Short Films
VHS (2011)
VHS is Mr Young’s latest film. The film is a claustrophobic tale of paranoia and regret.
“VHS was shot around the same time as Poco but I left it for a while until I could understand more fully how the character had got into that situation and whether he could get out of it.”
Cast:
The Man: Mr Young
The Deliverer: Simon Batten
Soundtrack: Polarghosts
Written & Directed by Mr Young
Running time: 5 mins
Screenings:
Thameside Theatre, Essex (March 2011)
Broadcast on UK TV - Sky channel 219 (2011)
Caged Fire (2010)
2010 saw the most successful film so far by Mr Young. Caged Fire is a surreal and disturbing tale of lust, betrayal and revenge.
“Based on a dream my wife had, this film still scares me! The three of us (myself, Louise and Chloe) all worked hard on one day to shoot it and then it just left me to edit, and longtime collaborators Steven Heycock and Polarghosts to add the titles and soundtrack. ”
Cast:
Red: Chloe Phillips
Louise: Louise Young
Mark: Mr Young
Titles: Steven Heycock
Soundtrack: Polarghosts
Written & Directed by Mr Young
Running time: 6mins
Screenings:
Son of Movie Bar, Brighton (May 2010)
Strawberry Shorts Festival, Cambridge (July 2010)
Kino, London (September 2010)
Moving Image Festival, London (October 2010)
Phoenix Cinema, London (October 2010)
Blue Sky Film Festival, NC, USA (February 2011)
Yourindiefilm.com Film Festival (February 2011)
Walthamstow Short Film Club, London (March 2011)
Thameside Theatre, Essex (March 2011)
Hither Green Short Film Festival, London (May 2011)
Broadcast on UK TV - Sky channel 219 (2010 & 2011)
Poco Wants To Go (2008)
Poco Wants To Go is a short about an injured woman running from someone or something.
“I originally intended the story to be a feature film called Poco, an idea I had years ago. I altered the character and made this. I have even written a feature length script about Poco but for now we just have this short”
Cast:
Poco: Lennie Varvarides
Soundtrack: Polarghosts
Music: Ask Sophie
Written & Directed by Mr Young
Running time: 4mins
Screenings:
Thameside Theatre, Essex (March 2011)
Broadcast on UK TV - Sky channel 219 (2010 & 2011)
themoontheeye (2008)
In 2008 Mr Young finally released the surreal short themoontheeye about a man who follows a strange light.
“This film has a long history. I originally shot most of it in 1994 on Super 8mm film but then just left it on the shelf. In 2000 I revisited it and used even older footage from around 1992/3 for other shots. In 2008 I asked Polarghosts to add a soundtrack and I finally finished the most surreal work I have ever done. ”
Cast:
Man: Steve Hatton
Soundtrack: Polarghosts
Written & Directed by Mr Young
Running time: 4mins
Screenings:
Rich Mix Cinema, London (December 2010)
Edge of the City Film Festival, London (March 2011)
Thameside Theatre, Essex (March 2011)
Notting Hill Visual Arts Festival (June 2011)
Broadcast on UK TV - Sky channel 219 (2010 & 2011)
Violet The Organ Grinder (2002)
2002 saw Mr Young make his most ambitious film to date. Violet The Organ Grinder revolves around a mysterious accordion playing busker and his friendship with a young woman and features great performances and music.
“The script for this film was written very quickly in 2000, it just flowed out. Then I met Helmut and Katherine who were a musical double act and were very interested in doing the film and I was very interested in them, they were perfect. From this point though, it took two years for all of our schedules to match. Helmut was off doing RSC in Stratford-Upon-Avon, then Katherine was busy. During this time I knew these two were ideal and if they couldn’t do it I would scrap the film entirely. Luckily, late summer 2002 and we all had a two-week period when we were free. Violet is quite a simple story on the surface but the more you think about it the stranger it becomes. A lot of people have picked up on this and I’m quite pleased about that. It feel’s like one of those French films from the 60’s.”
Cast:
Violet: Helmut Scholz
Jean: Katherine Toy
Steve: Paul Williams
Hospital Receptionist: Bev Spice
Soundtrack: Helmut Scholz & Katherine Toy
Written & Directed by Mr Young
Running time: 12mins
Screenings:
Portobello Film Festival, London (2003)
Wood Green Film Festival, London (2003)
Havering Short Film Festival, London (2003)
Edge of the City Film Festival, London (March 2011)
Thameside Theatre, Essex (March 2011)
Hither Green Short Film Festival (May 2011)
Broadcast on UK TV - Sky channel 219 (2010 & 2011)
TMF2002 (2002)
Music promo film for the TMF music festival for new and upcoming bands.
“TMF was a fantastic music festival in Essex. People often ask about the band who provided the soundtrack, Giant, and as far as I know they are still unsigned which is incredible really.”
Soundtrack: Giant
Written & Directed by Mr Young
Running time: 4mins
Screenings:
Havering Short Film Festival, London (2003)
Thameside Theatre, Essex (March 2011)
Morning Has Broken - 80’s Matchbox B-Line Disaster (2002)
This video was made whilst Mr Young was Producer/Director at Reel Screen. It was subsequently screened on mtv2.
“One of my staff had connections to the music industry and managed to get us linked up with this band. The video is a pretty straightforward performance but when it was screened on mtv2 I remember us all at Reel Screen being really pleased.”
Produced & Directed by Mr Young
Running time: 4mins
Screenings:
Broadcast on MTV2 (2002)
Jubilee (2002)
2002 saw the making of a short documentary about the Jubilee celebrations in Elm Park.
“It became a film about how an area can change in 25 years, it’s an theme that affects us all, I think. It was a good way for me to get into documentary filming seeing as I was about to start work on East 3.”
Produced & Directed by Mr Young
Running time: 6mins
Screenings:
Havering Short Film Festival, London (2003)
Mightier (2001)
In 2001 Mr Young acted as Producer and Lead Actor for a friend, Paul Williams. The film is a comedy about a writer who becomes obsessed with his new pen.
“Paul asked me to help out with his film, I was more than happy. We had trouble finding someone to play the lead and Paul suggested I do it. I really don’t think I can act but it turned out alright in the end.”
Cast:
Will: Mr Young
Jude: Deanna Pepperrel
Written & Directed by Paul Williams
Produced by The Moon The Eye & Evil Hypnotist Productions
Running time: 15mins
Screenings:
Cinemagic Film Festival, Belfast
A New Century (1999)
A new film or a rediscovered classic from 1900? Commissioned by and subsequently banned by the Millennium Dome.
“I was approached by Cheltenham Borough Council to make a short film for them to show during their ‘Day in the Dome’. I think they wanted a positive, happy image of life in Cheltenham but that wasn’t how I was seeing things at all. The film was shot as a silent movie and was pretty negative. Needless to say they were not happy and banned me from showing it at the Dome. I must say I was quite excited to have a banned film and there’s not even any sex or violence in it.”
Cast:
The Tour Guide: Matt Walters
Woman on Bench: Lizzie Walters
Written & Directed by Mr Young
Running time: 5mins
Screenings:
Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham (2000)
Thameside Theatre, Essex (March 2011)
Friday Night Freak Show (1996)
Friday Night Freak Show was the second film from Mr Young. The film is a dark, funky tale, part cookery show, part horror film.
“Again, no budget and using my friend in the lead role. Editing was a nightmare as I was using two VCR’s to cut it. Tough job but it got made. Quite different to my first film, it’s probably my favourite of all my early works.”
Cast:
Housemate 1: Steve Hatton
Housemate 2: Mr Friction
Written & Directed by Mr Young
Running time: 5mins
Screenings:
Central TV Studios, Birmingham (1996)
Thameside Theatre, Essex (March 2011)
Death of A Detective (1995)
Death of a Detective was Mr Young’s first short film proper. The film is a tongue-in-cheek look at the detective noir as a PI tries to solve the ultimate mystery.
“I shot it on VHS I borrowed from University, I asked a couple of friends to be in it and edited it on university equipment whilst pretending I was working on my dissertation. Once it was finished I just asked the local cinema if they wanted to screen it. They liked it and said they would, incredible really for a film that’s cost nothing at all. From then on I knew anything was possible.”
Cast:
The Detective: Mr Friction
The Thin Man: Simon Batten
The Killer: Carol Donaldson
Written & Directed by Mr Young
Running time: 15mins
Screenings:
6 nights at bfi Metro Cinema, Derby (1995)
