His Name Was Ben

HIS NAME WAS BEN is based on Patrick McConnell's play A STORY FOR WHEN WERE GRANDADS, winner of Best New Writing at Buxton Festival Fringe in 2006.
Spurred on by its success and plaudits, Grandads attracted huge critical acclaim and sell-out audiences in 2007. HIS NAME WAS BEN is a short film, created by Rotten Park Road and by multi-award winning film director Chris Stone ( BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR, LA Film Festival, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST SOUND DESIGN At the Young Independent Film and Television Awards).


Narrated by Mike, the films central character and child bully, HIS NAME WAS BEN takes a look at life back in 1985 through the eyes of 11 year old Ben. We see Ben walking alone through the streets of Stoke, where he faces constant bullying and attack. Ben lives alone with his agoraphobic mother who, although she loves him very much, fails to look after him properly and events spiral towards a dramatic denouement. This slippery tale set in the dark heart of Stoke-on-Trent uses beautiful cinematography and powerful storytelling to transport the audience into Bens ultimately tragic world.


Though the film works beautifully as a short, the full-length feature is set to flip the story on its head and the events that follow transport us forward again to the present day. Mike and Dave, serial benefit fraudsters, wake with hangovers from hell and a brief case stashed with cash. Unable to recall the previous nights events, they find themselves ripped from their Jeremy Kyle comfort zone and dragged into the criminal underworld that lurks next door. Tormented by the mysterious figure of Mr Martin, they embark upon a journey of excess, extravagance and extreme inebriation.


This films deals with mental health issues such as schizophrenia, agoraphobia and depression. The producers are planning to raise funds to transform the short into full-length feature.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• His
• Name
• is
• Ben
• Chris
• Stone
• Patrick
• McConnell
• Lynne
• Paynne
• Rotten
• Park
• Road
• Stoke
• on
• Trent
• Mental
• Health
• Bully

[spencerscene1]

very nice work here, i think the voice over could do with revising or try it with a different voice over, very powerfull story, this needs to be heard in the voice over, many thanks

[redrider1981]

hey guys tis claire atherton here. Bumped into Chris the other day and he says your still working on pst production for this piece. Have you any idea when it will be up for viewing?

[roybluegi]

This is a very good film, I stumbled across it for free in HD at: watchmovies4free |dot| org

[sweetellie17]

This is great

Bradeley Rogers!

[Cyberrob]

Well done its a powerfull short looking forward to the rest

[budofthebuds]

Hi Dave,

How bloody good to hear from you.

Sorry for the delayed response- we've been moving house so haven't checked this for a while. Hope things are brilliant with you and it's great to hear from you. Thanks for your comment - glad you liked it.

Pat and Lynne xxx

[djmcc1981]

Patrick, Lynne; this is brilliant, absolutely brilliant :D

Dave McChrystal

[MeganEmily98]

Well done Hazzer and Bradder :D

[budofthebuds]

Brilliant

[daverob77]

Really great quality. Top direction, acting and filming. You deserve to go on to get the success your talents warrant.