Following on from Bridesmaids, a new film written and directed by women, lead role is a women and a high proportion of women on the crew. The shape of things to come? Let’s hope.
Here is all you need to know about Bubbles.
The Director
Leyla Pope comes from a professional background in communications working for Medecins Sans Frontiers, but her passion for filmmaking led her to the decision to make a career shift and follow her dream to work as a writer/director. Her short film Bubbles is a huge milestone for a female (also juggling the roles of wife and mother) in an industry which is still very much a male-dominated work environment.
The Film
The film’s central character, Lily, is a strong, intelligent woman struggling with suppressed desires and tense family dynamics. Following the death of her mother, Lily steels herself to organise her father’s move out of the family home. She has little support from her husband who is deeply absorbed in his latest composition and unable to relate to Lily’s tense presence. In the midst of this turmoil, a former lover appears and Lily finds her ordered life thrown out of balance. Buried feelings emerge and Lily begins to question her life’s choices. Will she live life as her mother did, putting expectation above desire? Or will she confront her feelings at the risk of unravelling the life she has built for herself? As Lily’s inner turmoil surfaces her young teenage daughter begins her own journey of sexual awakening.
Bubbles is an intelligent and evocative drama. Just as the novels of Jane Austen dissected and explored the choices for women in marriage and love, so Bubbles throws light on how these same choices are played out within a contemporary, upper class family. With a visually rich, Merchant-Ivory feel, Bubbles is a potent blend of classic storytelling and contemporary British drama.
The locations
From the outset it was clear that no ordinary location would do justice to the themes of Bubbles, so we secured the use of the stunning, rambling Grade II listed manor house “Plas Dinam” in Mid Wales as the setting for the majority of the shoot. This afforded not only the authentic interior of an historic family home, but also panoramic external shots.
The crew
The crew needed to be extremely skilled and experienced. Key to the final result were Bafta-winning cinematographer Huw Walters and top industry professional John Richards (Little Black Book, Girls’ Night, Band of Brothers) as Executive Producer.
The cast
With castings taking place individually in both Wales and London, it is testament to Leyla’s instinct and her rigorous casting process that she brought together a talented and balanced cast, including Welsh acting legend Howell Evans, to bring reality and depth to the characters in the script. Across the cast there is a vast amount of experience in TV and film.
The music
Music is not just a finishing touch for Bubbles, it is an integral part in the story. In the early stages of the film we see the building tension within Lily’s relationship to her husband Robin, a once-successful classical composer. Robin is no longer able to connect with Lily. His mounting frustrations with his wife’s attitude towards him are reflected in his struggles to express himself through his compositions.
Bubbles needed an original score that would help the audience to feel the changing emotional dynamics of each character, particularly in the final montage section of the film which has no dialogue.
Composer Jack Westmore was the perfect choice for this crucial element of the film. He possesses an incredible sensitivity to story dynamic and emotion. Jack wrote a score integrating solo cello into themes which are haunting and lyrical and perfectly express the contained but shifting restlessness of the film.
Soloist Rosie Biss is lead cellist with The Welsh National Opera. We were absolutely delighted when she agreed to play the solo cello parts. Her masterful interpretation of Jack’s score fully brings to life the complex emotions which are written into the music.
The continuing journey
Bubbles has finished post production but is only just beginning the journey to reach a national and international audience. We are now actively pursuing development of the short into a full-length feature or episodic TV series, including the American market.
There is an upcoming private London screening in late September for anyone interested in investing in or sponsoring the future development of Bubbles.
With a combination of visual beauty and strong plot and an emphasis on celebrating “Britishness” we see Bubbles very much as a showcase for the very best in British creativity. Opportunities to collaborate with British fashion designers, songwriters and musicians, perfumiers, luxury car brands, interior design etc abound. We see Bubbles as a canvas on which to paint a highly marketable picture of the best of British creativity on many levels.
For more information on investing in, supporting or sponsoring Bubbles, or for any other information you may require about the film or Bottlegreen Productions please email FAO Sophie Walcott at: bottlegreenproductions@gmail.com
Website: www.shortfilmbubbles.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Bubbles-Short-Film/173451646048497
Twitter: @bubblesfilm
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