STEPHEN
2023 / 1h 18m / Hybrid fiction documentary. Unclassified 18+
STEPHEN presents a long-form character study of one protagonist, Ste Giddings: in his real-life, in his fiction character and in the slippages between. Across scripted drama, observation and interviews, the film follows a real guy on a transformative journey: to understand himself by way of a fictional character. Both Ste and his persona, Thomas Goudie, are archetypes of a conflicted everyman. Hence while about one person, STEPHEN is about all of us. About our desires for a fulfilled life.
The film’s main cinematic language is Steadicam with extended long takes pointing up the borders where performances begin and end. Fiction merges with reality, throwing their edges into question – the separation between person, actor and character at times dissolves. Rehearsals, re-enactments and fiction are united by one overarching visual language, where our camera is often photographic, staying with characters and holding moments in real time. A support cast of people in addiction recovery accentuates the reality of lived experiences which are at the core of this film. Built on long-standing relationships of trust, filming Stephen is closely intimate, demanding, challenging and real, allowing viewers to access emotions visually and viscerally – in moments of joy, sadness, danger or doubt.
Screenings
Arthouse Crouch End, London (April 2024)
Barbican, London (April 2024)
Genesis, London (April 2024)
GFT, Glasgow (May 2024)
Storyhouse, Chester (May 2024)
Tyneside, Newcastle (May 2024)
Rio Cinema, London (May 2024)
Ultimate Picture Palace, Oxford (May 2024)
The Castle Cinema, London (May, 2024)
Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge (May 2024)
Firstsite Colchester, Colchester (May 2024)
MK Gallery, Milton Keynes (May 2024)
FACT Picturehouse, Liverpool (May 2024)
Cameo Picturehouse, Edinburgh (May 2024)
QFT, Belfast (May 2024)
Close-Up Film Centre, London (May 2024)
Fabrica, Brighton (May 2024)
Depot, Lewes (May 2024)
Newlyn Filmhouse, Cornwall (May 2024)
The Light Cinema, New Brighton (May 2024)
Installations:
Liverpool Biennial: June - September 2023
The Exchange, Cornwall: May - November 2024
Film Festivals:
Sheffield Doc Fest: World Premiere in International Competition
CPH:DOX Copenhagen, Denmark: International Premiere in Para:Fiction Section
Press
Media Titles Featuring STEPHEN:
AnOther Magazine, Art Quarterly, BBC News, BBC North West TV, BBC The One Show, Cornwall 365, Digital Spy, Dove Radio, Evening Standard, Film Review Daily, Flux Magazine, Head Topics, Juice Liverpool, Liverpool Echo, London Net, Loud and Clear Reviews, Metro, MSN, New, Exhibitions, OK! Magazine, Parky at the Pictures, Podcaphilia, Prolific North, Screen Daily, Sight & Sound, The Arts Desk, The Big Issue, The Guardian, The Movie Waffler, The Reviews Hub, The Sun, Times Radio, Total Film, Tribune, Yahoo News
Credits
Director
Melanie Manchot
Country
United Kingdom
Year
2023
Duration
78 mins
Executive Producer
Sol Papadopoulos
Producer
Elena Hill
Cinematography
Andrew Schonfelder
Editing
Liza Ryan-Carter and Graeme Hanks
Sound
Phil Hartley
First Assistant Director
Emma Gilbertson
Hair & Makeup
Ainhoa Negro
Production Design
Stephanie O’Hara
Costume Design
Sidonie Roberts
Production Manager
Ali Coulson
Casting
Pearson Casting CDG CSA
CAST in order of appearance:
Casting Director
Ian Brown
Director
Graham Williams
Producer
Joanne Irving
Jake
Cass Rogers
Jo
Rachel Pennington
Mick
Anthony Woolley
Ade
Joe Murphy
Terry
Jerome Massett
Trish
Joolz Nylander
Karl
Leroy Ruglass
Terry’s Driver
Ahmed Hassan
Rave Kid 1
Lanre Danmola
Rave Kid 2
Matthew Hegarty
Pubgoer
Frank Kennedy
Pubgoer
Graham Gordon
Pubgoer
Ian Jones
Pubgoer
Ivonne Menge
Pubgoer
Leroy Ruglass
Pubgoer
Michael Burgan
Pubgoer
Pauline Burgan
Special Appearance: Meisner Coach
Fay Beck
Language(s)
English
Subtitles
English Subtitles Throughout
As Themselves in Roundtable Discussion:
Stephen Giddings
Anthony Woolley
Frank Kennedy
Graham Gordon
Graham Williams
Ian Brown
Ian Jones
Ivonne Menge
Jerome Massett
Joanna Irving
Joe Murphy
Joolz Nylander
Kent Riley
Leroy Ruglass
Matthew Hegarty
Michael Burgan
Michael Starke
Michelle Collins
Robbie O’Neill
Paislie Reid
Pauline Burgan
Rachel Pennington
Additional Workshop Participants:
Celia Carmichael
Tom Denbigh
Dwayne Samson
Chris Smith
Michelle Steele
Frank Thomas
Extras:
Shelbourne Drive & Poulton Close Residents
Crew:
Interview Cinematographer
Roger Chapman
London Coaching Cinematographer
Bevis Bowden
Steadicam Operator
Andrew Schonfelder
1st Assistant Camera/ Focus Puller
Ari Papadopoulos
2nd Assistant Camera/ DIT/ Steadicam Spotter
Laura Buchanan
Jib Operator
Alistair Dicks
Camera Trainee
James Swindell
Additional Sound Recordists
Luke David Harris & Sean Miller
Boom Ops
Justin Wilkinson & Steve Cummings
Production Assistants
Chessie Lamb, Finlay Taylor Dye & Henry Alderson
Design Assistant
Ian Jones
COVID Supervisor
James Nilson
Stunt Coach
Gary Kane
Acting Coach
Fay Beck, Mike Bernardin & Helena Enright
Additional Makeup
Meg Hankin
Chaperones
Sadie Rogers & Jay Rogers
Stills Photographer
Joolz Nylander & Tim Bowditch
Catering
Bleak House
Special Effects:
Wind Machine Courtesy of Snowboy FX
Operator
Harry Stokes
Traffic Management:
Traffic Management by TSMDS
Coordination By
Simon Gilford
Post Production:
Colourist
Andrew Schonfelder
Sound Editor, Sound Designer & Dubbing Mixer
Phil Hartley
VFX
Paul Willis
Title Sequence Designer
Cecilia Erlich
Heard but not seen
Phil Harley, Andrew Schonfelder, Sarah Thorowgood
Liverpool Biennial:
Director
Sam Lackey
Programme Manager
Lily Mellor
Curator of Learning
Aimee Harrison
Learning Producer
Jasmine Bertie
Learning Assistant
Claire Henderson
University of Liverpool:
Academic Collaborators
Lena Theodoropolou & Nicole Vitellone
Flamin Film London
Maggie Ellis, Great Hewison, Rose Cupit, Duncan Poulton
Doc Society:
Film Fund Executive
Lisa-Marie Russo
Head of Legals
Christine Howard
Bath Spa University:
Fred Reed, Richard Wood, Helena Enright, Lucy Steel, Jamie Cranston, Charlotte Juniper Clark, Niklas Aarre, Margo Mytilli, Eve Betts, Hana Seifelnasr, Tommi Floor, Hannah Clare McGeough, Val Lyanguzov, Joseph Corr, Tanya Wylie, Samuel Saunders, Georgina Taylor, Torr Hudswell
Music:
Original music composed by Matthew Barnes - Forest Swords. Published by JUST ISN’T MUSIC 2021
‘Dreams are dead, but will be reborn with grounds, stones and ancient spells. ‘
Written and Performed by Marc Euvrie/ The Eye of Time, Couresy of Denovali
‘Song To The Siren’
Written by Tim Buckley & Larry Beckett, Sung by Anthony Woolley, Courtesy of BMG Rights Management LLC and Time Buckley Music