Powder Room a British independent low budget comedy, involving an NFTS graduate producer and a cinematographer, was released on 50 UK screens in the UK at the weekend.
The all women cast film starring Sheridan Smith, singer Kate Nash, Oona Chaplin and Jaime Winstone is the first feature by upcoming director MJ Delaney and was backed by DJ Films founder and Producer Damian Jones (The Iron Lady, Belle).
The film’s success is also remarkable in that the producer, James Cotton, worked on the film while still studying at the NFTS. Cinematographer John Lee is also a recent NFTS graduate. The other producers were Damian Jones and Nichola Martin.
One of the reviewers, Geoffrey Macnab in the Independent newspaper, says: “Sheridan Smith excels as the lonely everywoman Sam…Delaney directs in sure-footed fashion, mixing comedy, pathos and bawdiness without ever seeming self-indulgent.”
And the film is given 4 out of 5 stars in film website The Upcoming, which comments: “Filled with laugh-out-loud gags, visually exciting vignettes and a danceable soundtrack curated by all-female rock band Fake Club (where band members actually play instruments as opposed to just singing and looking “sexy”), Powder Room is a particularly enjoyable commentary on what it’s like to be a woman.”
James Cotton said: "Producing Powder Room before graduating from the NFTS was an extremely challenging and rewarding experience, made possible by fellow producer Damian Jones, and with special dispensation granted by NFTS Director Nik Powell.
"To have the opportunity to implement what I'd learnt at the NFTS in a feature film capacity before graduation was extraordinary. The adaptation of a play to screen, dealing with lawyers and agents on feature film deals, and seeing first hand the process of feature film delivery are experiences that will only help me in my future projects".
"The cast and crew really pulled together under the difficult circumstances of filmmaking on such a low budget, and the final product is something everyone is proud of."
Set mainly in the claustrophobic ladies toilet of a London nightclub, the scenes on the dance floor are shot in a documentary style. Cinematographer John Lee, who graduated from the NFTS three years ago, explained the challenges the crew faced in fikming in such a small space and on a low budget: "Cinematically, Powder Room was very challenging. It was a very small budget and relied heavily on people at Movietech, Panalux and the crew being very generous. Movietech and Panalux were both relationships I had started whilst at the NFTS and have continued to work with since leaving the school 3 years ago.
"Another challenge was that 70% of the film was dialogue between six main characters set in one small club bathroom. MJ Delaney (director) and I spent a lot of time in prep working on interesting and different ways to shoot each scene and finding transition shots and cut aways that would keep the film feeling fresh and dynamic. Although not all our concepts worked out once we started filming, having those ideas and plans in our minds was integral.
"I can't overstate how much I got from my time at the NFTS and in particular Brian Tufano and Stuart Harris in the cinematography department. I use the experiences and lessons they and the other tutors taught me on every shoot I have done since leaving."
You can watch the trailer here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77Eb6NsLFqE)
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