The Filmmakers

Edward L Dark, Director
Edward has been working on ‘Chasing Cotards’ for over 3 years, building the perfect team and developing the creative aspects.  During this time he has worked as a Visual Effects Co-ordinator on some of Hollywood’s largest blockbusters including the hugely popular ‘Harry Potter’ series.  Edward’s previous short film, ‘The Rosary’, was a highly stylised look at what may happen when a person dies that isn’t entirely happy with the life they left behind and the lies they told. The film gained a local theatrical release and received the support of the Odeon cinema chain.

Samantha Fazackerley, Producer
Samantha has five years experience as a Producer for the documentary production company In the Dark Productions.  In addition Samantha has worked as the Director’s On-Set PA on ‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’, On-Set AD on ‘Wild Target’ and Production Assistant on ‘Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood’.

Hannah Ireland, Co-Producer
An extremely ambitious woman who is doing everything she can to climb the ladder in the film and television industry. She has a proven record of delivering large and small films and will act as the point person on the lead up to and on the days of the shoot. She is an award-winning Producer of independent films who has also had credits on Love Actually and Ridley Scott's Robin Hood in the Production Department. She is a great asset to the team.

Phil Trayner, Associate Producer
Phil brings over 7 years of business experience to 'Chasing Cotards' - his first foray into filmmaking.  His project management skills and ability to assess / integrate new products and practices have already impressed the experienced filmmakers.  Phil is based in the USA which will help the team explore the American potential of 'Chasing Cotards'.

Lebo “Boo” Motjuoadi, Associate Producer
Boo has an interesting and varied list of Hollywood blockbusters on her CV, with this, she brings wonderful professionalism and experience to Chasing Cotards.  She has worked on as an Assistant Production Coordinator on ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, ‘His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass’, ‘Wanted’ and ‘Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood’.

Stephen Follows, Executive Producer
Stephen has produced two feature films and over 30 short films, many of which have been screened on television and at film festivals worldwide.  His most recent feature, ‘Baseline’, stars Jamie Foreman, Dexter Fletcher, Zoe Tapper and Gary Stretch.  Stephen was the Festival Director of the 2008 Super Shorts International Film Festival and the Editor In Chief of ‘Short Cuts’ magazine. www.catsnake.com

Carl Theakston, Executive Producer
A long admirer of films and a supporter of independent art projects, Carl has come onto Chasing Cotards in Post-Production and is one of the main reasons why this film is happening. The filmmakers will always be in his debt. www.esponline.uk.com

Marios Hamboulidies, 1st Assistant Director
Marios has joined the film after being recommended by Hannah Ireland and after the Director was impressed by his professionalism and ease of character. Marios has the unfortunate job of making a very large camera move extremely quickly. A wide range of film credits includes Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves all the way to Poirot.

Gareth Lewis, 3rd Assistant Director / 1st Assistant Director
With a list of films behind him that speaks for itself Gareth lends us his experience, good manner and kind heart. Gareth is a popular and liked man in the film industry who will be able to step up to the task of 1st A.D. on the Sunday afternoon of the shoot. Previous work includes, naming just a few, 'The Queen', 'Eastern Promises', 'Clash of the Titans' and 5 'Harry Potter' movies.

Steve Brooke-Smith, Director of Photography
Steve brings a vast amount of experience to ‘Chasing Cotards’ including experience shooting on Vista Vision for films such as ‘Inkheart’.   His other work includes working in the camera department on ‘The Madness of King George’, ‘Braveheart’, ‘Band of Brothers’, ‘Sahara’ and ‘The Brothers Grimm’.

Andrew Walton, Editor
An experienced Editor who is moving his way up the ladder in the film industry who has impressed the Director and the Producers already with his knowledge and ability to get jobs done. His previous work includes Editorial jobs on Die Another Day, Revolver and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

Carolina Schmidtholstien, Gaffer
Carolina comes highly recommended by the Camera Department and appears to have a whole list of praise thrown forward whenever her name is mentioned. She’s a great addition to the project. Previous work includes The Football Factory, Evil Calls and Emma.

Simon Burley, Post Production Advisor
We are blessed to have Simon on board as our Post-Production Advisor Simon is the man to go to on everything IMAX related. When Angus Bickerton, Mitch Mitchel and IMAX personally recommend one man that you MUST have on the project - it makes you sit up and listen! He will help us get our ambitious project onto that rather large screen and has already been a great help in teaching us about the Vista Vision to IMAX journey.

Stu Kershaw, EPK Director
Stuart was trained as an editor in the United States at Penn State University before moving from the East Coast to Los Angeles where he made the leap into Marketing with Paramount Pictures and later honed his experience with 20th Century Fox. Stuart returned to the UK in 2003 where he set up In the Dark Productions with Samantha Fazackerley after receiving a 1st class honours degree in Film at the University of Wales. www.inthedarkproductions.co.uk

Leigh Gilbert, Construction Manager
After working on The Dark Knight Leigh has great experience working on large format movies. Leigh is helping SFX create the bathroom scene and has proved an absolute lifesaver thus far. His other credits include Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and Batman Begins. www.leighgilbert.co.uk

Alex Watherston, Costume Designer
Alex is an extremely lovely and talented lady with plenty of experience after working as Costume Designer on Extraordinary Rendition. She has already designed a beautiful dress for Elizabeth and a wonderfully bohemian suit for Hart which will look stunning on that IMAX screen.

Camilla Kirk-Reynolds, Hair & Make-Up
Camilla has been highly recommended from some of the leading names working in film hair and make-up today. A great list of films behind her adds to her reputation and means that she will be able to create the perfect look for Hart and Elizabeth. Previous work includes 'The Other Boleyn Girl', 'The Duchess' and 'Gulliver's Travels'.

Sloane U’Ren, Production Designer
Bringing with her years of experience, and a wonderful flair for design, Sloane is one of the major players involved with ‘Chasing Cotards’. Her unique and classic design of the set is guaranteed to bring the perfect feel to this ambitious short film.  Sloane has worked as Set Designer and Art Director on ‘Being John Malkovich’, ‘Ali’, ‘Open Range’, ‘Batman Begins’ and ‘The Good Shepherd’.

Alice Bird, Art Director
Alice has had experience working on Tim Burton's Corpse Bride and has recently completed work on Wes Anderson's The Fantastic Mr Fox as an Art Director. Alice is one of the main reasons, under Sloane's wonderful guidance, why the set for Chasing Cotards looks so stunning.

Richard Clarke, Composer
Richard is a long term friend of Edward L Dark's. He has composed/ performed music and designed sound for short films shown at The Odeon, Art installations, Websites & Exhibitions. Projects include soundtracks for films like A Simple Liason, The Rosary (Directed by Edward L Dark), Paranoid Park website sounds and a sound design for an installation by Container at the London Design Festival.

Shirley Schumacher, Camera Operator
Having previously worked closely with the Director and D.O.P they both love and trust her to deliver wonderful shots for the film. Shirley brings with her great experience after working on films such as Waking The Dead, Midsummer’s Murders and has experience with the Vista Vision Camera on Inkheart.

Andy Edridge, Grip
After working on Inkheart with Edward L Dark and Steve Brooke Smith he is the number one choice of Grip by the Director and DOP. The best in the business, according to the Director, who has worked on Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hott Fuzz and Sherlock Holmes, to name just a few.

Angel Van Den Akker, Camera Assistant
Angel has been working as a camera trainee on BBC dramas like 'Criminal Justice' and 'Survivor'. You can also regularly find her assisting Mike Valentine's team at the Underwater stage at Pinewood. As one of the GBCTs official camera trainees and was excited to live up to the challenge of being one of the clapper loaders on this biggest of all short films.

Niall Cullinane, Camera Assistant
Niall has worked as a camera trainee and camera assistant on features such as "Scouting Book for Boys", "Snap" and "My Brothers".  He has also spent time working on drama including "The Tudors" and "Pure Mule". He is a GBCT camera trainee.  "Cotards" was his first experience loading a VistaVision camera!

Stefano Pepin, SFX Supervisor
One of the more experienced crew member’s who is another one of those people that the filmmakers are extremely grateful for lending his time and good spirits. His previous work speaks for itself after working on Lost In Space, Band Of Brothers and the Oscar winning SFX team on The Golden Compass.

Jack Hughes, Visual Effects
Jack is an extremely talented and well-respected Visual Effects artist working on some of the major British movies from the last 5 years. His previous credits include ‘Inkheart’, ‘Tideland’, ‘Flightplan,’ ‘Casino Royale’ and ‘The Wolf Man’.

Thomas Müller, CG Supervisor
One of the more talented manipulators of CGI working in the film industry today bringing with him experience working at Terry Gilliam’s and Kent Houston’s company, Peerless, on Casino Royale, The Golden Compass and Inkheart.

Karen Fayerty, Medic
With experience working on every Harry Potter film, apart from the first one, Karen brings with her years of experience and bags full of happiness. She manages to keep every crew she works with happy and safe – it will be no different on The Biggest Short Film Of All Time!

Millie Scalchi, Casting Director
Working under the mentorship of Lucy Bevan, one of the leading Casting Directors in the country, Millie has acquired wonderful skills and contacts within the acting community.  She worked with Lucy Bevan on the upcoming releases of ‘Dorian Gray’, ‘St. Trinian’s 2’ and ‘Nanny McPhee 2’.

Andy Bowman, Technical Support
Working, from Three Mills Studios, Andy has worked on the most important stop motion films of the last 10 years (‘Corpse Bride’, ‘The Fantastic Mr. Fox’). His company, Tech-Mechs-FX, offer a wide range of equipment and Visual Effects help. On this project, Andy is kindly donating a set of beautiful lenses to the shoot and is helping supervise the Vista Vision camera to make sure we have no problems with it. www.techs-mechs-fx.com

Tekura Maeva, Storyboard Artist / Concept Artist
Tekura’s unique and individual style has brought a beautiful imagery to the storyboard design of Chasing Cotards. The Director has become such a fan that he has asked her to further her work on the project as a Concept Artist. A talented woman with a wonderful future in the film industry. www.tekuramaeva.com

Olivia Wakeford, Writer
Edward L Dark and Olivia Wakeford have been working together on projects for the last few years and have established an emotive, but successful, working relationship. Olivia is one of the more interesting writers working in the industry today and has learnt a great deal from her work on ‘The Grind’ and ‘Baseline’.

James Clarke, Original Story Created By
A successful writer, publishing books such as ‘Coppola’ and ‘Ridley Scott’ for Virgin Books, James has a great eye for a good idea. Chasing Cotards was originally his concept and he handed in two drafts of the script before it was handed to Olivia. This film is being made because James wrote, in amongst a list of other ideas, Man stares at painting… woman comes out of painting. It caught the Director’s attention. www.james-blueskies.blogspot.com

A very Special Thanks to…

Angus Bickerton, Vista Vision Camera and Project Mentor
Angus doesn’t require an introduction to people in the film industry because he is a well liked and extremely talented VFX Supervisor who has huge films on his resume including ‘ The Da Vinci Code’, ‘Lost in Space’, ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’ and ‘Angels & Demons’. Angus has acted as a mentor for this project and without him – it simply wouldn’t be happening. He has lent us his own personal Vista Vision Camera for use. The filmmakers thank him from the bottom of their technicoloured hearts.

Christine Comyn, Artist
‘Chasing Cotards’ is privileged and honoured to have, Bruges artist, Christine agree to bring her talents to the film. As a highly established artist, Christine knows how to create the perfect painting that will both haunt, but will also maintain that beautiful quality, that all her work does, and will stun the room with its magnificence. www.christinecomyn.be