Reece Cargan to create new company 'Randan' with James Heath

As announced today in Screen International - Reece Cargan and Vaishnavi Ramu from Bombito are joining forces with James Heath, Simon Mallinson and Lauren Piskothy from MTP to create Randan.

The BFI announced in January that MTP and Bombito were two of a select few production companies to receive funding from their highly competitive Global Screen Fund. With this funding, they are creating a new production company - Randan.

The new company

Producers Reece Cargan and James Heath will now run projects through Randan as a shared vehicle to develop, produce and distribute content with a global reach. The new label was created with a shared vision to champion new storytelling and a desire to tap into the well of talented writers/directors throughout Scotland and beyond. 

Randan will work across live-action features, documentaries and TV and will focus on telling intersectional stories through a contemporary lens, showcasing the best of what UK voices have to offer regionally and globally. 

In years 1-2, they intend to focus on first and second features from emerging writers and directors. Randan’s slate selection is as follows:

• Boifriend  - by Jack Goessens 

• Your Honour - by Bircan Birol

• Ride - by Dean Loxton

• A Good Spell - by Michael Lee Richardson

• Love Letters - by Danny Cook

• Ting - by Maximilien Dejoie and Virginija Vareikyte

• Head Rush - by Philip Wright

• Desperate Wretched People - by Jamie Maule-ffinch

Co Productions

These projects will be buoyed by a catalogue of European Co-Productions - with four co-production projects already scheduled for release in 2024, 2025 under the new banner.

• Where Dragons Live - World Premiere - Sheffield Doc Fest June 2024 - Docmakers, Netherlands 

• Leonora in the Morning Light  - in post-production - Skye Films Dragonfly films, Meli Melo Cultura  and Digital Cube

• Spilt Milk- in post-production - co-produced with 925 Productions

• Midwinter Break  - in post-production Shoebox Films, Family Affair, Film 4, with Protagonist handling worldwide sales

Future plans

At Randan, Reece Cargan will act as both Producer and Managing Director, James Heath will also produce and stay on as executive producer at MTP.  Simon Mallinson takes on the chairman role, and Vaishnavi Ramu and Lauren Piskothy will be joining as Development Assistants from Bombito and MTP respectively.

REECE CARGAN:

“As a producer who has worked solo for (too) many years building Bombito up - I’m really happy to now be able to share the future successes, joy, pain and workload! with James and all the team at Randan. 

I’m really excited for this new chapter and looking forward to continuing to co-produce with Europe and push forward Bombito-originated projects -with both Boifriend and Your Honour scheduled for production in 2024 and 2025. 

I’m equally delighted to start working across all the projects that James has originated and start to develop our totally new Randan slate together”. 

JAMES HEATH:

“It feels like years of planning have come together to make this a reality. I’m thrilled that the BFI UK Global Screen Fund could see our bold vision of MTP partnering with Bombito together to make something greater than the sum of our parts with Randan. 

Reece is developing a remarkable and exciting variety of projects on the slate and brings skills in abundance. As well as bringing on the brilliant Lauren and Vaishnavi to the team in development, allows for an exciting future ahead for our ambitious production company.

The company will make its debut at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival with both James and Reece on the ground in Cannes.

Contact:

www.ontherandan.com 

reece@ontherandan.com

james@ontherandan.com

'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.