Always on
This project successfully funded on 10th March 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Amusement
Folkestone, Kent, United Kingdom
Aim
Amusement: a ten year old girl discovers magic, drama and her own strengths. Raising funds for production of our comedy short film.
Amusement - A Short Film
Commissioned by Screen South and Screen Ashford, we're bringing to life 'Amusement' - a short film following the highs and lows of a small girl's big adventure. Featuring local Folkestone talent, the film is Directed by award winning, BAFTA long-listed filmmaker Stephanie Zari and written by Kay Mellor Screenwriters’ Lab alumna Catherine Newell. Amusement has been in production for some months and stars young local actors Joni Lambert and Jimmy Maslin Fong, supported by Steven Meo (Gavin & Stacey, Torchwood) and Hayley-Marie Axe (Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves, The Devil's Hour). Acclaimed composer John Fortis is scoring an electrifying original soundtrack for the film and everything is now in place to create a fantastic piece of storytelling!
The Story
One girl. Five minutes. And a big tub of 2ps!
For one little girl, confusion between her newly separated parents about logistics means that she is plunged into a completely unexpected adventure. When her mum sends her into the amusements to buy herself some time, the girl needs to act quickly to make her funds last and win her dream prize. But our girl hadn’t contended with the self-appointed king of the amusements and his attempts to thwart her simple ambition.
Why?
Amusement arcades are a national treasure and the quintessential symbol of British heritage. They are Britain at its most honest: a place where class, age, and background melt away under the hypnotic glow of fruit machines. This film hopes to capture the spectacular assault on the senses from the perspective of a 10 year old child entering an amusement arcade for the first time.
Amusement arcades and fairgrounds are a film staple, whether it’s Coney Island or Dreamland, but telling it from a child’s perspective is less common. Children are strapped for time and funds, and they need to make their time in the arcades really count. Our film tells the story of stepping into this thrilling world and experiencing it and negotiating it as a child would. There’s no irony in the way in which our protagonist approaches her quest. And if we succeed in telling her story, the audience will experience it just as she does, that brief adventure during which nothing else matters and no one and nowhere else exist.
The Cast
We’re delighted to be bringing young, up and coming Kent talent to the screen, supported by seasoned professionals. Joni Lambert in her first major role, with Jimmy Maslin Fong as her rival, supported by familiar faces Steven Meo and Hayley-Marie Axe.
Joni Lambert
Jimmy Maslin Fong
Steve Meo
Hayley-Marie Axe
Where are we now?
After three amazing days of filming on location in Dymchurch and Ashford, the film has now moved into the edit. The brilliant Amusement team and our wonderful cast truly went above and beyond to get everything we had dreamed of into those shooting days! We are now on schedule to deliver to Screensouth and Screen Ashford but have just three weeks left to raise the outstanding funds to get this gem of a short film over the finish line.
We are fully committed and every resource will be used strategically. Every effort will be purposeful and not one single penny at this arcade will be wasted. We are driven to deliver a film of which we are proud and with your support, Amusement will come to life on screen in 2026.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made