THE SHANT CLUB (2002)
STORY

RUNNING TIME: 11 mins

Our most ambitious film to date, The Shant Club wrestles with chronic alcoholism in a funny and honest way. Jimmy, our hero, feels his life is effectively over when the doctor orders him to stop drinking, but then, he starts to question the "geezer" culture that he so readily became part of.

Don't think the film is anti-drinking. Believe us, we're the last people on this planet to advise anyone how to live their lives. We just want to tell stories.

The final scene on Hersham station is pure PRAGMA. We tried to go through the proper channels and get permission, but let's face it we were never going to get it. So we just turned up one Sunday morning and started shooting, smiling back benignly at the quizzical stares from the train drivers. The solemn atmosphere of the scene belies the anarchy on the set.

"Shant", incidentally is a slang word around Hersham way for drinking. So when you hear Phil say to Jimmy, "I bet you're clucking for a shant?", this can be translated as "I strongly suspect you could do with a drink right now". Oh Hersham, so much to answer for!

The music by Josh Rouse and Willard Grant Conspiracy gives an extra wide west dimension to the film. The rooftops of Hersham never looked so good.

ACTORS:
Matteo Sedazzari as Jimmy Daniels
Simon Mason as Phil Hunt
Claudine Spiteri as Steph Radley
Christopher Terry as Doctor Radcliffe
Julia Mottram as Angie
James Constantinou as Vinnie

DIRECTOR: Paolo Sedazzari
ASST. DIRECTOR: Lynne Connolly
PRODUCER: Simon Mason
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Swavek Zukowski
DV CAMERAMAN: Peter Clapperton
STEADICAM: Richard Stoddard
CAMERA ASST: Tom Wood
EDITOR: Simon Mason
HEAD OF LIGHTING: Joe Cumbers
SOUND: Jim Ireland, Phil Gustard