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OFFICIAL PRESS PACK

TITLE: THE GIRL IN THE DRESS TAGLINE: A comedy about GENRE: Comedy / Romance PRODUCTION COMPANY: Capture DIRECTOR: Natalie Malla PRODUCERS: Matthew Jones, M J McMahon & Natalie Malla LENGTH: 14 minutes 59 seconds SHOT ON: RED Dragon OTHER TECH INFO: Colour. English Language. Completed September 2015 SCREENING FORMATS: Digital Cinema Print (DCP) including 5.1 Surround Sound Mix, QuickTime with Stereo Mix WEBSITE: thegirlinthedress.co.uk LINKS: Facebook.com/thegirlinthedressfilm wearecapture.com Twitter.com/Capture_tweets Youtube.com/wearecapture

“Natalie Malla’s comedy The Girl In The Dress featured great performances by stand-up comic Nick Helm, Olivia Poulet and Claire Keelan and instilled in us a renewed faith in love, even in the most awkward circumstances.” - LONDONIST

OFFICIAL FESTIVAL SELECTIONS:

Official Selection BFI London Film Festival 2015 Official Selection London Short Film Festival 2016

SHORT SYNOPSIS: (42 WORDS)

In this comedy about cold feet, Emily, ready for the wedding of her dreams, meets Rob, a Henry VIII street entertainer, and takes it as a bad sign. Beheadings, divorces and annulments race through her mind, but marriage will make everything better...right?

POINTS OF INTEREST:  Included in the Official Selection at the BFI London Film Festival 2015 out of 250,000 submitted entries.  The script was selected by Film London for its London Calling scheme, one of only 21 films selected from over 640 entries.  All the heads of department were female.  It was the second of Natalie's short film scripts to be selected by Capture and released in the same year, the other being 'Killing Thyme' starring Brian Cox and Charlotte Riley.  This was Natalie Malla's directorial debut.  Lead actor Olivia Poulet gained recognition for her role in 'The Thick of It' which she also played in the Academy Award nominated film spin-off 'In the Loop'.  Nick Helm is both an actor and comedian and has recently had his TV comedy series, 'Nick Helm's Heavy Entertainment' commissioned by BBC Three.  Claire Keelan, who stars as 'Emily', is most well-known for her role in the internationally successful 'The Trip' starring and .

DIRECTOR/WRITER/PRODUCER BIOGRAPHY – NATALIE MALLA:

Natalie Malla started her writing career when her first project: 20 Anything, co-written with Xara Higgs, was optioned by The Comedy Unit in 2010. The following year Malla and Higgs took part in the Channel 4, Drama Scriptwriting Course and in 2013 her original Comedy Drama: Crow’s Feet, won the Bafta Rocliffe New Drama Writing Forum. In 2014, her Comedy Drama Treatment; Vixen Violets, co-written with Melissa Bubnic, was optioned by Clerkenwell Films and Malla and Higg’s new sitcom How To Be Normal has just been shortlisted for the 2015 Funny Women Comedy Writing Award.

At the beginning of 2015, Malla finished writing and producing her first short film: The Morning After, starring Ted Riley and Lindsey Campbell, Executive Produced by Thirty40Films. Her second short film Killing Thyme, which she wrote and produced alongside CAPTURE | 020 7686 7193 | [email protected] | wearecapture.com 36c Junction Road, London, N19 5RD Company No# 05412832 | VAT Reg No# 932367715 Capture has just been completed and will be screening as part of Aesthetica short film festival in November. It stars Joe Reynolds, Brian Cox and Charlotte Riley.The Girl In The Dress marks her directorial debut. imdb.me/nataliemalla | uk.linkedin.com/pub/natalie-malla

PRODUCER BIOGRAPHY – M J MCMAHON

M J McMahon is a multi award winning director/producer. He studied Film & Television at Glyndwr University in North Wales from 1996-98 and graduated with distinction. He has been a professional in the Film and TV industry for over 14 years, originally starting as a runner for post production company M2 Television working his way up to Post Production Consultant for London based Molinare, then moving on to directing and producing commercials, corporate projects, promos and short films. McMahon has extensive knowledge and experience working in digital post production and has worked on over 200 productions including TV shows Who Do You Think You Are?, Wife Swap and Brian Hill's experimental documentary-drama Consent, to feature films including John Akomfrah's The Nine Muses, associate producing Paul Andrew Williams's Cherry Tree Lane and working as a Film Executive on the four time Oscar winner The King's Speech.

In 2009 he co-founded the production company Capture, which produces commercials, online content, VFX and promos for clients including Nike, ITV, Ogilvy, AKQA, BBC and Sky TV. They also have a slate of TV and theatrical projects presently in development and production. McMahon is also producing The Man from UNKLE - the official documentary about the music band UNKLE, and also produced the award winning short film Gin & Dry. He directed Hawk, a fantasy short film based on ancient Welsh myths, which won multiple awards including ones at the Accolade Competition, ToHorror Film Festival, ShockerFest and Idyllwild Cinemafest, making a tally of over 30 wins/nominations/official selections for Hawk and Gin & Dry. He recently directed his third short film, Killing Thyme, starring Brian Cox and Charlotte Riley. This has already been nominated for Best Comedy at the 2015 Aesthetica Short Film Festival in November where it will receive it's world premiere. McMahon has also recently produced his fourth short film, The Girl In The Dress for Film London's London Calling short film scheme. The film stars Olivia Poulet and Nick Helm and has been included in the official selection for the 2015 BFI London Film Festival. McMahon has been a BAFTA member since 2003 and Playing Mercy will be his feature directorial début. imdb.me/mjmcmahon | uk.linkedin.com/in/mjmcmahon77

PRODUCER BIOGRAPHY – MATTHEW JONES

Matthew Jones is a multi-award winning creative producer from London. In 2009 he co-founded the film & animation production company Capture, where he has produced commercials for television and cinema as well as online brand content, promos, and cutting edge digital interactive content for companies like Sky, Nike, Pottermore and Picturehouse. The first short film he produced was the award winning fantasy epic ‘Hawk’ which was theatrically released in selected cinemas in front of Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part 2. His second short film, the multi award winning ‘Gin & Dry’ has been nominated /officially selected at over 18 International Film Festivals. In addition ‘Gin & Dry’ gained a nationwide UK theatrical release with Picturehouse Cinemas across 10 sites, appearing in front of features such as Gods & Men, The American and It’s a Wonderful Life.

He is currently in post-production on Capture’s fourth short film, ‘Killing Thyme, as well as his first feature film, ‘The Man From UNKLE’, a revealing documentary exploring the music industry through the eyes of the band UNKLE. imdb.me/matthewjones | uk.linkedin.com/in/mrmatthewjone s

DIRECTOR'S VISION:

The Girl In The Dress, is a story which immediately provides us with a visually stimulating backdrop which is exploited fully in terms of the cinematography, a beautiful exterior location, two main characters in striking costumes, and a church wedding. The overall look of the film is warm and saturated using a kitsch colour palette, including orange, red, and pink as the base. The quirky wedding dress Emily wears and her accessories give you an idea of her even before she says a word.

The depth of field is kept shallow to focus our attention on the characters and their situation and reduce the attention given to the foreground and background, because our characters don’t care that they’re in the middle of a park creating an embarrassing scene, and I want the audience to ignore it too, until it is mentioned for comedic purposes.

Although the look of the film is quite stylised, the acting and the overall tone of the film is very naturalistic. The humour comes from the characters’ conflicts, both internal and external, so everything is played straight, so that we believe all the characters intentions, and we understand them, even though at times we have to laugh at them. As much as there is a lot of dialogue in the script, there is a lot that is unsaid and, by using close ups, and locked off two shots, staying intimate with the action, we get inside the characters heads.

The film will be quite pacey at the beginning, as there is an urgency in the character’s motivation, which we will need to feel and a back-story that will need to come across. I think an original score will help to complement the pacing and the emotions, and heighten the tension in the film. Although the second scene in the script goes on for about ten pages, there are a lot of pace and emotional changes during that scene, and also the introduction and departure of Mary, so music will be a valuable tool in complimenting Emily’s emotional journey as we stay in the same location.

CAPTURE | 020 7686 7193 | [email protected] | wearecapture.com 36c Junction Road, London, N19 5RD Company No# 05412832 | VAT Reg No# 932367715 I hope people find the film to be charming and witty, but with real heart, exploring universal themes that we can all relate to and are relevant today. People can get pretty crazy and irrational after break ups, especially if we have had our hearts broken, and The Girl In The Dress, is quite simply, the story of a girl who is too scared of being on her own, to move on. It is a film about how easy it is to settle for someone who doesn’t really make you happy, because the possibility that you might not find anyone else is just too scary to contemplate. It is tricky being a single woman in your 30’s

CAST BIOGRAPHIES:

OLIVIA POULET – 'Emily'

Olivia Poulet is a hugely talented actress and writer, who has gained recognition for her film and television work, most notably for her returning character in Armando Iannucci’s 'The Thick of It' and the Acadamy Award nominated 'In The Loop', as well as 'Sherlock', 'Fresh Meat' and The 'Musketeers'. Olivia's credits also include 'Friends And Crocodiles' written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff and starring Damien Lewis, 'Whatever Love Means' as Camilla Parker Bowles, and roles in the comedy series, 'Margaret' a biographical drama of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in which she played the PM's daughter Carole, and 'Reggie Perrin' opposite Martin Clunes.

In addition, she both wrote and performed in the stage productions of 'The Bird Flu Diaries' and 'Queef or Terrence'. Olivia and her comedy partner Sarah Solemani are currently writing a sitcom for the BBC, to be produced by Charlie Hanson. Poulet is an ambassador The Park Theatre where she starred in Sarah Rutherford's 'Adult Supervision', directed by artistic director Jez Bond.

NICK HELM – 'Rob'

Nick Helm is an English comedian, actor and musician who came to prominence following the success of his 2010 Edinburgh Fringe show 'Keep Hold of the Gold' and since then has made use of his comedy and music skills on television shows including 'Live at The Electric', '8 Out of 10 Cats' and 'Russell Howard's Good News'. Nick won the South Bank Sky Arts "The Times Breakthrough Award" January 2014 and currently plays the lead role of Andy in the BBC Three sitcom 'Uncle'. The show is written by Oliver Refson, but features songs written and performed by Helm and his band. In 2015 Helm co-wrote and co-starred with Esther Smith in an episode of the BBC Three online-only series of short stories, 'Funny Valentines'. Helm's comedy show 'Nick Helm's Heavy Entertainment' started broadcasting on BBC Three in May 2015. CLAIRE KEELAN – 'Mary'

Claire Keelan has appeared in a host of films including 'The Trip To Italy', 'Mister John', 'Hush', 'A Cock and Bull' 'Story' and 'Pierrepoint'.

Her television credits include 'Black Mirror', 'The Last Weekend', 'Line of Duty', 'The Trip', 'Perfect Day' 2005 and the episode of 'How Not to Live Your Life'. She played the lead roles of Claire Ashcroft in 'Nathan Barley' and 'Electroclash, aka Sarah, in 'No Heroics'. In 2003 she appeared in an episode of Channel 4's 'Art Show' written by Charlie Brooker.

THE GIRL IN THE DRESS – FULL CREDIT LIST:

CAST:

Emily Olivia Poulet Rob Nick Helm Mary Claire Keelan

ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING CAST:

Vicar Michael Shaeffer Best Man Steve Niewiarowski Early Wedding Guest Melissa Bubnic Patrick Benjamin Fisher Charlotte Amelia Hashemi Groomsman Marshall Mowbray Bridesmaids Juneyna Francis Kabir Tanvie Hans Father of the Bride Phil Kelly Mother of the Groom Dorothy Jones

WEDDING GUEST:

Valeriia Aleksandrova Anastasiia Babenki Acushla Bennett Matthew Jones Michael Knighton Tatiana Lapshina M J McMahon CAPTURE | 020 7686 7193 | [email protected] | wearecapture.com 36c Junction Road, London, N19 5RD Company No# 05412832 | VAT Reg No# 932367715 Adam Peroussos Robin Anne Sager Jessi Scott Paul Stafford Linda Taylor Rebecca Watson

CREW:

Written and Directed by Natalie Malla Produced by Matthew Jones, M J McMahon & Natalie Malla Executive Producers Michael Booth Q.C. Geraldine Riley Director of Photography Vanessa Whyte Production Manager Lee Holmes Production Designer Holly Cameron Editor Sarah Louise Bates Casting Reg Poerscout-Edgerton C.S.A Composer James Jones Sound Nina Rice Costume Designer Kirsty Quinn Make Up Artist Emma Slater Script Supervisor Alex Mill Stills Photographer Manuel Guerra 1st Assistant Director Lucas Kudapcenka 2nd Assistant Directors Lina Remeikaite Charlotte Hill 3rd Assistant Director Talisa Oberoi Production Assistant Wolfram Parge Production Work Experience Stephanie Scott Ashley Rees Production Driver / Work Experience Jordan Winter Production Accountant Georgie Evans Focus Pullers Job Reineke Jacob Barrie Jack Harrison

2nd Camera Assistants / Loaders Chris Rogers Sean McDermott Camera Trainees Holly Hennessy Anastasia Romanchuka Jay Coates Steadicam Operator Tom Wilkinson Gaffer Sol Saihati Grips Vis Sopjani Nick Teulon Electricians Nate Bauer Aaron Szogi

Pawel Polak Joe Miller DIT Chris Matthews Camera Equipment supplied by Panavision Lighting Equipment supplied by Panalux Additional Equipment supplied by Emmet Cahill

Storyboard Artist Rory J Collins

Wardrobe Master Lisa Armstrong Make Up Assistant Cassi Brookes Set Decorator Jess Meredith

Standby Art Director Alyssia Kremin Construction Manager Andy Robinson Casting Assistant Katy Covell Boom Operator Matt Sutcliffe

CAPTURE | 020 7686 7193 | [email protected] | wearecapture.com 36c Junction Road, London, N19 5RD Company No# 05412832 | VAT Reg No# 932367715 FILM LONDON:

Head of Talent & Production Deborah Sathe Producer-Short Schemes Josic Cadoret & Production Executive Development Producer Tessa Inkelaar Production Team Assistant Alice Whittemore

POST PRODUCTION:

Assistant Editor Inigo Manby Colourist Paul Dimond Post Producer For My Brother Bob Ross Walker Post Producer For My Brother Bob Faye Browning Grade Facility My Brother Bob

Re-recording Mixer James Cullen Audio Editor Simon Epstein Co-ordinator for Flat Cap Films Kyran Spiers Audio Facility Flat Cap FiIms ADR Supervisor Filipa Principe ADR Recordist James Gregory ADR Facility Molinare Foley Artists Clare Mahoney Jason Swanscott Foley Recording & Editing Mahoney Audio Post VFX Artist John Hardwick Titles & End Credits Capture

Emily's In A Dress original song written by Josephine Dowding The Ukuladeez

Filmed on location in St Michael's Church, Highgate, London UK. Location Administrator Kay Langley-May

Waterlow Park, London UK. Location courtesy of Waterlow Park, Camden Film Office & Film Fixer

Originally developed at Central Film School London

"Emily's in a Dress" Performed by The Ukuladeez. Written by Josephine Dowding. Recorded and mastered at Stretchy Studios, Guernsey

© Copyright We Are Capture Ltd 2015. All Rights Reserved.

CAPTURE | 020 7686 7193 | [email protected] | wearecapture.com 36c Junction Road, London, N19 5RD Company No# 05412832 | VAT Reg No# 932367715