Buttons (Short Film)

 
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Buttons:

Logline

While waiting in the tailor’s reception, Emma is gripped by a dark fantasy.

Synopsis

Have you ever experienced a dream or fantasy where the line between what was real and what was fantastical seems scarily non existent? While waiting for a garment to be mended, Emma is gripped by a dark thrilling fantasy.




Director’s Notes

Fantasies are private spaces where anything can happen… and should happen.
Women’s fantasies are not always “nice” and can be assertive, powerful and sometimes quite dark and sinister. This film attempts to illustrate such an example without judgement.

Cast

“Emma” – Emma Galliano

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Emma Galliano graduated from Central School of Speech and Drama, London in 2005. She has since worked extensively in stage and screen productions in the UK and Australia.

Her theatre credits include Gwendoline in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ , Ruth in ‘The Homecoming’, and Hero in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’.

Her film credits include Cheryl in ‘Relentless’, Ma in ‘Dead Down Under’, Louise in ‘Love On the Sly’, Lucinda in ‘Rebel Wessex’, ‘Riley’ in ‘Winsome’ and Gretel in ‘Quality Time’.

She has also appeared in numerous short films, web series and commercials and is currently working on Murder mystery theatre shows and a couple of comedy web series.

“Paulie” – Rae Cooksey

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Rae has worked in children’s theatre for the past 6 years playing various characters from history.
They would now like to concentrate more on theatre and film especially with LGBTQ content. Buttons is Rae’s first short film, which they thoroughly enjoyed being a part of. They went on to be cast in She’s In London, an LBQ web series and now look forward to doing some theatre. Rae’s highlight so far has been wearing top and tails for the soon to be released “Danish Girl”.

“Jules” – Barbara D’Alterio

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Barbara is an actress with credits in theatre, TV and film. She is British born with Italian heritage and her fluent Italian landed her the role of Italian Silvia in several episodes of “Hollyoaks” for Channel 4.

Her lead role as Harriet in “The End of It” was well received and the film was accepted in to the Cannes Short Film Corner. She played Chrissie in British Indie feature “Riot” and was in the cast of Change directed by Mike Busson.

Theatre credits include Beatrix Potter in No1 National Tour “The Tales Of Peter Rabbit,” and devised show “The Linzee Way” in which she played Jojo.

This year she has played the role of Helen in Karl Rooney’s comedy pilot Quiz Night. A Neapolitan interrogator in multilingual film Di Tre Re directed but Shen Wei and Jacob Marley’s guardian in Dickensian short film Christmas Visitations based on The Christmas Carol.

“Teresa” – Liz Nugent

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Liz has recently got involved in the film industry starting up Morphit Productions at the beginning of 2015. With a background in Architecture, she specialises in set design, location scouting and management. In addition she is currently working on her first documentary called “Who let the Dogs in”. She also has an interest in appearing in front of the camera, both as an actor and TV presenter.

“Jo” – Jo Fraser

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Jo Fraser started her film career in front of the camera for television series, including the role of host for “Britain’s Top Dog”. In 2015 Jo decided to pursue a career behind the camera and has already assisted on many television commercials and was part of the core production team on Konstantin Bojanov’s latest film “I want to be like you” (2016).

Project Crew

Producer, Screenwriter, Director, DoP – Wollie Boehm

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Wollie (pronounced Volley) is originally from South Africa, currently living in London. She started her creative career with an English degree, which progressed onto an exciting journey into the technological worlds of business, IT, Telecoms, New Media and 3D Virtual World R&D which inspired her to do a post graduate degree in Artificial Intelligence. She is a skilled experienced film maker with a growing portfolio of award winning short and feature scripts and films.

She studied script writing and film directing at the National film and Television School in Beaconsfield and works as a cinimatographer, editor, colourist and director on commercial and corporate projects. >>read more>>

Post Production Supervisor, Editor, VFX, Colourist – Eddie Byrne

Eddie has a technical background and has dabbled in Film Post Production activies, software and techniques over the years. She has recently decided to officially take on specific roles on films she likes.

She has skills in Adobe Premier Pro, After Effects, Davinci Reslove and a number of other CGI and virtual environments as well as green screen techniques.

Production Manager, 1st AD – Samantha Maree Barker

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Samantha began her career in film as a Production Coordinator on Bollywood films in Australia. The international influence of these early projects inspired her to travel and expand her knowledge in films. Working Freelance on an international scale has given her the opportunity to work with both corporate clients and independent film makers for a unique insight into the film making process.

Pre Production Assistant, 2nd AD, Set Dresser & Props Master – Jo Fraser

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Jo Fraser started her film career in front of the camera for television series, including the role of host for “Britain’s Top Dog”. In 2015 Jo decided to pursue a career behind the camera and has already assisted on many television commercials and was part of the core production team on Konstantin Bojanov’s latest film “I want to be like you” (2016).

Camera Assistant, Location Manager, Post Production Assitant – Liz Nugent

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Liz has recently got involved in the film industry starting up Morphit Productions at the beginning of 2015. With a background in Architecture, she specialises in set design, location scouting and management. In addition she is currently working on her first documentary called “Who let the Dogs in”. She also has an interest in appearing in front of the camera, both as an actor and TV presenter.

Sound Recordist – Ellie Mumford

Emily_Ellie_2015_100x120_02Ellie’s passion for filmmaking developed after receiving a video camera for her 21st birthday. In the years that followed she worked on several short film projects including a promotional film for a local restaurant. Since finishing university, Ellie has gained practical experience working for a German television company as a Sound and Production Assistant and has been involved in a number of projects with VolVentures and Whipped Cream Productions including “Cat Sitting” (2014). She has also made two independent stop motion animations “Nobody” (2011) and ” The Dog Song” (2014).

Continuity, Runner – Emily Fraser

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From birth to adult hood Emily has been astounding people for generations and generations to come. Her mighty muscles give her the power to lift heavy equipment. Her circus artist reflexes allow her to power the mind of the performers and the crew to continue throughout the long and trudging days on set.

Emily, having completed a degree of Circus Performance at the National Centre for Circus Arts, has a fundamental understanding of the technical aspect of film. Her creativity and understanding of on screen performances has proved to be a valuable asset to many projects, along with her energy and enthusiasm. Though be warned, she will juggle the cameras…..

Wardrobe – Julie Auburn

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After many years working in the fashion industry for a number of well known designers, Julie set up her own very successful fashion label designing swimwear. In more recent years she has decided to lead a less pressurised lifestyle to enable herself time to explore all aspects of her creative talents. These include bespoke fashion design for individual clients, film costume and set decor. She has now branched out into upholstery and has carried out a number of private commissions for her collage art work with a keen interest in dog portraiture.

Hair & Make Up – Serena Locatelli

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Serena Locatelli is an accomplished hair & makeup artist with experience in all aspects of media makeup, fashion, video and print. She has had the privilege to train with one of the most renowned make up academies in the country where she further developed her techniques and skills in make up artistry allowing her to master in all fields of make up such as Fashion, Editorial, Beauty, Avante Garde, Catwalk and Bridal.

Since finishing her training, Serena has come along way and has had the opportunity to assist some of the biggest names in the industry which includes Desmond Murray, Lan Nguyen and Jo Sugar. Serena has been a backstage make up artist for London Fashion week along with various other fashion shows in the UK . She has done make up for music videos such as The Sleeping Masses video, “The Woman is the Way” which was the soundtrack song for the film Powder Blue and worked with Beverly Knight on the promotional shoot of her makeup range “K”. Highlights of her career so far was getting to the final five of The Clothes Show’s Young Makeup Artist of the Year 2010 and her work on the Italian Vogue website from the editorial Portraits of an Untold Fairy Tale.

Colourist – Andrew Morgan

Andrew is a talented Writer, Director, Visual Effects and Post Production specialist. He has worked on the visual effects of numerous films such as Lost in Space, New Captain Scarlet and is currently nursing his debut feature as writer, director, called Arkham Sanitarium through post producton.

Find out more about his work at Survivor Films

Special Thanks to

Jude Dempsey
Julie Auburn
Kieron Yates
Steve Taylor

Simulation: The Lighthouse Chronicles (Book 1)

 

Simulation

The Dawn of a Superhero.

A Lesbian Sci-Fi/dystopian Romance!

When passion runs too hot….

Of all the experiments, of all time…love still remains the most dangerous!
Samantha Fielding, an emotionally scarred ex-war hero, enrols into a top-secret scientific research programme for all the wrong reasons.

Will she live…to regret her mistakes?

In a dystopian future, after a decade of war, the United Kingdom is on its knees, ruled by strict martial law. Any ‘deviant’ behaviour including homosexuality or lesbianism is punishable in a manner worse than death–the perpetrators are forcibly ‘reset’.

After her final and devastating tour on The Front, Samantha returns home. Here, in the small Cornish coastal town in rural England she struggles to adapt to ‘normal’ life and eventually, not knowing where else to turn, she enlists in a top-secret scientific research programme. This programme is intended to test her skill, endurance and fibre to their limits in order to unleash powerful, potentially lethal latent human abilities. As if life is not tough enough, she finds herself living dangerously by falling for the sexy, intelligent and enigmatic principal scientist, Dr Victoria Henderson, thereby – risking everything.

*** 2018 – NYC Big Book Award – WINNER! ***

*** 2019 – Global eBook Award – WINNER! ***

“Hot sci-fi thriller – A gripping, page-turner…”

“In the not too distant future – a shell shocked war vet has to find her way back to normal life. The result is anything but normal.”

”Simulation” by Sam Skyborne is the gripping love story of the future. If you like fascinating mental phenomenon, high stakes, sizzling tension and fast-paced page-turners, then this is the book for you.

Buy ”Simulation” now to find out whether Samantha survives and gets the girl!

Large Print Copy of Sim

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“An Absolutely Wonderful Book” – Amanda
“A real page-turner!” – Miss E. Mumford
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“Wow! What a mesmerizing page turner” – Geraldine Robertson-Brown
“Kick-ass and definitely someone I’d like to meet” – A Frick
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“This is a very atmospheric and compelling read…” – Anny
“This is a great read, full of tension, a good plot.” – Wayne

 

More Reader Reviews

Note: If you too enjoyed the book, please let me know!! And join my VIP mailing list to be notified about any new releases.

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Loved it!

“Wow just finished your novel-brilliant. Never read anything like it… Really got drawn into the characters and intrigue of the plot – can’t wait to read the next installment. I’m off to Cornwall soon too! A lighthouse will never look the same again.” – A Reader

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Good pacing, interesting storyline

Although I found the start a little slow and I wasn’t quite sure where it was going, it soon took off and ripped along at a good pace. I warmed to Sam once she and Victoria met and the real crux of the story came through, and I thought the ending was really good, especially as it hinted at more to come from these characters. A good debut. – Angela

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Buy this book!

This is a great read – a real page turner with believable and engaging characters and a gripping storyline, set in an all too possible uncomfortable future. I loved it and can’t wait for the next book in the trilogy. Sam’s my kind of hero! A great debut. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author. – Amazon Customer.

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kick-ass and definitely someone I’d like to meet

A gripping futuristic story.. Sam is my new hero. She’s hot, kick-ass and definitely someone I’d like to meet. Can’t wait for the next instalment! – Ana.

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I loved this, couldn’t put it down once I started …

I loved this, couldn’t put it down once I started it. Beautifully written, intriguing plot and very real characters. Looking forward to finding out what happens next! – Lily.

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Wow! What a mesmerizing page turner

Superbly well written, a real page turner… I vow you’ll not be able to put it down until finished. Truly believable characters and ones you warm too. Don’t let its category of Lesbian Fiction, put you off, its all subtle and tastefully executed. Hopefully like me you’ll end up wanting more… Definitely a sequel waiting to be written….. Even better a film. – Gerry Bell.

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A real page-turner!

I read this book from start to finish in one sitting – I couldn’t put it down! The plot is truly original, particularly in the genre of lesbian fiction, and is full of unexpected twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. The characters are well drawn and compelling and the relationships are very believable. A really great read! – Ms E Mumford.

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The very graphic prologue sets up the backstory brilliantly, and the contrast of locations from rural Cornwall …

This is a very atmospheric and compelling read with a wide range of characters from the very loveable to the very scary indeed. The very graphic prologue sets up the backstory brilliantly, and the contrast of locations from rural Cornwall to the intimidating futuristic research laboratory creates a world that is simultaneously now and not now, here and not here. The narrative whips along at a furious pace and keeps you guessing, the characters are complex, and when the book ends I was wondering what happens next? I’m really looking forward to reading the next part of the trilogy. – Anny.

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If you’re a fan of sci-fi, superheroes, science or lesbian novels then you should go read this book

The character of Sam is very well written and at times I felt like I was right there with Sam, seeing what she was seeing, hearing what she was hearing and feeling what she was feeling. I loved the little twist at the end, I really wasn’t expecting it but I was glad that it happened.

Overall a very well written story with two fantastic characters that I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. If you’re a fan of sci-fi, superheroes, science or lesbian novels then you should go read this book, even if you’re not you should read it. – Planet Nation.

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A great read with a mixture of angst and happiness

Whether or not we are living in a simulation right now .who knows..but this was an exciting read with an easy ability to identify with and warm to the main characters.I hope this will be followed with another story extending the futuristic journey of Sam and Victoria 🙂 For I believe the basis of this book may well run parallel with our true world. – Amazon Customer.

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