Fizz and Ginger Films’ TWO DOWN UK Premiere at Manchester International Film Festival July 2015

‘SOMETIMES A STRANGER IS THE ONLY PERSON YOU CAN TRUST’

Selected in competition as the only UK narrative feature film at the forthcoming Manchester International Film Festival, TWO DOWN, a dark and quirky British comedy thriller starring Alex Hassell, Tori Hart, Graham Butler, Emma King, Nick Rhys, Amy Manson, Matthew Cottle with Felicity Montague and Conleth Hill, is written and directed by Matthew Butler; written and produced by Tori Hart. Executive Producers include Stephen Fry and Derek Jacobi, with support from Ian McKellen.

When Sophie Watson (Tori Hart) answers the doorbell and a mortally wounded hitman falls into her flat, her world is turned upside down. Desperate John Thomas (Alex Hassell) barges in to her home and holds her hostage, along with unsuspecting local delivery boy Luke Harper (Graham Butler).

Over the course of a couple of hours, a Chinese take-away and a bottle of whisky - while waiting for John’s brother Sam (Nick Rhys) to come and pick him up - the truth begins to emerge as to what really happened to John earlier that day. It eventually becomes clear that his notorious boss, Harry Montague (Conleth Hill) has instructed Sam and his associate Rhona (Emma King) to kill John, and they are on their way to Sophie’s apartment to finish the job. When the brothers come face to face and the true extent of the deceit is revealed, Sam is close to killing John when a shot rings out behind him.....

TWO DOWN is indie Film Company Fizz and Ginger Films’ second feature and has already garnered two major festival awards: in Los Angeles and a grand jury prize in Amsterdam. The film has now been chosen as the only British narrative feature in competition at ManIFF next month.

“After finishing our first film ‘Miss In Her Teens’, which was an adaptation of an 18th century play, we wanted to do something completely different,” explains writer/director Matthew Butler. “We wanted to keep the budget as small as we could so we could keep as much control over the production as possible. So we started with the idea of just three actors in one location, with an injured hit man breaking into a young couple’s house. The idea evolved from there and having an eccentric, wounded hitman staying in your flat gave us nice, high, stakes to play with.”

Stephen Fry and Sir Derek Jacobi became involved when Matthew and Tori were introduced to them by their friend Ian McKellen. “We had known Ian for years and he's always been a big supporter of what we do; now, happily Stephen has also become a big fan. Ian has been involved in a couple of our short films and narrated our first feature which has just been released in the U.S. He also kindly loaned us his pub in Limehouse for the scenes we shot with Conleth Hill,” adds Tori Hart. 

Executive Producer Stephen Fry said: "I think you should be unbelievably proud - I really, really enjoyed it. It is superbly shot and performed and has a fabulous rhythm that kept one watching. And unlike so many films it is exactly the right length. I’m sure you massacred lots of your favourite scenes to bring it in so tightly, but the final cut shows that it was worth it. Congratulations!” Fry’s fellow Executive Producers include Wendy Muir-Hart, Anthony Pye-Jeary, Alistair Riley, David Reast, Chris Hart, Derek Jacobi and K.C. Thiruchelvam.

ManIFF Director of Operations, Neil Jeram-Croft said: “We are incredibly excited to announce the full line up for the first Manchester Film Festival. There was a vast range of excellent independent films to choose from but we had to shortlist this down to the crème de la crème.”

Director Matthew Butler and Producer Tori Hart
Director Matthew Butler and Producer Tori Hart set up Fizz and Ginger Films in 2009 and together they write and produce independent British films. As well as a number of short films, their recent work includes: Miss in Her Teens (2013), a feature film adapted from the original 1747 play by David Garrick and features Simon Callow, Carol Royle with narration by Ian McKellen. Miss in Her Teens is currently being distributed by eOne in North America. Their current feature film project DRAGPIES - a comedy heist set in and around Soho - is in development.

Fizz and Ginger Films featured in Screen International’s 2013 UK Stars of Tomorrow.

CAST

Alex Hassell (John Thomas) is currently playing Prince Hal in Henry 4th Parts 1 and 2 with the RSC. His theatre experience includes: Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cardenio, The City Madam (RSC), The Caretaker (Liverpool Everyman/Theatre Royal Bath) The Seagull, Hamlet (The Factory); Turandot (Hampstead); After Miss Julie (Nation Theatre Studio); I Am Shakespeare (Chichester/tour); The Tempest, The Storm, Measure for Measure (Shakespeare's Globe). His television appearances include: Silent Witness, Way to Go, Life of Crime, Hustle, Miranda, Lovesoup, Bonkers, Torchwood, Robin Hood, Murphy's Law. 
Film includes: Anonymous, The Sick House, Calendar Girls, Cold Mountain

Tori Hart (Sophie) As well as being a writer and producer, Tori also works as a professional actress. Film and television credits include: Keeping Rosy (2014), Miss in her Teens (2014), The Tales of Hoffman (2008), Doctors (BBC), Home Again (BBC) Theatre: Dis-Orientation (Riverside Studios), Romeo and Juliet (Harlow Playhouse), Rivals and Loves Last Shift (Regional Tour) Radio: Doctor Who (2013)

Graham Butler (Luke Harper) is currently paying the lead role in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night at The Gielgud Theatre. His theatre credits include: The White Guard (National Theatre), Journey’s End (West End/Tour) Henry 5th, Henry 6th part 1, 2 and 3 (Shakespeare’s Globe). Television includes: Penny Dreadful (Sky Atlantic), Suspects (Channel 5), Law and Order UK (ITV) Film credits include: Symmetry of Love (2010), Miss in Her Teens (2014)

Conleth Hill (Harry – The Boss) Born in Northern Ireland, Conleth has worked for many years in theatre both in England and his home town of Belfast. His more recent theatre work includes: Stones in his Pocket, The Home Place, Uncle Vanya (The Lyric Theatre, Belfast), The Seafarer, Philistines, The White Guard, The Cherry Orchard (National Theatre) The Producers (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), Dallas Sweetman (Pain’s Plough) Quartermaine’s Terms (Wyndhams Theatre). Film includes: Shooting for Socrates (2014), Keith Lemon: The Film (2012), Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011), Perrier’s Bounty (2009), Whatever Works (2009). Television: Game of Thrones (HBO), Suits (NBCUniversal), Inside No.9 (BBC), The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle (BBC)

Felicity Montagu (Mrs Hannon) is probably best known for her role as Lynn in the hugely successful BBC T.V series I’m Alan Partridge. Her Film credits includes: Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa (2013), How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (2008), I Want Candy (2007), Confetti (2006) Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001). Television includes: Watson and Oliver (2013), Doc Martin (ITV), Chickens (Sky1), Out Numbered (BBC), Skins (Channel 4), Nighty Night (BBC), Suburban Shootout (Channel 5). Theatre includes: Quartermaine’s Terms (Wyndhams Theatre), The Knocky (Royal Court), Up on the Roof (Donmar Warehouse), Angels in America (National Theatre).

Amy Manson (Call girl) Film includes: Harrigan (2013), Not Another Happy Ending (2013), Blood Monkey (2007). Television includes: The Field of Blood (BBC), Misfits (E4), Outcasts (BBC), Being Human (BBC), Desperate Romantics (BBC), Torchwood (BBC) and Atlantis (BBC). Theatre includes: A Doll’s House, Six Characters in Search of an Author, Caucasian Chalk Circle (Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh)
Matthew Cottle (Banker)Theatre includes: A Small Family Business, The Habit of Art (National Theatre) Racing Demon (Crucible, Sheffield) Comic Potential (The Lyric) Film includes: Bright Young Things, Chaplin, A Christmas Carol, Sex, the city and Me (2007) Blessed (2008). Television includes: Game On (BBC), Spooks (BBC), Pramface (BBC) and Citizen Khan (BBC).

Nick Rhys (Sam) Nick's television credits include Rebus (ITV), River City (BBC Scotland)and he is currently appearing as 'Lockie' Campbell in the long running series Hollyoaks (Channel 4). Film credits include October 1 (2013) and Theatre credits include The Static (International Tour) and The Subject was Roses (The English Theatre Hamburg.

Emma King (Rhona) Emma's film credits include Miss in Her Teens (2014), End of the Road (2013) and Blooded (2010). Her Theatre credits include: The Hairy Ape (Southwark Playhouse), Theatre Uncut (Traverse Theatre), Cymbeline (The Factory), The Factory's 50/50 (Hampstead Theatre), Butter No Parsnips (Arcola Theatre), Three Sisters and Too Late For Logic (Royal Lyceum Theatre)