HOTLY ANTICIPATED

As the first independently made feature film to be produced in Bristol since 1962 prepares to hit the big screen this month, we catch up with director Will Stone, delve into the true local story and take a look at the cast packed full of famous faces...

Ahighly anticipated feature film from director Will Stone and cinematographer Adam Pickford is set to be released this month, making it the first independent feature film to be produced in Bristol since 1962. The Fence follows an 18-year-old working class lad living in Hartcliffe who has his motorcycle stolen the day he buys it. He seeks the help of his scoundrel friends and notorious older brother to track it down before it’s gone forever. Throughout the film, there is a strong moral theme examining the culture of the period, peer pressures and difficult individual choices. “The short was based on one of many stories from my father’s childhood,” Will says. “He grew up on a council estate in Hartcliffe during the late 70s and early 80s –the estate was one of the most deprived and notorious in the South West. The main secondary school was the biggest in the country at the time, with around 3,000 students. He described it as a zoo, with fights everyday. He had plenty of stories of his childhood about school, fighting, stealing and all kinds of stuff. The bike story was just one of many really. But it’s one that stuck with me for a while and I eventually thought it was perfect for a short film project.” says Will.

The feature film is a development of an original short film of the same name that Will released on YouTube as part of his Film Production and Cinematography degree course at Bournemouth University in 2018. The 20-minute film, soundtracked by absolute classics from The Beatles and The Pogues, was shot on a £2,000budget on an estate in Salisbury while he studied in the south of England. Although he had modest hopes for his film, it reached a million views in six months and garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews. After watching the views skyrocket into the millions but finding no success in his pitches to production companies, the young filmmaker set out to write a screenplay himself, deciding to commit to the project during the first lockdown.

After tireless work, Will and Adam managed to secure funding for a low six-figure budget and filming for TheFence ran from 9 to 28 August 2021. The directors then launched a crowdfunder to raise £40,000 for the final stages of the project, which was successful. Around 90 per cent of the film was shot in south Bristol with locations including Whitchurch, Stockwood, Keynsham, Warmley,

Hollyoaks’ David Perkins appears alongside Sally Phillips and Paul Cooper (below)

Cadbury Heath and Radstock. What’s more, around 50 speaking parts were filled by actors from the local area, bringing opportunities to young Bristol teenagers.

Most impressively, TheFence features some of Bristol’s most famous faces including Jayde Adams, Joe Sims and Paul Holbrook. Furthermore, the likes of Sally Phillips (Miranda, BridgetJones), Eugene Simon (GameofThrones), Paul Cooper (ThisCountry) and David Perkins (Hollyoaks) also appear in Will and Adam’s directorial debut. Behind the camera, award-winning co-producer Guy Davies –best known for his debut feature As IAm (2019) played a key role, along with a strong team of creatives.

TheFence doesn’t shy away from the poverty and social issues faced by Hartcliffe in the 1980s and yet the film is filled with moments of nostalgia, brilliant comedic timing, and pure charm that are worthy of attention.

Will and Adam’s talents and abilities have been recognised by experienced filmmaker (and the directors’ former university teacher) Tim Dodd, and Mark Thompson – an experienced businessman and entrepreneur. The two men joined forces with Will and Adam to form the company Red Anchor Films Ltd in 2020.

“I’m delighted to say we’ve successfully adapted the short into a feature,” says Will. “I was able to really expand on the world and the characters that people seemed to connect with. It’s taken years of incredible hard work to make it a reality and I couldn’t be happier with the finished film. I think what we’ve achieved with our microbudget is hard to rival. Every penny is up on the screen where it should be and I truly believe this is one of those few little Indie films that has the potential to break the mould and surprise people.” n • The Fence (18) is set to be released exclusively in Bristol on 2 September at Showcase Cinemas. For more information the making of the film, visit: thefencefilm.co.uk

Will Stone and cinematographer Adam Pickford shot 90 per cent of The Fence in Bristol and its surrounding areas

Director Will Stone with his father, Paul, on whom the film is based