Award-winning film director, James Smith, originally from Canvey Island, has chosen to return to the Southend area to make his next feature film, a comedy called Best Geezer.
With previous films produced by James’ company, Raya Films, sitting in the thriller and horror genres, and shot in places as diverse as the Midlands, London and Spain, he has taken an about turn to make an all-out comedy set on Canvey Island and Southend.
The screenplay was written in 2018 and put on the back-burner whilst working on other productions. It wasn’t until Caroline Spence, producer and screenwriter with Raya Films, rediscovered the screenplay earlier this year, that Best Geezer was put into development.
“One day back in the summer, I heard Caroline laughing at something she was reading,” James explains. “When I asked what she was laughing at, she said she’d found Best Geezer, and having forgotten most of the plot, she was in stitches. It was then that we decided it just had to be made!”
Best Geezer follows the story of three hapless entrepreneurs who join forces to make a geezer movie. It’s described as The Full Monty meets Silver Linings Playbook, and splashed liberally with Only Fools And Horses, set in Southend, with plentiful music and dance. James even goes as far as to say that it could well be Southend’s answer to La La Land with a sprinkling of The Disaster Artist.
Best Geezer will introduce audiences to a group of down-on-their-luck characters determined to turn their lives around and achieve something everybody thinks is way out of bounds. They are complex, at times inept, but ambitious, and determined. This is a story with a heart that takes a satirical look at life and human nature, but that will – ultimately and most importantly – have you laughing and leaving the theatre in high spirits.
Despite having left Canvey Island in 2013, James has returned on a number of occasions for the Southend Film Festival where his debut feature film Do Something, Jake was screened in 2019 and Agent Kelly, set in Spain and starring Caroline, was screened in 2021. He will next return for the World Premiere of smartphone-shot feature film, Surveilled, in January 2022 at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival.
“I’m really looking forward to spending more time in Southend and working on Best Geezer. The humour and sharp wit in this part of the country is unique, and I know this is going to be a cracking film. I can’t wait to start rolling cameras on it!”
James and Caroline are currently raising production funds through the crowdfunding platform, Indiegogo. If you want to support the project, head over to the page to learn more HERE.
The CW has released a new extended trailer for The Flash, offering up some new footage from several upcoming episodes and teasing the unmasking of Zoom:
Zoolander is back but a lot has happened since 2001! Rest assured the Ben Stiller comedy features familiar faces and a few new ones with plenty to get you excited. Read more
Zone 414 is an upcoming American science fiction thriller film written by Bryan Edward Hill and directed by Andrew Baird. The film stars Guy Pearce, Matilda Lutz, Jonathan Aris, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Olwen Fouéré, Colin Salmon, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Read more
It is the final episode of Season 1, and as expected following the somewhat calmness of last week's episode this week is about to go off the scale. Our crew Read more
Episode 5 of Zomboat! is the penultimate episode of Season 1 and it gave the audience a chance to catch their breath before the grand finale. Instead of the fast Read more
In Zomboat! Episode 4 we discover that even a shopping trip can be hazardous to your health in post-apocalyptic Birmingham. With the boat moored and apparently safe Amar (Ryan McKen) Read more
After our diversion last week our Zomboat crew begin travelling in the right direction and end up back where they first got on the boat. This also happens to be Read more
Zomboat! burst onto our screens last week and while we loved it we noted that it felt "a bit rushed with lots crammed in." As Episode 2 washed over us Read more
Debuting on ITV2 in the UK, Zomboat! is filmed in the 2.35:1 widescreen ratio of most zombie movies and answers the life long question of what would happen if you Read more
Homemade horror-comedy feature Zomblogalypse received its UK premiere at Dead Northern Film Festival - in association with Fangoria and Shudder - at City Screen York on 26th September 2021. The Read more
Tony Todd is back in an all new zombie movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBlWz-n-nec When the world is in shambles, plagued by a zombie outbreak, only the strong will survive, but just how Read more
Columbus, Tallahasse, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL6NTQhEqn4 Read more
In Zombieland 2: Double Tap, Columbus, Tallahasse, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of Read more
Zombie With A Shotgun is the feature adaptation of the popular web series of the same name. Aaron and Rachel are on the run due to the fact that Aaron is Read more
Directed by Anthony C. Ferrante, Zombie Tidal Wave aims to pick up where the Sharknado franchise left off. More serious in tone, the film plays more like the original Sharknado Read more
It's a Zombie Tsunami! From the same twisted minds behind Sharknado comes an all-new disaster: Zombie Tidal Wave starring Ian Ziering. Watch the world premiere Saturday August 17th at 9/8c Read more
11 years ago, a zombie virus killed many people, while others had their family members turned into zombies. Society is still angry, and so outside the city, a zombie fight Read more
The looming release of ZOMBIE ARMY 4 draws ever closer, but there’s a whole new realm of terror lurking just behind! A new three-part campaign called Hell Cult, comprising three Read more
Zombie Army 4: Dead War is OUT NOW! Get your copy on PlayStation 4 TODAY! A reanimated despot and his ghoulish backup dancers shake a precariously attached leg in this Read more
IF YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE SAFE - YOU’RE DEAD WRONG! The year is 1946. Europe lies in ruins, torn apart by the nefarious “Plan Z.” A brave band of heroes Read more
Brett Summers
Founded Cult Faction in 2014. Some would describe him as a teacher, writer, dream weaver, and visionary... some would not...
More Stories
New trailer released for Condor’s Nest
Heathers: The Musical comes to UK cinemas for One Night Only on 28th March 2023
Attachment trailer released