JUST JIM - visitfilms.comvisitfilms.com/media/product/JUST JIM PRESS KIT.pdfJUST JIM A Film by CrAig roberts 2015 / 84 min / USA / English / Dark Comedy Sales Contact: 173 Richardson

JUST JIMA Film by CrAig roberts

2015 / 84 min / USA / English / Dark Comedy

Sales Contact:

173 Richardson Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222 USAOffice: +1.718.312.8210 Fax: +1.718.362.4865

Email: [email protected] Web: www.visitfilms.com

LOGLINEIn a small Welsh town, a teenage outcast becomes the cool kid when an enigmatic American moves in next door and takes him under his wing.

SHORT SYNOPSISJim is a high school outcast. His only friend, Michael, has left him for the cool crowd. His crush doesn’t even know his name. When his dog runs away too, Jim has no one left. All that changes when Dean, a mysterious American with movie star good looks, moves into the house next door. Dean offers Jim friendship and a makeover to help him become the popular kid at school. When it turns out that Dean is hiding a dark secret, however, Jim is forced to question if his newfound popu-larity is worth it.

TECH SPECSRun Time: 84 minAspect Ratio: 2.40:1 (2048x858 Scope)Shooting Format: 2K Anamorphic digital acquisition - Arri AlexaSound: 5.1Frame Rate: 24fpsProduction Company: Vox PicturesCountry: USALanguage: English

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENTThe main theme I explore in the film is the quality of existence. In the beginning, Jim has the idea that being cool is the answer to everything. He eventually grows to learn and accept that what happens will happen. If you are meant to be the loser at school 9/10 it’s probably best to just go with it. No matter how old we are, everyone wants to be respected but it’s a big mistake to try to be someone or something we’re not just to impress others. At the heart of this melancholy tale is the simple message of “just be yourself”.

The great thing about shooting this film in my hometown and at my old school is that it was very per-sonal to me. Some of the moments in this movie actually happened, so it has been great to stay true to the locations and capture the town as it was to me when I was growing up. The town is filled with people who are happy to be living the life they have chosen, like Jim’s parents. The film is a reflection on what growing up in Maesycwmmer was like for me. If only I had a James Dean character to help me.

JIMJim is a teenager frustrated with every aspect of his life. He’s constantly being bullied, his parents pre-fer his golden child sister and his old best friend is now snogging the girl of his dreams. Life sucks and it’s about to get a lot worse...

DEANDean is a psychopath who comes to Wales and preys on the weak, with the weakest being Jim. Dean has studied what it is to be cool. He was once exactly the same as Jim, which is why Dean pushes Jim over the edge. In a weird way, he’s sort of a good guy as he helps Jim achieve his resolve.

Q&A WITH CRAIG ROBERTSHow did Just Jim come to be?It was just the Cinematic scheme [Cinematic was set up by Ffilm Cymru Wales, the BFI, BBC Films, S4C and Soda Pictures to encourage emerging filmmaking talent from Wales]. I’d been writing stuff beforehand, nothing worth mentioning, and then I saw this scheme. It was two months until deadline and I was in America at the time, shooting something. I had some downtime so I just started writing, and sent it in. I was always writing to direct, not because I think I can write.

They say ‘write what you know’. Just how autobiographical is Just Jim? Events get pretty bizarre, so it’s not /that/ autobiographical! The first half is, definitely, just from being set in my hometown, and it’s based on my experience I had with a best friend. You know, you just grow apart from people and there’s nothing you can do about it. All the characters are based on people I know from my life. And, I suppose, my experience of trying to get with girls, which was pretty unsuc-cessful.

Can you tell me a bit about the shooting style? We shot with an anamorphic lens to give a retro feel, using crash zooms and lots of tracking to keep it imperfect. The beginning uses a combination of static frames and locked off shots of Jim in the house, as everything in the town is at a standstill. We used as little movement as possible until Dean comes into the story, at which point the movement becomes more rounded and energetic.

The tone of this movie stems from the nihilistic town these characters live in. Maesycwmmer is like a pointless creation, like somebody built it and left. There is little hope and the streets are paved with boredom. The townspeople are robotic and have nothing left to give. I wanted the comedy to come from the awkward moments with Jim. He is our way into this town, he is our eyes.

Was it tricky to star whilst also directing?I was worried that it would come across that I’m trying to do some kind of Woody Allen thing, which I’m totally not. I’m mainly the lead because it was easier. We had a lack of money and a lack of time, so for me to play it was easier. And I am that kid in a way, so for me to play it makes sense. But it’s hard, really hard. I hate movies where there’s no preparation and it’s just thrown together and shot hand-held. I wanted to prep everything.

What made you think of Emile for the part?I was speaking to David Gordon Green [who directed Roberts in the pilot of TV series Red Oaks] about casting the part, and I was adamant that I wanted an American to play it, much as the budget was so small. Brits are really good at playing Americans, but there’s still something different about an American, the way they carry themselves. The first act of Just Jim is so monotonous in the fact that this kid lives this life that is boring. When this American comes in, he really needs to make an impact. So I spoke to David, who had just done Prince Avalanche with Emile, and he said, “You should get Emile to do it.” I was like [disbelieving], “Yeah, sure.” I sent him the script and then I got a call from Emile saying he liked it. He loved the character. He kept calling him “Satan”, which I think he wanted to play.

How did you prep? Did you storyboard?We storyboarded main scenes. One thing we storyboarded was an end sequence, which we didn’t have the time to really do, so we cut it. My main prep was spending as much time as possible with the DP [Richard Stoddard] as he’s the one who’s going to make it look good. I sent him a bunch of films to watch and we just talked about it.

What were your influences?Definitely John Hughes. I find there’s a lack of innocence in cinema now, and as an audience we’re more sceptical. For instance, Ferris Bueller skips school and goes to an art gallery, and that scene’s badass. To impress people now, you have to burn a house down. Those movies were made at the right time. There’s a magic to the innocence of being a teenager. Bill Forsyth’s Gregory’s Girl is amaz-ing. The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner was a big influence, and also Billy Liar. Weirdly, The Conformist was an influence for the lighting. And then some David Lynch stuff – Twin Peaks and maybe Blue Velvet.

EMILE HIRSCH | DeanEmile Hirsch recently wrapped the film adaptation of Eleanor Henderson’s novel Ten Thousand Saints alongside a stellar cast that includes Ethan Hawke, Emily Mortimer and Julianne Nicholson. He is hot off the success of the critically acclaimed Lone Survivor in which he starred opposite Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch and Ben Foster. In 2013 Hirsch starred in the Emmy-nominated miniseries Bonnie&Clyde. Directed by Bruce Beresford, Hirsch played Clyde Barrow op-posite Holliday Grainger’s Bonnie Parker, with William Hurt and Holly Hunter in supporting roles. Also in 2013 the SAG-nominated actor starred in Prince Ava-lanche opposite Paul Rudd, Motel Life alongside Ste-phen Dorff and Dakota Fanning and in Twice Born op-posite Penélope Cruz. Hirsch is probably best known for his breakthrough performance in Into the Wild and has also had starring roles in such films as Killer Joe opposite Matthew McConaughey, Milk, opposite Sean Penn, as well as Savages, Speed Racer, Alpha Dog, The Lords of Dogtown, The Girl Next Door and The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys.

CAST

CRAIG ROBERTS | JimCraig Roberts has just finished shooting The Revised Fundamentals of Care-Giving opposite Paul Rudd. He is soon to appear in feature Kill Your Friends opposite Nicholas Hoult and will soon start shooting the new US series, Red Oaks. In 2014 he was seen in a ma-jor supporting role in Bad Neighbors, opposite Seth Rogan, Zac Efron and Dave Franco, in 22 Jump Street alongside Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill and in 2013 alongside Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska in The Double. Roberts was first seen in the critically acclaimed Submarine directed by Richard Ayoade and was named Young British Performer of the Year at the Critics Circle awards in 2012. Just Jim is his directorial debut.

ANEIRIN HUGHES | DaDA prominent television figure in Wales, Aneirin Hughes is seen opposite Rhys Ifans in Dan Y Wenallt, Kevin Allen’s Welsh language adaptation of Under Milk Wood due for release later in 2015. Previous films include the Welsh productions Y Sycras (The Circus), Cwcw, Crosscurrent, Soft Sand Blue Sea and Cameleon and for television Y Gwyll/Hinterland, Sons of Liberty, Alys, Pobol Y Cwm, Caryl Parry Jones Series, Holby City, Carwyn. Eastenders, Con Passionate, High Hopes, Consent-ing Adults, Young Dracula 1 & 2, Judge John Deed from 2004-2007, Spooks, Family Affairs, The Deputy, Take Me, Summer in the Suburbs, The Alchemist, Trust, Killer Net and Drovers Gold.

NIA ROBERTS | mumNia Roberts has recently finished shooting Kevin Allen’s adaptation of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood starring Rhys Ifans. Other film cred-its include Patagonia in which she played the lead, Third Star, A Small Country, Daddy’s Girl, Snow Cake and Lois for which Roberts won a Welsh BAFTA for Best Actress in 1999. Roberts is also a familiar face on television, being seen most recently in Y Gwyll/Hinterland and appear-ing regularly in S4C’s Teulu. Other television credits include Holby City, Dr. Who, Collision, Hotel Babylon, Midsomer Murders, Casualty and Score.

RICHARD HARRINGTON | HeaDmasterRichard Harrington’s career has spanned film, television, theatre and radio. Film credits include Elfie Jenkins, The Shooter, Daddy’s Girl in which he played the lead, Joyrider, Mathilde, Secret Passage and House of America. For television Poldark, Y Gwyll/ Hinterland, Burton, Larkrise to Candleford, Crash, Midsomer Murders, Land Girls, Pentalar, Collision, Missing, Holby Blue, Casualty, Bleak House, Dalziel & Pascoe, Silent Witness and Spooks and in theatre most recently in Coriolanus at the National Theatre of Wales.

MARK LEWIS JONESOne of Wales’s most recognisable faces, Mark Lewis Jones has recently wrapped on The Light House, the second film to go into production from Ffilm Cymru Wales’ emerging talent scheme Cinematic. Film credits include Stanley, Trespass Against Us, Child 44, Caught in the Act, The Other Boelyn Girl, Daddy’s Girl, Troy, Master & Commander, Solomon and Gaenor, Paper Mask and The Shell Seekers. His extensive Television career includes Puppy Love, 37 Days, Talking to the Dead, Atlantis, Stella, Game of Thrones, Fabulous Baker Boys, Being Human 3, Silent Witness, Merlin, Crash, Law and Order, The Commander, The Passion, Torchwood, Small Country, Waking the Dead, 55 Degrees North, Murder Prevention, Tell Me Lies, Murphy’s Law and Spooks.

CRAIG ROBERTSWriter/Director

Roberts was first seen in the critically acclaimed Submarine directed by Richard Ayoade and was named Young British Per-former of the Year at the Critics Circle awards in 2012.

Just Jim is his directorial debut.

ADRIAN BATE Producer

Adrian has produced and delivered over 100 hours of Drama to all the major broadcasters in the UK working with a range of talent both in front of and behind the camera. He has co-produced with oth-er European territories and the US. Previously Adrian has headed up Zenith Entertainment and Bill Kenwright’s Film Division. Award winning drama includes Cider With Rosie, Affinity, Two Thousand Acres Of Sky and Little Crackers. Adrian was awarded the David Puttnam Producer’s Award and is currently producing Craig Roberts’ directing debut theatrical feature film Just Jim.

CREW

RICHARD STODDARD Director of Photography

Richard began lighting when he was asked to shoot Becoming Human in 2010, the BAFTA nominat-ed spin off series for Being Human. In 2012 Richard shot the short film Her Next Door for director Sasha Ransome which won Best Comedy Short at the London Short Film Festival 2012 and Best Short at the Anchorage International Film Festival 2012. Richard shot the final block of Being Hu-man directed by Daniel O’Hara. He received a BAFTA Cymru nomination for his work as DOP on the acclaimed Y Gwyll/Hinterland (a Nordic Noir style police investigation series shot in West Wales by Fiction Factory Films). Richard recently completed shooting the feature length drama Right Behind You for S4C Wales also directed by Gareth Bryn, as well as episodes of the series Uncle for director Oliver Refson through Baby Cow Prods.

STEPHEN HAREN Editor

Stephen has worked on feature films such as the award-winning The Last King of Scotland and No-where Boy, before becoming lead Editor on a range of film and TV productions. Recent editor cred-its include upcoming feature Geezer, BAFTA-nominated indie hit Northern Soul, and Nine Kisses, a series of short films for The New York Times Magazine.

MICHAEL PRICE Composer

Michael Price is one of the UK’s most sought after composers. His work for film and television has been widely recognised, winning an EMMY award in 2014, and Royal Television Society, Music&-Sound, and Televisual Bulldog awards as well as a BAFTA nomination and 2 further EMMY nomina-tions for the critically acclaimed BBC series Sherlock, which he scores with David Arnold.He has composed for a number of feature films including Another Me, Inbetweeners 2, The In-betweeners Movie, Delicious, A Fantastic Fear of Everything, Horrid Henry: The Movie, Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, Wild Target, Wild Child and The Mountain Within. Other TV work includes the ITV series Lightfields and the 12-part award-winning documentary series Beyond the Search.

PIP BROUGHTON Producer

For 15 years Pip worked as a theatre director, including Artistic Directorships of Croydon Warehouse, Paines Plough and Nottingham Playhouse. Since 1995 Pip has been working in film and television. Directing work has included several single films for Channel 4: Blood on the Dole and Soft Sand Blue Sea and a bilingual feature set in West Wales, as well as many primetime drama series. As a produc-er, Pip was instrumental in the development of the Playhouse strand on Sky, of which she has now produced 17, working with first-time directors Idris Elba, Matt Smith and Polly Stenham; and acting talent including Juliet Stevenson, Stephen Fry, Stellan Skarsgaad, Ben Whishaw, David Harewood, Emma Thompson to name but a few; and writers Frank McGuinness, Eve Ensler, Mark Ravenhill, Jeremy Brock, Paul O’Grady and Sandi Toksvig. Pip has recently directed the acclaimed ‘Under Milk Wood’ with Michael Sheen, Jonathan Pryce, Matthew Rhys and Sir Tom Jones for BBC.

CREDITS

CASTDean

JimDad

DonaldHeadmaster

MumJackie

MichaelMichelleBeatrice

LeonJohn

WayneSammy

WaitressGavin

Jackie’s Friends

Leon’s DudeParty Kid

Boy In BedThe Class

Cliff The Dog

Emile HirschCraig RobertsAneirin HughesMark Lewis JonesRichard HarringtonNia RobertsCharlotte RandallRyan OwenSai BennettHelen GriffinMatthew AubreyTrystan GavelleRichard LynchWilliam ThomasClaire CageAshley Thomas-EvansShawna WorkmanAlys MasonJacob TylerCallum HymersDarragh MortellJosh ColesPatrick SmallmanMiles HardingIeuan RobertsWIlliam MassHollie O’LearyAngharad WilliamsAbigail ShacksonKelsey BarrattJamie CookJoshua HainesJoshua PriceCurtis DowerBen ReesAlfie

CREW

Written & Directed ByCraig Roberts

Produced ByPip Broughton & Adrian Bate

CastingShaheen Baig & Aisha Walters

Line ProducerGareth I.davies

Director Of PhotographyRichard Stoddard

EditorStephen Haren

Production DesignerArwel Jones

ComposerMichael Price

Costume Designer Sian Jenkins

Hair & Make-Up DesignerMy Alehammer

Executive ProducersAdam Partridge, Steve Jenkins, Edward Fletcher, Paul Higgins, Gwawr Martha Lloyd

1st Assistant DirectorGeraint Havard

2nd Assistant DirectorGareth Lewis

3rd Assistant DirectorCatrin Thomas

Stunt Co-OrdinatorKevin Mccurdy

Production RunnersSeimon Lea, Jac Jones

Locations ManagerBali Shidu

Locations AssistantSuzi Ovens

Art DirectorJulia Jones

Set DirectorHannah Nicholson

Prop MasterSteve Fudge

Stand By Art DirectorChris House

Stand By PropsMabel RackMatt Tooher

Animals Supplied ByRockwood Animals

Animal HandlersMartin Winfield And Rhian Winfield

First Assistant CameraAndrew Bradley

Second Assistant CameraVictoria Harris

Camera TraineeElliot Sebestyen-Regan

Steadicam OperatorMatt Allsop

DITJohnny Mason

GripsJac Hopkins, Dai Hopkins

GafferMark Holownia

Best BoyKiri Nicholetts, Kris Francis

Electrical TraineeAlex Rigert-Harden

Sound MaintenanceAndy Walsh, Abdul Amoud, Chris Goding

Costume SupervisorCarrie Wallbank

Costume AssistantsHelen Rogers, Amy Barrett

Makeup AssistantLucy Griffiths

Makeup TraineeLouis Cavell

Work Experience TraineeSam Tipping

Production AccountantClive Waldron

Production Co-OrdinatorHefin Rees

Production Office RunnerAshley Adams

Script SupervisorAnna Neyman

TransportJerry Lockett

Water Safety AdvisorJames Williams

Stills PhotographersDean Rogers, Deej Toksvig

Game AnimationAdam Butcher

Legal Services To Vox PicturesAnwen Griffiths At Sheridans

Music LegalsChris Paget

Music ClearancesHannah Dunnell

Unit PublicistOlivia Jarvis

Assistant EditorJordan Koen

ColouristThomas Urbye

Online EditorMark Maltby

Post-Production ProducerDan Marbrook

Post-Production SupervisorLayla Blackman

Post-Production ScriptSapex

Post-Production ServicesThe Look

Sound DesignPindrop

Dialogue EditorRodney Berling

Fx & Foley EditorAndrew White

Re-Recording EngineersSteven Parker, Richard Lewis

Foley Recorded AtEverything Audio, Elstree Studios

Foley ArtistPaula Boram

Baton Rouge Adr Recorded AtCeltic Media Centre

Cardiff Adr Recorded AtBang Post Production

Final Mix AtWb De Lane Lea, London

‘Making Of’ CrewLiam Gough, Rhys Jones, Jack Nicholls

CateringSteve Hibbert At Just Perfect Catering

Cameras Supplied ByVmi

Lighting Supplied ByFirebug Lighting

Action Vehicles Supplied ByTlo, Action 99 Cars

Action Car DriversLouie Irwin, Tim Reynold

Unit DriverJ. Holt

AuditorsShipleys Llp, Steve Joberns

Underwater FacilitiesAquatic Theatre

Insurance Services ByMedia Insurance Brokers Ltd

Orchestrator And Music PreparationAnthony Weeden

Music Recorded & Mixed ByJoe Rubel

Associate Music ProducerNick Hill

Musicians’ ContractorAndrew Brown

Orchestra London Metropolitan Orchestra

Orchestra LeaderTom Bowes

Final Mix AtWb De Lane Lea, London

‘Making Of’ CrewLiam Gough, Rhys Jones, Jack Nicholls

CateringSteve Hibbert At Just Perfect Catering

Cameras Supplied ByVmi

Lighting Supplied ByFirebug Lighting

Action Vehicles Supplied ByTlo, Action 99 Cars

Action Car DriversLouie Irwin, Tim Reynold

Unit DriverJ. Holt

AuditorsShipleys Llp, Steve Joberns

Underwater FacilitiesAquatic Theatre

Insurance Services ByMedia Insurance Brokers Ltd

Orchestrator And Music PreparationAnthony Weeden

Music Recorded & Mixed ByJoe Rubel

Associate Music ProducerNick Hill

Musicians’ ContractorAndrew Brown

Orchestra London Metropolitan Orchestra

Orchestra LeaderTom Bowes

DrumsMike Reed

GuitarsRael Jones, Tommy Ashby

BassSteve Pearce

KeyboardsMichael Price

Score Co-OrdinatorCatherine Grieves

Recorded AtRak Studios

Music EditorPixel

“Domino” Performed ByTony Martin

Wrtten ByLouis Ferrari, Jacques Plante & Don Raye

Courtesy OfSony Music Entertainment Uk Limited

Published BySony/Atv Music Publishing/Editions Beuscher Arpege

“Bad Place” Performed ByRaleigh Richie

Written ByAnderson/Broad/Herman

Published ByCaptainletsdance Ltd / Universal Music Pub-lishing Ltd / Bmg Rights Mgt Uk Ltd / Peer Music Uk Ltd

“Life Ain’t No Competition” Performed By / Written By / Published ByAndy Fairweather Low

With Special ThanksChristopher Collins, David Gordon Green, Richard Ayoade, The People Of Maesycwm-mr, The Pupils And Teachers Of Lewis School Pengam, Alison Roberts, Hayden Roberts, Chelsea Roberts, Marion Roberts, Joss Agnew, Harry Ferrier, Craig Heyworth, David Thewliss, Gavin Norris, Ben Curtis, Andrew Dunlap, Jacob Anderson, Llyr Morris, Luke Jacobs, Paul Jackson, Ben Jenkins, Gerry Lockett, Celtic Prop Hire, Christina Tom, Angus Finney, Pete Wooldridge At The Workshop Cardiff, Michael Elliott, Alison Stirling, Brian Swardstrom, James Collingwood, Camilla Young, Kate Staddon

Cinematic SupportAsiantaeth Ffilm Cymru/Ffilm Cymru Wales + Logo, The National Lottery Through The Arts Council Of Wales + National Lottery Logos English And Welsh

For Ffilm Cymru Wales:

Chief ExecutivePauline Burt

Head Of Creative Sector DevelopmentHannah Thomas

Development ExecutiveTracy Spottiswoode

Legal ServicesBrehon & Co., Mary Brehony

Cinematic Project ManagerGreg Mothersdale

For Bfi Development:

Director Of Lottery Film FundBen Roberts

Development ExecutiveJamie Wolpert

Production ManagerEmma Kayee

Film Fund AssistantKimberley Sheehan

Head Of Production FinanceIan Kirk

Business Affairs ManagerVirginia Burgess

Business Affairs ExecutiveJodie Orme

Distribution AnalystSophia Neves

For Bbc Films:

Head Of AcquisitionsSue Deeks

Head Of Bbc FilmsChristine Langan

Development ExecutiveBeth Pattinson

Marketing ExecutiveJacqui Barr

Legal And Business AffairsEmmanuel Whinnery

For Vox Pictures:

Julia Hart, Gwil Hughes, Niamh Tupman, Joe Williams, Dan Kay, Kurt Bettles At Carston Accounting

For Soda Pictures:

Acquisitions & Development ManagerFrances Harvey

Thanks ToThe Pupils And Teachers Of Lewis School Pen-gam, Chris Parry, Hayley Ince, Alexandra Thie, Chris Mackinlay, Brian Swardstrom, James Collingwood, Barry Kimm, Livia Borghese, Bethan Brean, Connor Calzaghe, Molly Craven, Samuel Creasey, Angharad Davies, Bethany Davies, Aimee Dineen, Ffion Espley, Chris-tian Evans, Harry Ferrier, Olivia Forrest, Ffion Gaylard, Emily Grabham, Alex Rome Griffin, Ianto Griffin, Philip Griffin, Miles Harding, Jil-lian James, Ceri Jenkins, Rachel Kirk, Debbie Lewis, Megan Lewis, Tomas Lewis, Gemma Maloney, Marie Morris, Niamh O’brien, Megan Owen, Jack Porter, Ben Price, Arfon Pritchard, Jasper Ray, Evan Rhys-Coxley, Mary Rome, Elliot Slade, Liam Taylor, Ehys Thomas, Bec-cy Tynsley, Aimee Wilson, Zachary Winwood, Edward Coaches, Catherine Grieves At Hot House Music, The Bryn Meadows Hotel

A Vox Pictures Production For The Cinematic SchemeBfiBbc FilmsEdicisFfilm Cymru WalesSoda PicturesS4C

International SalesVisit Films

@Just Jim Productions