Amelia and Michael
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Amelia and Michael
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| director = Daniel Cormack
| producer = Daniel Cormack
Matt Gunner
| writer = Stephen Betts
| starring = Anthony Head
Natasha Powell
| music = Nick Loe
| cinematography = Merritt Gold
| editing = Gareth Davies
| studio = Actaeon Films
Fortune Films
| distributor = Network Ireland Television
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2007|8|24|Montréal World Film Festival}}
| runtime = 11 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
}}
Amelia and Michael is a 2007 British drama short film directed by Daniel Cormack, starring Anthony Head and Natasha Powell and executive produced by Richard Johns.
In 2010, Amelia and Michael was selected for preservation by the British Film Institute's National Archive{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/836444|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110033021/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/836444|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-01-10|title=Amelia and Michael (2007)|publisher=BFI – Film & TV Database}} and was archived by the British Universities Film and Video Council as part of their Television and Radio Index for Learning and Teaching (TRILT).{{cite web|url=http://bufvc.ac.uk/tvandradio/trilt/index.php/prog/0085462B?bcast=62593953|title=Amelia and Michael|publisher=British Universities Film and Video Council}} In 2012, the film was acquired by the British Library's Moving Image Collection.{{cite web|url=http://cadensa.bl.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=ddrEvdUCk0/WORKS-FILE/205990090/8/3948386/|title=The British Library Sound & Moving Image catalogue|publisher=British Library}}{{cite web|url=http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/dlDisplay.do?vid=BLVU1&afterPDS=true&institution=BL&docId=BLLSA7467050|title=Amelia and Michael|publisher=British Library}}
Plot
Amelia (Natasha Powell) and Michael (Anthony Head), a smartly dressed middle aged couple, sit in silence in the back of a chauffeur-driven sedan as it pulls up at the lights beside a motorcycle. Arriving outside a restaurant, Amelia kisses Michael goodbye and walks towards the entrance. When the sedan is out of sight, Amelia removes her wedding ring and hails a cab to an alternative destination. Back in his office, Michael is interrupted by his colleague Francis (Julian Lee) in the middle of booking an anniversary meal and hotel room for Friday. On Friday morning, Michael leaves for a business trip to Milan, giving Amelia some flowers before he departs. Once he has gone, Amelia travels to the hospital bedside of an incapacitated young man on whose table is a photo of Amelia and the man astride a motorcycle. Meeting with a consultant afterwards she signs consent forms for his care. Meanwhile, Michael is not in Milan, but at the restaurant he booked the previous day where he meets a call-girl who he later sleeps with in his hotel room. Restlessly trying to sleep after she leaves, he is interrupted by a phone call from Francis, who has discovered his whereabouts in order to urgently discuss 'the Thompson case'. Michael returns home the next morning and exchanges pleasantries with Amelia whilst opening his post, before taking a bath. While tidying away the opened mail, Amelia discovers Michael's unused passport in a kitchen drawer, but before she can confront him, she receives a phone call from the hospital. Dashing to the bedside of the incapacitated man, she arrives too late; discovering the man has died and the nurses are changing the sheets in preparation for the next patient. Returning home that evening, she bursts into tears. Michael – who has discovered his passport out on the kitchen table and believes he has been caught out – assumes she is upset at his infidelity. He apologises and embraces Amelia, who does not reveal the true cause of her upset. In the final scene, Amelia and Michael sit in silence in the sedan as a motorcycle pulls up beside them at the lights.
Cast
Anthony Head agreed to appear in the film despite the fact that he "didn't know [the producers] from Adam"{{cite web|url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/1711456.0/|title=Director's film debut wins Dame Judi's stamp of approval|publisher=Your Local Guardian / Cara Lee}} and even waived his fee, telling Hotdog that "the script was really nice and basically it was one of those deals where you can do something helpful for somebody...if I can help somebody – and usually the problem is time – then why not?...So you know if I can give them my time I'm going learn as much from them as they are from me."{{cite web|url=http://www.actaeonfilms.com/Anthony%20Head%20interview%20Hotdog%20Issue%2083%20p120.pdf|title=Anthony Head Interview Hotdog Issue 83 p120|publisher=Actaeon Films / Hotdog|access-date=17 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903063612/http://www.actaeonfilms.com/Anthony%20Head%20interview%20Hotdog%20Issue%2083%20p120.pdf|archive-date=3 September 2011|url-status=dead}}Catherine Bray (24 December 2006). Extras Going Underground – The Home of Indies, Shorts and Maverick Moviemaking: Use Your Head, Hotdog, Christmas 2006, Issue 83, p. 118, {{ISSN|1470-9260}}. SMD Publishing Ltd The film was shot concurrently with Head's appearance as Jeff Golding in Simon Gray's Otherwise Engaged at the Criterion Theatre in London's West End with Head commenting that "[Amelia and Michael] was incredibly professionally put together, they were a really good crew and they got me in and out as quickly as they could, which was perfect."
Production
The film went into production while its director Daniel Cormack was working at the box office of the Electric Cinema{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AbwzyGJXQ8|title=Broadcast Hot Shots 2008: Daniel Cormack|publisher=YouTube / BroadcastnowTV}} and was receiving hardship funding from the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund.{{cite web|url=http://www.ctbf.co.uk/#/44|title=CTBF -Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund: Talent Corner Main|publisher=Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund}}{{cite web|url=http://www.actaeonfilms.com/Cinema%20&%20Television%20Benevolent%20Fund%20Newsletter%20Spring%202006%20p7.pdf|title=Cinema & Television Benevolent Fund Spring 2006 p7|publisher=Actaeon Films / CTBF|access-date=15 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903063811/http://www.actaeonfilms.com/Cinema%20%26%20Television%20Benevolent%20Fund%20Newsletter%20Spring%202006%20p7.pdf|archive-date=3 September 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.actaeonfilms.com/CTBF%20Casino%20Royal%20Royal%20Film%20Performance%20Brochure%2014th%20November%202006%20Issue%2060%20p11.pdf|title=CTBF Casino Royale Royal Film Performance Brochure 14th November 2006 Issue 60 p11|publisher=Actaeon Films / CTBF|access-date=17 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903063739/http://www.actaeonfilms.com/CTBF%20Casino%20Royal%20Royal%20Film%20Performance%20Brochure%2014th%20November%202006%20Issue%2060%20p11.pdf|archive-date=3 September 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends60/0001099660_AC_20060331_E_C.PDF|title=The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund Trustees' Report and Group Financial Statements (p. 11)|publisher=Charity Commission / CTBF}} Having received an initial allocation of funds from Hammersmith and Fulham's media support agency Focus West,{{cite web|url=http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/News_Archive/Press_releases/2006/71324_New_funding_for_local_film_makers.asp|title=New funding for local film-makers|publisher=London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham|access-date=1 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318023949/http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/News_Archive/Press_releases/2006/71324_New_funding_for_local_film_makers.asp|archive-date=18 March 2012|url-status=dead}} Daniel Cormack went on to gain funding from his boss at the Electric Cinema, and Soho House founder, Nick Jones{{cite web|url=http://debkhan.co.uk/blog/where_do_we_go_/|title=Good timing Channel 4|publisher=Deb Khan – Creative Inspiration|access-date=1 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611091742/http://debkhan.co.uk/blog/where_do_we_go_/|archive-date=11 June 2011|url-status=dead}} among others.
The film was shot on a relatively low budget and saved money by making extensive use of product placement, securing free goods and services from Jaguar Cars, Bupa, the Royal Park Hotel, Margaret Howell and the West Cornwall Pasty Company.{{cite web|url=http://www.dshed.net/brands-and-filmmakers-shall-we-dance|title=Brands and Filmmakers: Shall We Dance (44:25)|publisher=DShed / Encounters Short Film Festival|access-date=1 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720000025/http://www.dshed.net/brands-and-filmmakers-shall-we-dance|archive-date=20 July 2011|url-status=dead}} As a result, it was the subject of a case study at the Encounters Film Festival during the panel discussion Brands and Filmmakers: "in essence [Daniel Cormack] just smiled sweetly, asked for favors as he went along, and got them" although using genuine expensive brands ran into problems "when he found himself pondering the use of real diamonds rather than fakes" before realising that the "hundreds of thousands of pounds worth" of jewellery would have to be insured and that costume jewellery would easily suffice.{{cite web|url=http://www.criticsnotebook.com/2008/12/14th-encounters-short-film-festival.html|title=Always Plenty of Brass to Go Around|publisher=Critic's Notebook / Tim Hayes}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dshed.net/brands-and-filmmakers-shall-we-dance|title=Brands and Filmmakers: Shall We Dance (52:25)|publisher=DShed / Encounters Short Film Festival|access-date=1 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720000025/http://www.dshed.net/brands-and-filmmakers-shall-we-dance|archive-date=20 July 2011|url-status=dead}} Nonetheless, as Anthony Head noted: "Amelia and Michael was a learning curve for director and producers and by the time we finished they had made really good use of the facilities they managed to blag. I love it when something feels that vibrant and that close to the root of things, when it hasn't got a lot of money thrown at it, and it's edgy."
Both Anthony Head and Daniel Cormack remarked on how supportive the crew were of their debut director during filming. Head commented: "once he got into the groove and realised how supportive his crew were, he got into it and he was great, really good." Cormack later told the BECTU journal Stage, Screen and Radio: "I made the film as a total novice whose only experience of film production was from reading books and whose only qualification to be a director was a love of film. Luckily I had a very talented and experienced crew around me and Amelia and Michael was a great success".Daniel Cormack (May 2007). A Different Perspective, Stage, Screen and Radio: The Journal of the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph & Theatre Union, May 2007, p. 16, {{ISSN|0969-6652}}{{cite web|url=http://www.actaeonfilms.com/Stage%20Screen%20&%20Radio%20-%20The%20Journal%20of%20the%20Broadcasting%20Entertainment%20Cinematograph%20&%20Theatre%20Union%20May%202007%20p16-17.pdf|title=A Different Perspective|publisher=Actaeon Films / BECTU / Daniel Cormack|access-date=15 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903063838/http://www.actaeonfilms.com/Stage%20Screen%20%26%20Radio%20-%20The%20Journal%20of%20the%20Broadcasting%20Entertainment%20Cinematograph%20%26%20Theatre%20Union%20May%202007%20p16-17.pdf|archive-date=3 September 2011|url-status=dead}}
Though shot in 2005,{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/1721157.in_with_a_reel_chance/|title=In with a Reel Chance|publisher=This is Local London}} post-production was not completed until 2007. An unfinished version was shortlisted for the Akira Kurosawa Memorial Short Film Competition in 2006.
Release
=Festivals=
In addition to a short theatrical run before the feature presentations at the Broadway Theatre,{{cite web|url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/1863517.0/|title=Actaeon Films Oscar Hopes|publisher=Your Local Guardian / Kerry Ann Eustice}} Amelia and Michael screened on the festival circuit from its world premiere at the A-list Montréal World Film Festival in 2007 through to 2010.
=Broadcast=
In 2010, Amelia and Michael was broadcast on Channel 4 as part of "a series of short original films produced by a variety of talented writers and directors";{{cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/short-film-season-2010|title=Short Film Season 2010|publisher=Channel 4}} the first time in over 8 years that Channel 4 had acquired and broadcast independent short films.{{cite web|url=http://www.iftn.ie/news/?act1=record&aid=73&rid=4282894&tpl=archnews&only=1|title=Channel 4 Orders Network Ireland Television Shorts |publisher=Irish Film & Television Network}}
Reception
=Critical response=
Reviews focused on the acting, production values and pacing of the film, as well as its ambiguous ending. Jeff Shannon of The Seattle Times commented on the "fine acting and first rate production values."{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2008142563_onereel29.html|title=Don't make short shrift of the potential gems at 1-Reel Film Festival|work=The Seattle Times| first=Jeff|last=Shannon|date=27 August 2008}} Hotdog remarked that "this short is beautifully shot, gently taking its time to unfold, and the presence of actors like stage and screen veteran Head really raises the bar a notch", concluding that "despite the sombre subject matter, there's a strange comfort to be found in the final minute of the film" and that "on this evidence, Cormack is a young director to watch."Greg Hilditch (24 December 2006). Extras Going Underground – The Home of Indies, Shorts and Maverick Moviemaking: Amelia and Michael Review, Hotdog, Christmas 2006, Issue 83, p. 120, {{ISSN|1470-9260}}. SMD Publishing Ltd Paul Strange called the film "a delight" and "intriguing" and made it a drama 'Pick of the Day' on DigiGuide stating: "Nicely observed by director Daniel Cormack, both Powell and Head are super here, and the drama leaves you wanting a lot more, which is terrific. Highly recommended."{{cite web|url=http://uk-tv-guide.com/pick-of-the-day/21-7-2008/drama-amelia-and-michael-secrets-on-both-sides|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719222010/http://uk-tv-guide.com/pick-of-the-day/21-7-2008/drama-amelia-and-michael-secrets-on-both-sides|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-19|title=Amelia and Michael|publisher=UK TV Guide}} Expanding on the theme of ambiguity and the indeterminate ending, Abigail Lelliot of Time Out London observed that "Anthony Head packs an emotional punch in this pacey drama" and that in spite of "some slightly clichéd compositions...the direction succinctly navigates the twists of the plot to a gratifyingly ambiguous conclusion."Abigail Lelliot (13 February 2008). Daniel Cormack: Director's Showcase, Time Out (London), Issue 1956, p. 101, {{ISSN|1479-7054}}. Time Out Group Ltd In addition to noting the "great performances", "beautiful photography" and "real sense of cinema", Shooting People's Ben Blaine picked up on the film's European sensibility, reflecting that "it felt very European, like one of those films in which Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche fall in love and break up, one of those films that somehow, as a rule, we can't do in this country. With this well cast, well acted, well made film Daniel Cormack seems therefore to be breaking all the rules without breaking sweat or showing off."{{cite web|url=http://shootingpeople.org/bensblog/2007/04/the-mountain-of-submission/|title=The Mountain of Submissions|publisher=Shooting People}}
Judi Dench, who supported the production of the film, described it as "beautiful" and said that its director was "destined for great things."
=Accolades=
Amelia and Michael has a rating of 7.9 out of 10 from IMDb's top 1,000 voters.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0945314/ratings-top_1000|title=Amelia and Michael (2007) - User ratings |publisher=IMDb}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110509185932/http://www.actaeonfilms.com/filmsaam.html Actaeon Films] Official Production Company website
- [http://www.network-irl-tv.com/156.html Network Ireland Television] Official Distributor website
- [http://www.fortune-films.com/?projectlibrary Fortune Films] Official Production Company website
- [http://www.sohofilms.co.uk/hydra/index.php/projects/detail/amelia-and-michael/ Soho Films] Official Production Company website
- [http://www.anthonyhead.org/ameliamichael.html Amelia and Michael] Official Anthony Head website
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/films/p00l3nl0 Amelia and Michael] at the BBC Film Network
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20201127172336/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8c85a567 Amelia and Michael] at the British Film Institute{{better source needed|reason=Help request: a live link can be searched for at https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/search/expert - if available, replace the archive URL with the live link. Or if none found, remove this 'better source needed' template. | date=October 2023}}
- [http://film.britishcouncil.org/amelia-and-michael Amelia and Michael] at the British Council British Films Directory
- [http://www.citwf.com/film470613.htm Amelia and Michael] at the Complete Index to World Film
- {{IMDb title|0945314|Amelia and Michael}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amelia And Michael}}
Category:2000s English-language films
Category:2007 directorial debut films
Category:2007 romantic drama films
Category:British drama short films
Category:British independent films
Category:British romantic drama films
Category:English-language drama short films