2 years a go we started searching for new talent for this film going into schools in Newham and holding workshop castings for the young characters, small roles and non actors. Dan Hubbard did an amazing job casting the established and brilliant actors including Natalie Press, Jo Hartley and the fantastic Riz Ahmed.
Working on ill manors was like working with family. Everyone worked hard, had fun and 100 per cent believed in Ben Drew and the film because he belived in all of us. Thanks for the experience Ben. x
A few photos from the premiere at The Empire- Leicester Square and then the after party at the W Hotel.
Riz Ahmed with Editor Farrah
Me- on route to my first premiere
Farrah and I on the red carpet
Ben Drew
ill manors poster at The Empire
Sophie and Karen- the make up team and I at the party.
Great new retro TVC by Nick Gordon.
I did some street casting for this in Kiev- Ukraine! Interesting place to find people. I had a lovely translator and assistant called Alyona. Stella Artois 'World Trade Fair' (30') from Somesuch & Co. on Vimeo.
Top Boy director Yann Demange directed this music video for Plan B's latest.
I was assistant casting director on the film Ill Manors so we used some of the cast from the film and some from Top Boy which I had assisted on for Des Hamilton.
Here is a link to the video but you should also read his statement so you understand Bens message behind the video. http://www.time4planb.co.uk/statement/
I realised that I never included a link to my own film Eli. I made this for Straight 8 2010 and it has been shown at Cannes Film Festival and several other film festivals since including Raindance, Rushes Soho shorts, Couch Fest, CFC Worldwide short festival and more.. I even won a bottle of olive oil in a festival in France!
I spent almost 3 weeks in Ireland travelling around to street cast the web content for the Tourism Ireland commercial and also crossed over to the main tvc. Fell in love with Dingle! Actually everywhere I went in Ireland was pretty special. :)
Here is one for the web content directed by Bob Harlow. The very talented surfer Al Mennie-
Once again lots of street casting for this commercial. The guy who had his head shaved really was raising money for charity and was planning on a charity head shave for a still born charity. We got him to have the headshave with his family around him for the commercial. Great moment and lots of money raised.
Daniel Wolfe directed this lovely commercial for Freeview at the time of the Royal Wedding. It was in the top 10 ads of the year on ITV at Christmas...
The funny thing is I street cast some of the dog owner characters for this and I found one guy on Richmond common who resembled the guy from 'Jesus Christ- Fennnnnnton'!! hhmmmm... could it be him??
I did the street casting in London and New York for this. We met some amazing people with such diverse lives. My favourites have to be the NYC school bus driver singing Amazing Grace, Warren the crump dancer in China Town, London and the guy at the very end running on the beach in next to nothing on Coney Island!
Candy- a short film by Kinga Burza. This was commisoned for the BBC.
I'm a freelance casting director for commercials, music videos and films. I assist casting directors as times too. My blog is like a visual cv of some of the work I've done. Recently cast my first TV comedy-People Just Do Nothing which is out 2014. I've also worked on the feature film ILL MANORS with Dan Hubbard, Top Boy (assisting Des Hamilton) several short films for RANKIN and more recently street casting on feature films Catch Me Daddy, The Goob and Bypass. I sing in Blues Brothers Banned- www.bluesbrothersbanned.co.uk and I sometimes teach, direct and choreograph dance and drama to Children aged 3 upwards! I still enjoy performing and also do voiceovers. Just done the recent Tamagotchi Friends ad. :)
