Everyman wins a Royal Television Society award

We are so pleased that Jack Goessens personal, short documentary Everyman was nominated then WON an RTS award in the best short form category!

Director Jack Goessens and Producer Reece Cargan with the RTS award for best short form

The RTS Awards recognise and celebrate the best talent, skills and creativity across TV production in 2021. Juries have been meeting for the past two months, with the unenviable task of whittling entries down to a shortlist across 24 categories.

Stephen O’Donnell, Chair of RTS Scotland

“The standard of entries this year has been outstanding, and our jurors have had an incredibly difficult task in creating this impressive shortlist. I’m thrilled that we’ll be celebrating the wealth of TV talent we have here in Scotland at our awards ceremony later this month. Huge congratulations to all the nominees!”

The film

Everyman by Jack Goessens is a personal, visual essay about gender transition – focusing on the social context and exploring how the world is different living as female compared to being perceived as male.

Jack tells his story by using and reframing gender focused tropes and imagery from popular culture, mythology, history and art.

Starring

• Adam Kashmiry as 'Mars'

• Goose Masondo as 'Venus'

• Arran Skillin as 'Young Jack'

• Jamie Stewart as 'The Gatekeeper'

A majority queer cast display different aspects of Jack's life and identity, mirroring his experience from his unique point of view.

Filmed safely in and around Glasgow in October 2020, adhering to strict Government guidelines during the COVID 19 pandemic.

The team

• Written, Directed & Edited by Jack Goessens

• Produced by Reece Cargan for Scottish Documentary Institute

• ​DOP: David Liddell

• Design: Cara Roxburgh & Kirstin Rodger

• Make Up Artist: Hollie Mckenzie

• Composer: Alex Mackay

Further information

• Everyman was developed and supported by the Scottish Documentary Institute's highly acclaimed Bridging the Gap programme and supported by Screen Scotland.

• Jack Goessens was selected as a BFI x BAFTA flare mentee 2021

• Since working together on Everyman - Reece Cargan and Bombito Productions have produced a live action & animated short with both Jack Goessens and Adam Kashmiry - Who I am Now - currently screening at festivals

• Jack and Reece have feature film 'Boifriend' in early funded development.

Ghoul Friends wins best pitch in Poland

Bombito's Young Adult TV series in development 'Ghoul Friends' won best pitch at Kids Kino Industry Forum in Warsaw. The project was presented by Bombito producer Reece Cargan who also accepted the award.

Reece Cargan pitching at Kids Kino

Kids Kino

The forum is Poland's first international event for films and TV series aimed at a young audience and is part of the Kids Kino International Film Festival.

The award

Ghoul Friends won the m:brane Exchange Award for the Best Pitch at Kids Kino Industry.

"m:brane selected Ghoul Friends because it’s a challenging and inspiring story, told in an exciting context. We’re really looking forward to seeing this TV series".

The award was given by Lennart Ström, Managing Director at m:brane. The award is an invitation to pitch at the m:brane forum in Malmo in March 2023.

The series

Ghoul Friends is Young Adult TV series of 10 x 30 minutes. It is an LGBTQIA+ Paranormal thriller - with a healthy dose of comedy.

Synopsis

"Sent from LA to spend the summer in rural Yorkshire, American teen Mia discovers there’s more to England than she thought when she starts to fall for a girl haunted by a vengeful ghost".

Background

We received funding from Screen Yorkshire's FLEX Development Lab and from the British Film Institute’s Young Audience Content Fund to run a writers’ room. During the room we worked with a group of amazing writers to discuss, dissect and construct our first season. Following this we collated our pitch deck, show bible and detailed episode outlines. ​​ Please get in touch to view our materials.

'Just Jackie' commissioned by Short Circuit & BFI NETWORK

Thrilled to announce that short film 'Just Jackie' has been commissioned and will be heading into production.

Short Circuit announced today that 'Just Jackie' is one of the seven films that will be produced through the BFI NETWORK backed short film scheme Sharp Shorts.

The film

Just Jackie is about plus-sized 9 year old Jackie, who loves dressing up in his mum’s clothes, seeks sweeties (and approval) from the girl-next-door.

Just Jackie is an uplifting bubblegum pop tale of friendship, acceptance and belonging.

The team

Writer: Ali Taylor

Ali was on the inaugural BBC Writersroom Scottish TV Drama Room and has been a finalist twice for the BBC Writer's Prize for Drama. Her pilot 'The Hotel at the End of the World' was shortlisted to the last 21 of the C21 International Drama Competition.

“I’ve wanted to tell a story about a young queer character that’s joyous and celebratory for some time.

Thanks to Sharp Shorts’ support, I’m delighted and excited to be going into production with ‘Just Jackie’.

Michael was the first person I told the idea to and, from the outset, I had my heart set on them directing, so I’m thrilled to be working with them as well as our wonderful producers, James and Reece.”

Director: Michael Lee Richardson

Michael Lee Richardson is a writer and youth worker based in Glasgow.

Michael’s short film, My Loneliness is Killing Me – directed by Tim Courtney – won a BAFTA

Scotland Award in 2018. It has been shown on BBC Scotland, and at film festivals around the

world.

"I was so, so excited when Ali sent me this script. I love the warmth of her writing and the compassion she has for her characters - and I was over the moon when she asked me to direct it!"

Michael currently has film and television projects in development with Kindle Entertainment, Balloon, Projector Pictures, Tigerlily and feature project A Good Spell with Bombito.

Producer: James Heath

James Heath is a BAFTA nominated producer of feature film The Fitzroy (SXSW award winning), written and directed by Andrew Harmer ‘The Fitzroy’.

James joined MTP as an Exec in 2019, with a focus on developing a slate of original projects and international co-production.

"Delighted and excited to have the support from Short Circuit to bring Ali’s bold and uplifting script to life.

Michael is the most exciting director imaginable to get the opportunity to bring this script to the screen and its thrill to be partnering with an experienced and skilled producer as Reece – I can’t wait to get started!"

Producer: Reece Cargan

Reece is a producer and founder of Bombito Productions.

"I'm really happy to begin working with Ali and her amazing script and continue my working relationship with both James and Michael.

Extra delighted that, I'm able to produce Michael's first narrative short as director - while Michael and I continue to progress our feature project: 'A Good Spell' together".

Reece was recently selected by Screen International as a Rising Star Scotland.

The scheme

In April 2022, Short Circuit invited filmmaking teams to submit a one-page outline of their film idea. After a rigorous selection process, 12 ideas were selected to take part in further development.

The twelve teams then pitched their project to a panel that was formed by Short Circuit Talent Executives; Claudia Yusef, Head of Development at BBC Film; and Brian Coffey, Producer at The Highland Midgie for the chance to receive production funding to make their film.

Next steps

We are excited to work with experienced casting agent Anna Dawson to find our perfect Jackie and start pre production in earnest with a view to shoot late 2022 or early 2023.