New National Youth Film Academy Product has provided £400 of match funding
Happy Hour - Short Film
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Aim
By producing this film, we want to shine a light on isolation, mental health, and being just a number in the corporate world.
Happy Hour is a psychological thriller presented by National Youth Film Academy. With an incredible team of creatives, we'll be bringing this story to your screens in October 2022... but we can't do it without you.
"Happy Hour will be a culmination of compelling storytelling, excellent cinematography, and fantastic editing. A psychological thriller presented by National Youth Film Academy, we'll be bringing this story to your screens in October 2022... but we can't do it without you.
Ever felt alone or not wanted at a party? The film follows Gillian, who is desperate to reconnect with her friend Steph, and takes Steph up on the invite to join her for some drinks at a private event. Gillian finds herself being drawn in to the most cut throat of work drinks possible.
Our film looks at what happens when you take work drinks where the only people there are all vying for the one role and ramp it up to 11. How do you respond to the idea of being a number when looking for that role that you feel you are perfect for? With a growing job dissatisfaction throughout the UK coupled with those of us who feel we are overqualified and under paid for the roles in which we work. This film explores what it takes for people to break past their own personal circumstances to become their true best selves." - Joshua King, Writer & Director
We have taken inspiration from our cast and crew's personal experiences and created a narrative around some of the common denominators within each story. Happy Hour is a film that has a simple premise, with deep resonating themes, which will create a beautifully twisted film.
We as humans are incredibly social creatures. Throughout the centuries we have created towns, cities, and whole countries to help us come together and feel unified. In the last few years that unification about what unities us with our friends, and family has never been more distant.
Happy Hour, at its heart, is a film about the most understandable of fears and isolation. The fear of being alone, lonely, and distant. Whether that be from family members, loved ones or friends. It is a fear that we all experience at one point or another.
To bring Happy Hour to life, we are launching a Crowdfunder page. Our target is to raise £7500, all funds will be put into the production for cameras, lighting, props, costume and set dressing ensuring we bring the best possible picture to the screen. We would really appreciate your help! We have a range of ways in which you can get involved and have a series of exciting rewards to say thank you for supporting our film! The cast and crew will not be paid a salary from the funds raise, here's how your kind pledges will be spent...
"Our film brings to light isolation, stagnation in people's everyday lives and the fear of being boiled down to a number. With well-composed cinematography we'll be using a range of framing motifs that will heighten the awkwardness between characters and force the audience to feel uncomfortable - it is a horror movie after all.
Throughout the film the framing will become increasingly distorted as Gillian becomes more isolated, we will be using a colour palette inspired by Jordan Peele film Get Out (2017) and in later scenes will be utilising the use of Chiaroscuro, a high contrast lighting technique used in film noir.
A true exploration of the darker side of feeling alone, Happy Hour will have you questioning where you are in your life, and what lengths you would go to to be the best." - Ella Bewley, Director of Photography and Assistant Director
Click the links on cast and crew names to visit our website and find out more about the incredible team behind this film...
Rosie May Cook as Steph
Actor & Costume Designer
Rosie is an LGBTQ+ actor that has been involved in many short and student films in and around Bath, Bristol and Cardiff. Her background is in theatre so she is excited to be branching out into film work.
Drink of choice: Pornstar Martini
Lashonda Morgan as Gillian
Actor & Marketing Assistant
Lashonda Morgan is a black actress, writer and musician based in London. After many years behind the camera she decided to finally take the step to live out her dream in front of the camera in 2020, starting her training at Identity School of Acting in the professional classes and becoming a member of the National Youth Film Academy.
Drink of choice: Rum Punch
Louis Prince Duke
Actor
Louis is a Mixed-Race actor of English, Jamaican and Guyanese heritage based in London. He has most recently trained at Identity School of Acting. He is also trained in Muay Thai and basic stage combat and basic weapons training.
Drink of choice: Long Island Ice Tea
Tamara Tooher
Actor & Production Designer
Tamara is an Irish actor, based in London. After spending the past decade creating and performing in theatre, she is excited to expand her skill set into the film industry.
Drink of choice: Chilli Apple Martini
Ivelina Tsvetanova
Actor & Production Assistant
Ivelina was born in Bulgaria but moved to Greece and studied acting in her final year of high school. She then moved to London where she has been in a feature film and some short films.
Drink of choice: Fuji-san
Konrad Oleksiewicz
Actor
Konrad was born in Poland, and now resides in Scotland. He has featured in a few speaking roles on a Polish tv-series, played in students' movies and was an extra on big sets. Working in this film would be another step in his acting development.
Drink of choice: Vodka
Briony Davies
Actor
Originally from the Lake District, now living in and being inspired by the beautiful city of Edinburgh. Briony's ambition has always been to work creatively, she's interested in where ever her creative instincts take her.
Drink of choice: Classic Mojito
Nathan Bhamra
Actor
Nathan is originally from London, now based in Leighton Buzzard with a background in theatre. He most recently worked on 2 short films and an audio book.
Nathan studied A-Level drama and theatre studies and then went on to become a part-time professional wrestler.
Drink of choice: Old Fashioned
Joshua King
Writer & Director
Born and raised in West London, award nominated filmmaker/producer Joshua King been involved with the creative arts since he was little. His mum put him into acting classes as a child to help him thrive in something that his older brother did not. His love of theatre and film stems from this moment, it has only grown over the years since that very first moment.
Drink of choice: Lynchburg Lemonade
Ella Bewley
AD, DOP & Editor, Marketing Manager
A Bristol-based videographer that is eager to break into the film industry. They've directed and filmed their own projects for the past 2 years, playing a part in all roles from Producer, Director, Cinematographer and Sound and is therefore keen to collaborate with others to produce pure magic.
Drink of choice: Dark & Stormy
Dominic Woodhouse
Crew - 3rd Assistant Director
A graduate studying animation and part in VFX in compositing. His aim is to become a film director like his hero, Stanley Kubrick.
Drink of choice: Strawberry Dacquiri
Molly Nice
Crew - 2nd Assistant Director and Marketing Assistant
Molly has a keen interest in the production side of film and tv, making little videos and having also done theatre when she was younger. Recently she started working on sets as an extra as it allowed her to see everything that goes on
Drink of choice: Raspberry Reggae
This project successfully funded on 6th July 2022