The new short film is one of 11 brand new comedy short films from emerging creative talent and established names to launch on BBC Three in the coming months and on BBC iPlayer on Friday 26th May.
At the BBC Comedy Festival in Cardiff, the BBC's Director of Comedy, Jon Petrie, announced eleven brand new BBC Comedy Short Films which are launching on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three saying "It’s been exciting to create a space for comedy creatives to flex their funny bones and we’re particularly proud to have given 11 new writers and 6 new directors their first BBC Comedy credit. We can’t wait to see them go out."
The BBC Comedy Short Film strand was created as a place for both new and established talent to develop and showcase exciting concepts that centre on originality and experimentation.
BBC Comedy joined forces with teams in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to capture the best ideas from across the UK.
7 Minutes
A desolate train track seems the perfect spot to end it all, until someone else turns up with the same idea. Awkward.
Directed by Ricky Gervais and written by Harry Carlile and Jonathan Parramint, 7 Minutes stars Joe Wilkinson and Seroca Davis and has been produced by Hussain Casey-Ahmed and is a Derek production.
Speaking ahead of its release, writers Harry Carlile and Jonathan Parramint said "We are so proud and excited to see our film come to life. We’re so grateful to Ricky and the BBC for believing in us and this project and can’t wait for everyone to watch it. Please watch it."
A Better Place
After their father’s passing, an oddball trio inherit the failing family funeral business. Led by hapless son Archie, they devise a plan to save their funeral home from the clutches of rival businesswoman Eileen.
Created and written by Book of Jam, produced by Laura Ferguson and executive produced by Jon Rolph and Matthew Cowan, A Better Place is a Production Attic production.
Writers Jacob Topen and Ibrahim Clayton said "We’re delighted to bring Book of Jam's fly on the wall, dead-pan style to the BBC Comedy Festival. If a comedy festival needs more of anything, it’s more plucky Dundonians, and stoney faced Brummies, in a film about a funeral home."
Birdsong
Birdsong is a short film created, written & voiced by Uncle Shortbread about the dangers of sleep deprivation, the brutality of the music industry, and the power of Iggy Pop’s hip thrust and stars Colin Hoult.
Directed by Arthur Studholme and produced by Nick Coupe, Birdsong is executive produced by Jimmy Mulville for Hat Trick.
Speaking ahead of its release, Arthur Studholme and Cosmo Wellings (Uncle Shortbread) said "Making this short film with Hat Trick for the BBC has been an absolute dream come true. Not in the literal sense though, as sadly no one's eyeballs and teeth fell out during filming, and we never found ourselves standing naked on stage at our school talent show with our childhood sweetheart Cindy Business watching on and laughing. Hopefully next time."
Calamity James
Calamity James is a slapstick comedy about a young man, James, who is cursed with ‘acute misfortune syndrome’. James tries to reconnect with his dad after being thrown out by his mum for setting fire to their house at a family barbeque. In this world, chronic bad luck exists and the unbelievable is the everyday. It stars Mark Bonnar and Dylan Blore.
Based on the Beano comic strip of the same name, Camality James has been written and created by Louis Paxton who speaking ahead of its release, said "Calamity James has been a wonderful opportunity for me. Together with some of Scotland’s best cast and crew, we’ve made an ambitious, heartfelt, and befittingly disastrous short film of which I am immensely proud."
Calamity James has been produced by Laura Taylor and Emanata Studios and executive produced by Mark Talbot and Charlie Coombes.
Funboys
Life is hard. So, Callum and Jordan, two emotionally-unassembled young lads from Northern Ireland, start the Funboys’ Fun Club: a playgroup for childish young men to engage in wholesome mucking about.
But when a juice party goes awry, Callum’s ultra-religious fiancée, Morgan kicks them out and the Funboys must search for a new HQ. When they come across Marty, a catatonically depressed 60-year-old, can they bring joy back to his life and prove that fun won't necessarily lead to an eternity spent in raging hellfire?
Funboys, written by and starring Rian Lennon and Ryan Early has been produced by Simon Mayhew-Archer, directed by Rian Lennon and produced by Camden Productions.
Speaking ahead of its release, Super Lemon aka Rian Lennon and Ryan Early, said "A short film based on our own sad, sad lives."
Jobless
Jobless is a sitcom all about the Adenugas, a British Nigerian middle-class family in Milton Keynes, in particular 16-year-old twin brother and sister Kehinde (Kenny) and Taiwo (Tai). Tai and Kenny are desperate to make their mark on the world. That’s hard when you live at home with your parents, and even harder when you live in Milton Keynes…
Created and written by Thara Popoola, Jobless has been produced by Zoë Waterman, directed by Big Red Button, executive produced by Rachel Ablett and produced by Zeppotron (a Banijay UK company).
Speaking ahead of its release, writer and creator Thara Popoola said "I'm so excited for the world to meet the Adenuga twins, Tai and Kenny, or as their mum likes to call them 'jobless people'! We've had such a fun time making this, and I couldn't have asked for a better cast, who have brought these characters to life so brilliantly."
Man Eater
Don’t be afraid to embrace the beast within you...even if that means wolfing down a load of pervy men.
Written by Angela Nesi and Anna Brook-Mitchell, Man Eater has been produced by John Pocock, line produced by Rachel Alabaster, directed by Rashida Seriki and produced by DAVE.
Speaking ahead of its release, writers Angela Nesi and Anna Brook-Mitchell said "We are really excited to be a part of BBC Comedy Short Films. It was a brilliant opportunity for us to work with such a talented team led by John Pocock, a producer we’ve been hassling to work with us for ages! A huge thank you to everyone who worked on this film and to the BBC Comedy team for creating space and opportunity for female comedy writers."
Mobility
First day of 6th Form and Mike, Sonny and Dan are heading in on the mobility bus. Will they make it to school without strangling each other?
Written by Jack Carroll and Tom Gregory, Mobility stars Jack Carroll, has been directed by Akaash Meeda, executive produced by David Simpson and Sam Ward and produced by Tiger Aspect.
Speaking ahead of its release, writer Jack Carroll said "It’s been a lifelong ambition of mine to write and act in a BBC comedy and I couldn’t be prouder of getting to do that with a project as good as Mobility, we had such great fun making it and I think that really comes across. I can’t wait for viewers to join Mike and the Gang for a journey on the mobility bus on the 26th May. Watch it and tell a friend, otherwise you’re probably ableist."
Pobl Bachyn
Pobl Bachyn is a new short comedy-horror film from Tarot about the triple threat of Welsh folklore, English tourists and (to a lesser degree) being hungover, all set on a farm on Ynys Môn.
Written by Adam Drake, Ed Easton, Kath Hughes, Ben Rowse and Kiri Pritchard-McLean who also makes her directorial debut, Pobl Bachyn has been produced by Hal Branson and Alastair Hope-Morley, executive produced by Henry Widdicombe and produced by Little Wander.
Speaking ahead of its release, writer and director Kiri Pritchard-McLean said "I'm so excited that the first project I've directed is full of comedy talent I admire like Katy Wix, Dean Fagan and Tarot - I've got to say them, really. I'm so happy we got to shoot it all in beautiful North Wales working with an abundance of Welsh talent. Pobl Bachyn will take you on a night out with friends and give you a messy end you'll be talking about for years."
This Is Gay
They’re called “gays”. But what are they? Who are they? And why? Part mockumentary, part sketch show, This Is Gay attempts to answer these important questions. Your guide, a figure simply known as “Host”, takes you on a strange adventure with many stop offs along the way, including Renaissance Italy, modern-day London, a charming Welsh parish, and a fridge.
Written and created by Kirk Flash, This Is Gay has been produced by Rupert Majendie and Baby Cow.
Speaking ahead of its release, writer and creator Kirk Flash said "I just want to shine a light on the bits of gay life your local supermarket’s Pride month advert won't touch."
Where It Ends
Actor Jack joins a panto tour of care homes, where he is confronted with the reality of where it ends. Where It Ends stars Jack Robertson, Lauren Pattison, Charlie Hardwick and Dave Johns.
Written by Jack Robertson, Where It Ends has been directed by Fergal Costello, executive produced by David Simpson and Sam Ward and produced by Tiger Aspect (a Banijay UK company).
Speaking ahead of its release, writer Jack Roberston said "Where it Ends is a personal story of something that actually happened to me and has stayed with me for years. So to be able to work with such fantastic people to bring the story to life, for screen, was amazing. But the best bit was the catering, the chips on set were perfectly seasoned."