Janis Pugh
Balaclava Sands
BALACLAVA SANDS has gone into development with the support of the UK Film Council and Film Agency for Wales
A coming-of-age musical journey through memory using riotous colour, great design, exciting choreography and iconic 80s tracks to take us on a heart-warming journey that goes from innocence and inexperience to revolution and hope, all against the backdrop of Thatchers’ Britain.
We are back in 1983 - factories are closing and unemployment is rife. Sarah’s safe teenage world of happy shoppers and fresh sexual intrigue is turned upside down when her father Pete, an honest and passive man, becomes an easy victim of the changes wrought by the Thatcher government. By contrast, her mum Liz is a ‘new woman’ – a Union leader with burgeoning political drive.
Sarah has to navigate the path between a subjugated father and a liberated mother towards finding independence and her own voice.
The film will be shot on location in Wales and is intended for release in Spring 2011.
Meet the team behind Balaclava Sands:
WRITER/DIRECTOR: JANIS PUGH
Originally from North Wales, Janis began making short films in 2000 before winning a scholarship to study at the London Film School, graduating in 2007.
Janis’ creation of quirky visuals in artificial worlds, combined with heart-felt stories, has made her visual style a recent talking point within the British film industry. In 2008 the UK Film Council recommended Janis to Screen International as one of the top 15 rising stars in British filmmaking. Her award-winning short film BLUE COLLARS AND BUTTERCUPS was screened at over 15 festivals worldwide, including Cannes, Locarno, Brest and Tampere. Her latest all-singing short film, BUTTERFLY, was nominated for ‘Best Short Film’ at the 2009 BAFTA Cymru awards.
“Janis has emerged as a writer/director with a distinctive voice, honed from her Welsh upbringing, but able to convey these experiences in a universal and refreshingly upbeat way. She has the makings of a talent of real integrity and imagination - in her choice of subject, character and visual style.”
Keith Potter – Head of Talent, Film Agency for Wales.Filmography:
Butterfly (ITV Wales) Writer/Director Blue Collars and Buttercups Writer/Director Thy Kingdom Come Writer/Director Go Ask Alice Writer/Producer House (Documentary) Writer/Director The Event Writer/Director Haley (Documentary) Writer/Producer The Madres de Plaza de Mayo (Documentary) Writer/Director Kismet Writer/Director
PRODUCER: MIA BAYS
Mia Bays is an Oscar winning double BAFTA nominated film producer and marketing/distribution consultant with over 18 years experience in the UK and international markets. As a distributor, marketeer or sales agent, she has worked on over 50 feature films, including several internationally acclaimed and Oscar nominees and winners, in both features and documentaries, on films by, amongst others, Michael Winterbottom, Ang Lee, Shekhar Kapur and Todd Haynes. She currently, as a consultant, oversees the running of Film London’s Microwave micro-budget film fund in partnership with the BBC, that has so far hits MUM AND DAD and SHIFTY. Mia also acts as marketing consultant for the scheme.Most recently, Mia oversaw the international marketing on films such as TSOTSI, Berlin Audience Award winner 2007 BLINDSIGHT and the 5 British Indie Award nominee SHIFTY, and for upcoming films KICKS and SALVAGE for NorthWest Vision.
As a producer, Mia’s first film was Martin McDonagh’s SIX SHOOTER which won the Best Live Action Short Academy Award in 2006. Her first feature SCOTT WALKER 30 CENTURY MAN featuring and exec produced by David Bowie, saw her nominated for the Carl Foreman Best Debut Feature BAFTA in 2008. It was released theatrically by Verve in the UK, Oscilloscope in the U.S and Madman in Australia. Her current slate includes GBH to be directed by Pete Travis (VANTAGE POINT) for Optimum/Canal Plus and a 3D film with David Hockney.
PRODUCER: REBECCA DAVIES
Rebecca is an independent Producer from South Wales. She is currently based at Warp Films London, working across a slate of feature film projects, including SUBMARINE, as Associate Producer.
Prior to this, Rebecca worked within ITV Wales for 3 years, and produced 18 x 10 minute broadcast short films, plus 1 x 23 minute drama, working with 19 emerging Directors. These films resulted in 1 win and 1 nomination at the BAFTA Cymru awards (2008 and 2009) for OWL CREEK BRIDGE and BUTTERFLY respectively. During this time she was also responsible for developing and securing the UK Film Council Digital Shorts programme for It’s My Shout Productions, the short film training and talent scheme in Wales. She also started to develop a feature film slate, including BALACLAVA SANDS and MAGNA MATER (writer/director Janis Pugh), and option award-winning literary material (FRESH APPLES – Rachel Tresize), to result in projects which are all at different stages of development.
With 4 years of experience in Skillset Screen Academy Project Management (the London Film School and the Skillset Screen Academy Wales), Rebecca found a love for Producing and studied the MA (PgCert) in Film Producing and Business Management in 2006-07. She then spent 1 year further training in Producing at the New York Film Academy, whilst working in the development department at Tribeca Productions, New York. She originally graduated from the University of Bath in French, Italian, and European Studies in 2002.
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