What is Lady M about?
Hell hath no fury like an older woman scorned ....
An ageing actress summons the spirit of Lady Macbeth in order to win the part in an upcoming production.
The actress, Margot Collins, played Lady Macbeth to great acclaiming her youth. Now in her fifties, she is largely forgotten, struggling for auditions, let alone parts. But when a theatre company announces its intention to stage Macbeth, Margot is determined to land the eponymous role once more ...
At the auditions it is a younger actress, Chloe, who commands the attention of the director, Richard, but he remembers Margot's inspirational performance and agrees to hear her read. It soon becomes clear, however, that Margot has no chance of starring opposite Brad, a hot TV star, twenty years her junior - and is instead offered the art of one of the witches...
But one should never underestimate the spirit of the play to conjure black magic, to summon mishaps and mischief, nor the power of a formidable older woman to get what she wants ...
Why are we making this film?
Numerous studies in recent years have revealed the depressing extent of gender inequality in the film, television and theatre industries, and the woeful prospects for actresses over 40. The few actresses who do find work after middle age tend to play mothers, wives, spinsters or decrepit hags. Meryl Streep, one of those few older actresses still permitted to access interesting roles, recently revealed that she was offered the part of a witch three times in the space of a year.
Lady M, a film about the trials of an ageing actress to secure a relevant role, isn't just a great script, but a metaphor for an underrepresented demographic. Margot’s experience of the world is unpredictable, unresponsive and not always benevolent, one that many older women might identify with. The ability to control one’s environment or the ravages of time seem impossible. In other narratives Margot may have been portrayed as a victim to be pitied, a self-deluded tragic character or a nuisance to be ignored. Here, however, Margot refuses to be beaten. She is a force of nature with a burning ambition to succeed and, like Shakespeare’s iconic heroine, Lady Macbeth, she summons the strength and will to control and shape her own future.
Traditionally in stories, strong, ambitious women have got their comeuppance or fallen apart, but Margot is here literally to steal the show – and in doing so challenges society’s view of older women and what they can be. The experiences of women past middle age, which are so complex, so multi faceted and relevant must no longer be erased from the art form. The stories of these generations of women are a crucial part of the fabric of our Society, of our cultural legacy - and must be told.
Who are we making it with?
Cast
We are pleased to announce that Samantha Bond is currently attached to the project to play the role of Margot Collins
Samantha Bond is one of Britain’s best-known actresses. She trained at the Bristol Old Vic and has since been active in theatre, television and film. Theatre credits include Rubinstein’s Kiss at the Hampstead Theatre, Amy’s View at the National Theatre, West End and Broadway, and A Woman of No Importance at the Haymarket Theatre. For television, she has appeared in the period dramas Mansfield Park, Fanny Hill and Downton Abbey, as well as the comedy series Outnumbered. She also starred as Miss Moneypenny in several James Bond films.
The Team
Tammy Riley Smith - Director
Tammy is an award-winning director represented by Casarotto Ramsay.
Her debut feature, Delicious, screened in competition at the Busan International Film Festival in October 2013. It was represented by sales agents 7&7 and officially selected for the Vilnius, Miami and Nantes British Film Festivals. The film has been released theatrically and digitally in many territories including, most recently, the USA.
Tammy was a recipient of WFTV’s Directing Change Award in 2004, working as trainee director to John Madden on Proof, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Anthony Hopkins.
Her short film, Ain’t Misbehavin’, won the Kodak Short Film Prize, a Highly Commended from Turner Classic Movies and was selected for 11 international film festivals, including Cannes 2001.
Previously she was a Development Executive at Working Title Films, Assistant to producer Alison Owen on romantic drama Moonlight and Valentino, and Director’s Assistant to Mark Joffe on romantic comedy, The Matchmaker.
Melissa Knatchbull - Writer
In addition to a masters degree in screenwriting from the University of the Arts and one in Creative Writing from Middlesex, Melissa went to Webber Douglas Academy of Performing Arts and has had over 20 years experience as a professional actress, with many credits in film, television and theatre, like Four Weddings and a Funeral, Mission Impossible, Dalziel and Pascoe and Randall and Hopkirk, to her name.
inspired by ageism and an imbalance of women in the creative industry, Melissa wrote her first short film script Lady M. She has also written three feature films.
Karen Newman - Producer (Seahorse Films LLP)
Karen moved in to producing following a highly successful career in Global Events Management where she was responsible for large high profile events and their corresponding budgets. Her former training as an actor combined with her exceptional organisational skills and financial acumen makes her an outstanding Creative Producer. Since moving into producing Karen has made a number of short films which include “FinDom” and Misanthropic Dave vs. the Pleasure Virus for Dealers Inn Productions, “Nothing to Wear” for Another View Productions and a number of corporate short films for globally recognised companies. She joined Seahorse Films in 2014 to produce “Squidge” and is now a Co Owner of the Company alongside critically acclaimed Director, Rebekah Fortune and Writer Peter Machen as the company's sole producer. Karen has just completed her first Feature Film, Just Charlie, with Seahorse Films and currently has several other projects in various stages of development. Just Charlie will be released in 2017 and has been acquired by international Sales Agent, Media Luna.
Ben Cogan - Casting Director
Ben Cogan has worked in casting for 15 years. He began as a casting assistant for many shows (including EastEnders, Holby City and Waking the Dead) before becoming the casting director for Doctors in 2002. 380 episodes later, Ben moved to Casualty, and, in his time there, 6 episodes that he worked on were recognised with BAFTA nominations. During this period he also worked on the Afternoon Play series, Kiss of Death and various short films - one of which (Wish 143) was nominated for an Oscar.
The ASC - The Executive Producers
The Actors Screen Collective are an autonomous group of highly skilled, resourceful and proactive actors and filmmakers. In October 2009, a group of Actors, prompted by a love of films and the desire to achieve the highest calibre of screen acting, created a company of professionals, determined to develop both their artistic and technical abilities for screen. TV drama producer, director and theorist, Michael Ferguson, together with Robert Lewis, the founder of the Lewis Clinic of Cognitive Hypnotherapy in Harley Street, gave their unwavering support and invaluable guidance to this vision and thus the Actors Screen Collective was born.
How are we planning to make this film?
Well we could do what Margot does and conjure up some black magic ... but we are hoping that will not be needed. We are getting an excellent experienced team together, selecting stunning locations and working hard because we want to make this happen... we just need a little help and that is where you come in.
We set our target at 30K and we know that like sounds a lot but when you start looking at a stella cast, high production values, an experienced crew, the very best equipment, a well thought out marketing plan not to mention all of the people and work that goes into post production it all starts to add up. We will be submitting the film to high class BAFTA qualifying festivals and believe it has the potential to do very well ...
Discussing Film Finance could take a while so we have summarised where the money will be allocated below
Product Placement Opportunities
We have exciting options to offer in terms of product placement - We will assimilate brands into the story and make them part of the natural setting of the film. This provides a unique marketing opportunity as products and brands are showcased within natural settings more relatable to viewers. This often provides inspiration or justification for purchase choices
If you are interested in this opportunity please contact us directly
Karen.newman@seahorsefilms.co.uk
Other Ways You Can Help ...
We fully appreciate that not everyone will be able to contribute but there is still a lot that you can do to help us
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If you wish to make a donation for an amount not mentioned or would like to help in any other way please contact us on: karen.newman@seahorsefilms.co.uk
Thank you - your support means the world to us!
"You great benefactors, sprinkle our society with thankfulness. For your own gifts, make yourselves praised"