Sian Green De Montfort University Q and A

This week, we gave an in-depth behind the scenes presentation to Media and Journalism students at Leicester’s De Montfort University. The session concluded with this short Q and A, allowing students to ask us and Sian anything about the film-making process and Sian’s feelings as the project comes to fruition.

The main presentation featured clips from the film and behind the scenes footage - including our tense interview with taxi driver, Faysal Himon. We also gave insight into some of the surprising challenges we faced, like having to re-create elements of Sian’s New York crash on the streets of Manhattan . . . and Leicester.

As we move closer to finding distribution for the film and bringing Sian’s story to a wider audience, it was rewarding to be able to give more insight into our process and hopefully inspire the next generation of filmmakers and journalists. We would also like to thank David Hayward and the wider DMU community for supporting us throughout the project.

To find out more about No Fare or any of our ongoing projects, check out OUR FILMS page. Maybe you have your own questions about the film or to ask to Sian? Leave them in the comments below.

NO FARE Q and A

July 15th, 2022 saw our sell-out first screening of NO FARE: THE SIAN GREEN STORY. The reaction to the film, both during and after the film was fantastic. There were tears, laughter, anger and disbelief as the story played out, before the room was filled with joy and warm admiration as the credits rolled and the film’s inspirational central character, Sian Green-Lord stepped on to stage for the audience Q and A.

Sian was joined by Director, Matt Holt and Producer, Wayne Kelly for an audience question and answer session, moderated by fellow documentarian, Nick Hamer.

You can watch the full Q and A session below.

As you will see, the reaction to the film was overwhelmingly positive with an engaged audience interested to learn more about Sian’s story and the making of the film - as well as asking the all-important question of where they will be able to see the film in the future. Stay tuned for more updates on further cinema screenings, while talks continue with suitable distribution partners and broadcasters, to bring Sian’s incredible and uplifting story to a wider audience.

Spoon Jar Films’ proceeds from the first 3 screenings of the film are to be donated to Sian’s amputee charity, The Sian Green Foundation.

Were you at the screening? Tell us what you thought in the comments below and follow the film on Facebook and Twitter here.

NO FARE - WORLD CINEMA PREMIERE

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE - JUNE 2022

Inspirational Amputee, Sian Green’s Story Hits The Big Screen!

On July 15th ‘No Fare: The Sian Green Story’, a new feature-length documentary about a Leicester woman who was maimed by a reckless New York taxi driver, receives its world premiere at Phoenix Cinema, Leicester.

 2013. New York. A taxi mounts the sidewalk and hits 23-year-old British tourist, Sian Green. A celebrity doctor and quick-thinking plumber save her life, but she loses her leg. There’s no compensation for Sian and no punishment for the driver.  

Since 2015, local filmmakers, Matt Holt and Wayne Kelly have been documenting Sian’s journey in Leicester and the US. They accompanied Sian when she returned to New York in 2016, filming key witnesses, legal experts and securing an exclusive interview with Faysal Himon – the man who drove his taxi into a crowded pedestrianised square and changed Sian’s life forever.

 With dramatic first-hand testimony, cinematic reconstruction and Sian’s personal video diaries, No Fare tells the story of that fateful day in New York, Sian’s inspiring road to recovery and her long fight for justice.

‘No Fare’ has its world premiere in Sian’s hometown at Leicester’s Phoenix Cinema and Arts Centre on July 15th. Following the screening, there will be a live Q and A session with Sian and the filmmakers. Tickets are available online here and more information on the film and Spoon Jar Films can be found here.

Director, Matt Holt filming in Times Square, New York

Director, Matt Holt: “We have been on a real rollercoaster putting Sian’s story on film. We were shocked to discover the level of traffic violence in New York. It seems offending drivers are rarely charged and victims receive little or no compensation, some unfortunately don’t live to tell their own stories. ‘No Fare’ is a powerful statement about a broken system and a message of hope.”

 Producer, Wayne Kelly: “After working on the film for so many years, it’s been emotional to follow Sian’s inspirational journey. No Fare has become very personal for Matt and myself. We’re passionate about bringing this story to a wider audience and it’s an honour to be able to hold the world premiere in Leicester.”

Sian Green-Lord on a recent photoshoot

Sian Green-Lord: “It was almost quite therapeutic for me to keep reliving some moments and it actually helped me - it was definitely one of the things that helped me along the way. It’s given me confidence. I do talks in schools now and to watch the children's faces change as I tell the story is really special.”

Below, Sian launches the Premiere outside Phoenix Cinema in Leicester and BUY TICKETS HERE.

John Shuttleworth's Back (on tour) - short documentary

John Shuttleworth's Back (on tour) is a short documentary that takes us behind the scenes with a well-known comedy character and gives us a unique perspective of how live entertainers had to cope when live venues were closed to the public.

In 2020, Director Matt Holt started work on a short documentary film with actor/musician Graham Fellows as he began his latest John Shuttleworth tour. Then Covid struck and theaters across the UK went into lockdown. The film took a different turn. With all future shows placed on hold, Graham remained at home, reflecting on the new situation all performers found themselves facing.

Actor/Comedian and Musician, Graham Fellows

Using his ‘back stage’ and ‘back home’ access to Graham (and his creation, John Shuttleworth) Matt produced a reflective and whimsical study of Graham and John’s unique relationship, touring and growing older together. Graham talks about coping with fatigue and memory loss on stage, with onstage footage showing how he uses his comic creation (and a banana) to cover any gaps.

John Shuttleworth performing on stage

Rarely do we get to see a comedy character conversing with their creator and here, Graham frequently switches from John to Graham and back again. It’s fascinating to watch Graham creating new material and gain insight into the challenges faced by actors, comedians and musicians during the pandemic.

The final film is an insightful slice of whimsy about a much-loved comedy character and his creator. The full film can be watched for free now on our YouTube channel and you can find more details about the John Shuttleworth's Back Again! Tour here. Let us know what you thought of the film in the comments below.

Toy Shop On Tour - a new series

Toy Shop On Tour is a new weekly series of half hour shows, following two intrepid vintage toy enthusiasts as they tour the UK, searching for valuable finds and the amazing stories behind them. Devised by Spoon Jar Films Director, Matt Holt in collaboration with Joe and Gav of Leicester Vintage & Toy Shop, the show is an entertaining blend of quirky characters and whimsical humour. Here’s the trailer.

On the road . . .

In their trusty van, Matt, Joe and Gav visited more than thirty shops from the South of England, to the Welsh Valleys and all the way up to Scotland. They met dozens of passionate independent business owners, bouncing back from the pandemic and trying to match Joe’s impressive haggling skills. There’s laughter as Joe tries to get the best deal while Gav indulges his passion for the less-popular, ‘weird stuff’ that nobody seems to want anymore.

An emotional ride . . .

In amongst the fun, there are emotional stories behind some of the toys, the shops and their owners. Many stores are inspirational passion projects, sometimes created in honour of lost loved ones or as a way to bring simple pleasures back to a new generation of fans. Gav and Joe are regularly overcome with excitement when they find one of their ‘Grail’ pieces and are the perfect hosts for this trip down memory lane.

Matt, Joe and Gav

Past glories . . .

Nostalgia is hugely popular right now, with audiences looking to indulge their love of the past and Toy Shop On Tour has something for everyone. Action figures, dolls, Star Wars, Transformers, Thundercats, Care Bears, Action Man and tons of weird and wonderful stuff from TV and Film. Episodes are being released weekly so join the thousands of viewers who are tuning in on YouTube right now. Like and subscribe and tell us your favourite toys in the comments below.

No Fare Wins Best Documentary Award

Our film, No Fare: The Sian Green Story has picked up Best Documentary at the annual Midlands Movies Awards. In a competitive category, up against 3 other fantastic films, it was a real honour to receive the nod from an esteemed panel of judges that included BAFTA and BFI members.

Director, Matt Holt with the award for Best Documentary

With so many excellent films being produced across Birmingham, Nottingham, Leicester and the whole region, we were delighted to be nominated, but to pick up the main award was a thrill. No Fare tells the story of Leicester woman, Sian Green-Lord who lost her leg when a New York taxi mounted the sidewalk and hit her in Rockefeller Plaza in 2013.

Trailer for No Fare: The Sian Green Story

Our film tells of Sian’s fight for justice, her road to recovery and her desire to make things better for other amputees and victims of traffic violence. It’s an inspiring story that we hope to screen at a special premiere at Demontfort University later this year. We are also now currently looking for wider distribution of the film, in addition to a broadcast partner, to give Sian’s incredible journey the wider audience it deserves.

Director, Matt Holt attended the ceremony, which took place at Leicester’s historic Y Theatre, and paid tribute to Sian and her incredible courage.

Our thanks go to Michael Sales, founder of Midlands Movies and to everyone else who organised the event during such challenging times and we’re proud to be part of the region’s vibrant filmmaking scene.

Go With The Magic - an inspirational short film

Our latest inspirational short film is ‘Go With The Magic’ with guitar maker, Stefan Sobell. Master craftsman, Stefan has more than 50 years experience, making instruments for artists like Martin Simpson and Mark Knopfler. Our film gives an overview of his life and career as well as his advice to inspire creatives of all types.

“Don’t introduce stress.”

Filming on location in beautiful Northumberland, we were able to capture some of Stefan’s processes, but more importantly hear his nuggets of wisdom about carving out a creative career and following your passion. Stefan’s ethos on life and building guitars focuses around the idea of not introducing extra pressure or stress into an instrument or situation. It’s why he pursued instrument-making - even when facing financial difficulties. It’s always about the work.

Stefan Sobell playing one of his latest instruments

“Go With The Magic.”

Stefan recognises wood is a special material and the sound it can make is truly magical. There are no rules, other than ‘Go with the magic’. Use your instincts and experience to hone whatever it is you’re creating. As filmmakers, it’s something myself and DOP, Matt Holt really relate to and it was a privilege to spend time with Stefan and tell his story. Watch the film and comment below to tell us how you felt about it and what your creative passions are. Stefan’s story will strike a chord with anyone. Sorry. I couldn’t resist.

In A Toy Store Near You - a lockdown docuseries

As if our lockdown hasn’t been busy enough, we’ve also found time to contribute to an international documentary series called “A Toy Store Near You”. 

Since 2018 we’ve been working with Joseph Hand at Leicester Vintage Toy & Old Toy Shop making a film about his quest for the legendary buried Palitoy Star Wars Figures. Not long into lockdown, Joseph contacted us to say he’d been asked to contribute to a docuseries by the team that produced “The Toys that Made Us” for Netflix. Restrictions meant contributing toy stores across the world were going to have to film their episode themselves in lockdown before sending the footage to Nacelle’s production team in California, where it would be assembled and finally streamed on Amazon Prime and Youtube.

Leicester Vintage Toy Shop Owner, Joseph Hand

Are you taking this seriously??

Working with Joseph on In a Landfill Far, Far Away hasn’t been what you would call a ‘serious’ documentary. After all, we’re dealing with grown adults looking for toys, so we knew we could make an entertaining episode. As the only UK shop asked to contribute, we wanted to make it a true reflection of what we’re going through too.

Camerman and Director, Matt Holt, staying safe on location

Filmmaking in a shop can be tricky at the best of times, but social distancing adds another layer of problems with sanitising of kit, Face-timing interviewees and generally being mindful of the ever present hazard of COVID-19. It’s fun filming in a toy shop, though. Everywhere you look in Leicester Vintage Toys you’re confronted by nostalgia and often spot forgotten toy ranges of your childhood that are now worth unbelievable sums of money.

Just some of the incredible toys on display in Joe’s shop

Capturing the moment . . .

This is the kind of project you know will encapsulate a unique moment in time where everyone is trying their best to carry on as normal; Joseph selling toys to his customers to give them something to look forward to, and us as filmmakers helping to communicate the situation in the UK to the rest of the world. We’re also taking the audience behind the shutters to show how Joseph keeps the shop afloat one sale at a time.

 Ours was episode 3 in a series of 40, covering shops around the globe. We were really happy with the final edit from Brian Volk-Wiess and the team at Nacelle. It was a quintessentially quirky British take on a toy store during the pandemic; not taking itself too seriously and trying to entertain the toy community while keeping a stiff upper lip and some bulldog spirit. Joseph came out with some very funny lines and comic asides.

Thinking outside the (toy) box . . .

It’s been tough out there for many toy shops but with so much invested, shop owners like Joe have adapted and survived in the face of a really tricky situation. It also shows how TV production can continue using new working methods with teams working remotely in different countries. Proceeds from the show will go back to help the toy shops featured and keep these passionate pioneers doing what they love best. But what about you? Do you have a favourite toy from yester-year? Let us know in the comments and check out Joe’s Facebook page for more information and fun facts.

Lockdown laughs with Laurel and Hardy

When Covid descended and we all retreated in to lockdown, like most film makers we realised our documentary projects were going to have to be put on hold. One of those films was ‘On The Trail of Stan and Ollie’, a Laurel and Hardy themed co-production with Ross Owen. Despite the forced hiatus, many like us felt the need to entertain others and take their minds off things. We had a lot of material in the can we knew wasn’t going to make it into the final documentary and now seemed like a perfect time to put it to good use.

“Why don’t you do something to help me?”

That was the phrase often uttered by Oliver Hardy after his partner, Stan Laurel has made a problem a little bit harder than it was a few moments before. I grew up with Laurel and Hardy, not literally, but back in the late 1970’s BBC2 played their films to entertain kids while BBC 1 switched from children’s TV to boring adult programs like the six o’clock news. Today you wouldn’t  think these black and white films made in 1920’s Hollywood, in the era of The Great Depression, would connect with a 4 year old boy in England. They were very funny, but also very influential - something I’ve only really come to realise in the last few years.

It all started on the red carpet . . .

Producer, Wayne Kelly at the red carpet premiere of Stan and Ollie in Leicester Square

A couple of years back we made a short promotional video covering the red carpet launch of the recent biopic movie “Stan & Ollie” with the film’s consultant Ross Owen. We went on to start work on the ‘Trail of Stan and Ollie’ documentary with Ross about the influence of Laurel and Hardy on the entertainers of today. Just as they inspired me to get into film making, they have inspired many well-known actors, musicians and entertainers too. More importantly they made people laugh and forget their troubles for a while. Two pals struggling to build a house, repair a boat or get through a day at a saw mill as the world conspires against them. Never giving up, and they never gave up on each other. What better time to revisit these plucky heroes? A sing-a-long always lifts the spirits, so the first thing we put out was a music video with our documentary interviewees singing Laurel & Hardy’s hit “Trail of the Lonesome Pine”. Watch the film here or click on the image below.

WATCH: Fran Healey, lead singer of Travis, and many other famous faces singing along to ‘Trail Of The Lonesome Pine’

Ross Owen, Bob Satterfield and Matt Holt on the trail of famous Laurel and Hardy filming locations.

Location, location, location . . .

While I was in Hollywood with Ross we spent two days or our trip with Bob Satterfield visiting as many surviving Laurel and Hardy film locations as we could. Bob had discovered many of these himself the hard way back in the 1970’s with photographs and a lot of good old leg work. With the travel restrictions of 2020 we knew a lot of film fans wouldn’t be able to visit these Hollywood locations in person so we thought they’d make a great mini-series of short 2 minute films. We put out one a week to get through the cabin fever of life stuck at home. Here’s the first episode, Big Business.

WATCH: ‘Big Business’ - the first episode in our Laurel & Hardy Locations Tour films

It was a joy editing this series and I felt I was back on the road in sunny California. It was a whistle stop few days of filming with Bob and Ross. I had forgotten a lot of the great interactions we had with some great characters like this shop owner we met while covering “Angora Love”.

WATCH: A shop owner in California giving us some great anecdotes in episode 7

When I went back to the original films and cut them in with this new location footage it doesn’t feel like their movies were made almost 100 years ago. They really were ahead of their time, pioneers of comedy often doing things on film for the first time ever. For a lifelong fan like me taking my camera to these locations where legendary cameraman Art Lloyd of Hal Roach studios would have set up and filmed was just magical. And when I look at some of the many comments viewers have left each week I think we achieved what we set out to do. Thank you to Ross Owen and his brilliant Laurel and Hardy Forum, also to Bob Satterfield for his time and invaluable film knowledge. We hope you enjoy the series.

Tell us your favourite Laurel and Hardy films or moments in the comments below and if you haven’t seen a Laurel and Hardy film yet, now is as good a time as any to track one down - isn’t it Stanley??

Staying Safe with The Mr Men - Just What The Doctor Ordered

Getting creative to deliver an important message . . .

In these strange days of Coronavirus maybe we could focus on something happy for a little while? Why not pay tribute to The Mr Men in an affectionate parody cartoon? The Mr Men have always been able to deal with the big problems of life in a simple way, so we thought we’d get creative and use them to explain government advice and help people to stay safe.

Our fun yet informative Mr Men-themed Coronavirus film.

What does a tickle look like?

The classic books that started it all.

That’s the question that inspired the creation of The Mr Men. A young Adam Hargreaves could never have imagined asking his Dad such a thing would lead to a best-selling series of children’s books. It started with Mr Tickle and led to a series of simple stories featuring characters that personified a single human emotion or characteristic. Who could forget Mr Happy, Mr Bump or Mr Strong?

As children of the 70s, these characters hold a special place in our memories, especially watching them brought to life in the BBC cartoons, narrated in the comforting tones of Arthur Lowe.

Spoon Jar Films Director, Matt Holt started his career on local BBC radio and has been used to recording voice overs, characters and impressions since he was a kid. In fact his favourite toy was his tape recorder. So it was a great opportunity to dust off his Arthur Lowe impersonation to give the film that perfect nostalgic feel.

The Doctor Will See You Now . . .

After launching the video at the beginning of April, we had so many nice messages we thought we’d follow this up by bringing one of Adam Hargreaves’ Doctor Who story books to the screen. A lot of teachers have been recording themselves reading stories to their pupils as they stay home, and video is a great way of helping sustain a bit of normality despite us all being separated.

Our voice over booth in the office is housed in a TARDIS so it seemed like it was meant to be. We found a fun and friendly version of the Doctor Who Theme on Marimba played by William Francis and his teacher Michael Charles Smith. The Dr Fourth book is based on Tom Baker’s incarnation which was also a big hit at the time of the Mr Men cartoons. He seemed like the obvious choice but would Matt be able to do a convincing Tom?

You’ll have to watch and see . . .

Adam Hargreaves Doctor Who themed books

Our film version of Adam Hargreaves classic Dr Fourth book.

You can buy the set of Mr Men books by Roger Hargreaves and the Doctor Who series by Adam Hargreaves on Amazon.

We hope these little homages to the Mr Men have educated, entertained and informed or just helped pass the time during lockdown. Stay safe, keep creative, let us know in the comments what you’ve been working on and we’re sure there’ll be a happy ending sometime soon.

How We Made A Short Film During Lockdown: LIFE SUPPORT

LIFE SUPPORT is a heartfelt emotional drama about two women - Magz and Shona - and a Skype call that will change both of their lives forever. Watch the whole 10 minute film right now on YouTube.

LIFE SUPPORT - A SHORT FILM - WATCH FOR FREE ON YOUTUBE

Lockdown limitations . . .

I wanted to write something we could produce on a limited budget, during lockdown, following the strict stay at home regulations but that would still pack an emotional punch. I centred Shona and Magz’ story around something we’ve all become more familiar with over the past few weeks - a Skype call.

My first challenge was to find two actors who could bring the characters to life, despite the technical challenges filming remotely would bring. One of those actors was Rachel Nottingham. I worked with Rachel on other short film projects, including Guilty Bunch of Flowers and Inkling and knew she would be perfect for the role of Magz. Fortunately, our regular collaborator, Keith Large, helped me to find our other talented lead actor - Amy Allen, playing the role of Shona. Keith’s production company, Klens UK, also financed the film.

Directing from afar . . .

As the film was shot during the height of the lockdown restrictions, myself, Amy and Rachel were all stuck in our respective homes so the challenge became how we could utilise technology to create an environment that allowed Amy and Rachel to connect as actors - yet still gave me the opportunity to direct and help them to craft an emotionally powerful performance. We settled on using the Zoom conferencing platform.

A quick break during our Zoom rehearsals

We rehearsed together, shared notes and then during the actual takes, I would turn off my camera so as not to distract Amy and Rachel, whilst I watched each performance unfold. It was fun and challenging to play with what seems like such a rigid format, but it’s surprising what can be achieved by thinking about where the actors place themselves within the frame at key moments in the script. Despite the seemingly fixed cameras, we looked to recreate the feel of different shots by actors physically getting closer, moving away or - as with the character of Magz - embracing a handheld style to emphasise moments of tension and drama.

Sound completes the picture . . .

The separately recorded footage was sent to me to edit, where I created a visual style that I hoped would enhance the feeling of eavesdropping on a real-life Skype conversation, whilst still being an engaging piece of drama. After which, we added sound effects and music composed by longtime musical collaborator, George Odom. George created an emotionally-charged soundtrack that adds another powerful dimension to the story.

Creativity through crisis . . .

The characters in Life Support find connection in the least expected place and during the strangest of times, but like Shona and Magz, we creatives can find inspiration and discover new ways to reach our audiences and tell stories that matter. How about you? What creative projects have you been pursuing during lockdown? What plans have you made and what ideas are bursting to get out? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to watch and share LIFE SUPPORT - we’d love to hear your feedback.

Life Lessons of an Artist - NEW FILM AVAILABLE NOW

‘Life Lessons of an Artist’ is a new short documentary now available to watch for free on our YouTube channel.

In 2012 we produced a short eight minute documentary on the inspirational - and then relatively unknown - artist, Adebanji Alade. That was ‘Life Of an Artist’ - just one of our ‘Life Of’ series of YouTube documentaries, yet it went on to become hugely popular. At the time of writing, it has more than half a million views. Adebanji has also gone on to bigger and better things - including regularly appearing on the BBC’s One Show and becoming vice president of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters.

The New Film . . .

We decided the time was right to make another film with Adebanji, to try to capture some more of his creative energy and inspiration and to dig a little deeper in to what makes him tick. The resulting film is full of the trademark enthusiasm, passion and honesty that plays a huge part in Adebanji’s success.

He explains why emotional hardship and rejection is ‘part of the package’ for successful creatives and how he overcame a number of personal tragedies early in his life. He tells us about the power of saying ‘yes’ as well as giving some practical tips on the art of sketching and Plein Air painting.

The Inspirational Adebanji Alade - Life Lessons of an Artist

Fill the creative well . . .

Life Lessons of an Artist is a motivational, uplifting short film that will have you itching to start your next creative project. It was a joy to spend time with Adebanji again, interviewing him about his world view and thoughts on taking your artistic endeavours to ‘the next level’. His positivity is infectious and creatives of all types will find something inspirational in what he has to say and how he approaches the creative life.

Watch the film and it’s prequel ‘Life Of An Artist’ and give us your feedback in the comments or just tell us about your own creative life lessons. Click here to find out more about Adebanji and his work and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR MORE GREAT CONTENT COMING SOON.