soul I've ever met. Of course you can still catch the @oxfordimpstagram every day at Gilded Balloon until the end of the run and you should absolutely do that!
What a fabulous time. Here is to the next run!
This past weekend I had the indomitable pleasure of entering the @48hourfilmbrighton with two of my most frequent collaborators who coincidentally are two of my most beloved friends. Along with the ever most fabulous @misterjoeblack we had an incredibly silly time making Riverbed.
Thank you my friends for such a delightful time. @edenforrester@crgevohplural
So now @thedameandtheactor
(my film) has been to a few festivals but I've never posted any images of them to my public Instagram. Today I ammend this grievous mistake.
The third image is me holding a giant invisible baby whilst trying to answer questions about my film.
The last three images are just me enjoying my hotel with an underground hot tub, and the haircut I got the day after Brighton Rocks.
THE SHOW ISN'T OVER YET! IT'S JUST AN INTERVAL I PROMISE!
So please, grab your ice cream, go to the toilet but for the love of God come back to your seats in 10 minutes as we've got a journey ahead of us!
Thank you so much to everyone that has assisted, participated in, or just watched the Dame and the Actor from afar. As my final project at university it's also the one I'm most proud of. Now please, watch it again, leave it playing on your laptop for hours, slag it off on letterboxd, whatever you wish.
The Dame and The Actor - the short film is out on YouTube now for all to see. But the story continues. Sir Michael will have to don the wig a few more times as we expand their story to a full hour long play. Coming sometime, somewhere.
Adventures of the Improvised Sherlock Holmes (@improvsherlock ) is celebrating its tenth year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe!
You can catch us at the usual place at the usual time (Just the Big Room @ the Caves, 4:30pm) but only for a limited run! 12 shows, 31st July - 11th August!
It is a wonderful privilege to be up in that high tech box once more and even more so to have been asked to be a producer this year! This lovely lot are not only incredibly funny/talented/clever but they're also some truly kind, thoughtful and generally delightful people to be around.
So book your tickets and come watch them be utterly fantastic!
The Dame and the Actor is coming to you!
On the 25th April our film will be available to watch on YouTube permanently. Please enjoy this little trailer we put together to mark the occasion.
Share it around, watch it repeatedly, give us 5* on Letterboxd, all the fun kind things you know you want to do.
Love making films. Love making friends. Love being surrounded by old ones. Thank you so much Cian for asking me to co-write this and be a part of it with you.
What a delightful momentary return to Brighton. I'll be back.
for memes and more follow @whenicomearoundfilm
A few more photos from my Cambridge shoot with @deanrowellphotography
Using this as a blatant excuse for self promotion to shout out the next few places you can see my short film @thedameandtheactor :
17 Sept @films_newgenesis (Brighton)
6 Oct #theRookswoodClub screening (Cambridgeshire)
Once you've seen it you can now leave a review on Letterboxd.
