"FRANKLYN" SEES THE FUTURE

The huge value of shorts as calling cards is proved again as another short's director has made the giant step up to the feature level.

This time it is Gerald McMorrow who made a name for myself with “Thespian X” (main photo) in 2002, winning the hotly contested TCM Classic competition.

Thespian X featured an unemployed actor attempting to sign on in a dystopian job centre of the future and McMorrow’s big screen outing, called “Franklyn”, takes on a similarly challenging theme, promising a romantic tragedy with four people living out their lives in parallel worlds – contemporary London and a futuristic, faith-dominated place interestingly names Meanwhile City.

McMorrow must have done a good job on the script because he has attracted a star cast, beginning with Sam “Control” Riley (photo above) and Eva “007” Green, together with Susannah York and Bernard Hill, and Ryan Philippe and Art Malik.

The producer for the project is veteran Jeremy “The Last Emperor” Thomas who notes: "We've had wonderful experiences working with first-time directors such as Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast) and David Mackenzie (Young Adam) to bring their talent to audiences around the world and we are very excited by Gerald's creativity and convinced that this will be a powerful and dynamic film”.

Okay, so that only a quote, not a proper interview. But more will follow as “Franklyn” progresses. It began shooting in London in Late September.

By the way, 'dystopia' is defined as 'imaginary place where everything is as bad as possible'.

Filed October 17, 2007