THE DAWN CHORUS

Hope’s graduation film from Columbia University, The Dawn Chorus was shot on 35mm in 2007 in upstate New York.

The previous year Hope had been working as Todd Solondz’s assistant on Palindromes, where she had met Valerie. Valerie was in her film ‘Cavities’ (along with Julie Kessler, who plays the part of the flight attendant) and Hope wrote the parts of Bonnie and Lloyd specially for her and Henry, who she had met in another friend’s film.

STORY

Bonnie and Lloyd Bukowski. Seats 17C and D. It’s been seven years since the plane crash that killed their parents, but every year Bonnie, Lloyd, and the other survivors return to the site - to reenact, to remember, to try to heal. When they discover this will be the last ceremony, Lloyd clings to the ritual more desperately than ever. Despite her brother's pressure, Bonnie resists. All she can do is remember when all she wants to do is forget. On their final surreal journey through the wreckage, Bonnie and Lloyd will face their memories, their fears and, ultimately, each other.

Watch it here.

FESTIVALS AND AWARDS

Edinburgh International Film Festival

Boston Film Festival
DC Shorts Film Festival
Student Shorts Film Festival, Toronto
Austin Film Festival – winner, Best Student Narrative Short Film

London Film Festival

Three Rivers Film Festival, Pittsburgh – winner, Best Short Film

Sundance Film Festival
Britspotting ’07
Nashville Film Festival
Stony Brook Film Festival
Shout Charlotte Film Festival
Ozone Film Festival, New Orleans
Cucalorus Film Festival
Encounters Short Film Festival
The Now Film Festival (online) – Finalist, Best Short Film

Shortlisted for 2008 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film

CAVITIES

THE STORY

Cavities tells the story of 12 year old Nina who just wants to be thin, and her mother, who just wants to connect with her daughter. Starring Julie Kessler and Valerie Shusterov, Hope made this film after her 2nd year at Columbia University film school in New York.

Hope met Valerie when she was Todd Solondz’s assistant on PALINDROMES, in which Valerie plays one of the Avivas.

The film was shot on 16mm and played at a few festivals, including Edinburgh. It remains one of the films Hope is most proud of.

WATCH IT

You can watch the film here

MORNING ECHo

THE STORY

The Moffatts’ sick young daughter Franny almost died in October, and so the family held a fake Christmas for her. Today is December 25th and Franny is still alive but the rest of the family have fallen apart. Award-winning short film created for Film London's Pulse Plus scheme. Starring Kerry Fox, Amelia Foster & Peter Sullivan. You can watch it here

DOLLYWOOD

THE STORY

Varna really, really wants her hair to look like Dolly Parton's for the school prom. But with the help and hellfire of a beauty salon, she'll learn to discover her own inner beauty. 

Written and produced by Susan Batten

Directed by Hope Dickson Leach

This was Hope’s 1st year film for Columbia Film School. She loves it so much, and wishes she could make a hundred musicals.

Starring Michele Medlin, Kassie DePaiva and Cheryl Monroe

You can watch it here.

PARLIAMO GLASGOW

DETAILS

A young Polish woman moves to Glasgow and finds it hard to make friends - until she stumbles upon her upstairs neighbour who teaches her how to speak Glaswegian like a native.

Written by Stewart Thompson 

Directed by Hope Dickson Leach

Produced by Vicki Patterson & Jack Ravenscroft

Starring Edyta Budnik, James Grant, Jamie Quinn and Ann Downie

Produced as part of the Coming Up scheme, by IWC media and Touchpaper TV

Broadcast on Channel 4, 30 Sept 2009

Nominated for BAFTA SCOTLAND NEW TALENT AWARD - FICTION

SILLY GIRL

Hope watched Ellie Kendrick's short play SILLY GIRL at the Royal Court theatre in winter 2015, performed and written with Jason Barker, and thought what a good short film it would make. NOWNESS were commissioning a series of work based around DEFINE GENDER and this was a perfect fit. Ellie, Jason and Hope recrafted the script into a screenplay, and shot the film in July 2016. Jason reprised his stage role for his on-screen debut and was joined by the brilliant Ciara Baxendale and Mollie Lambert.

COLLABORATORS

As well as Ellie, Hope worked with many other collaborators from The Levelling - including casting director Kharmel Cochrane, Script Supervisor Francesca Brooks, Hair and Make Up Designer Bean Ellis, Composer Hutch Demouilpied and Rachel Clark - focus puller on The Levelling - stepped up to shoot the short on 16mm film. Wonderful new collaborators were also found: amongst them Producer Loran Dunn, Editor Laura Carreira, Costume Designer Rachel Hopkin and a brilliant post team of Ryan McMurray (Sound Design) and Paul Willis (Colourist).

STORY

The story sees a 40-something trans man recalling and reliving his first romantic entanglement—a universal experience that deepens in complexity when we view it through the lens of his gender history. 

HOW TO SEE IT

We hope to have some festival screenings in 2017, but the film is also available to watch on NOWNESS

THREE MINUTE WONDERS: VOICES

WHAT IS RESPECT?

LIL SIS

STANDARD PROCEDURE

wedding night: 5 minute theatre

THE STORY

Created for the National Theatre of Scotland’s Five Minute Theatre, this was a one-take live piece of filmed theatre about the wedding night of Prince William and his bride, Kate Middleton.  The audience played the paparazzi in the piece and shouted out to the actors playing William and Kate.

Starring Hannah Dale, Jordan McCurrach and Robbie Mack. 

Currently it has been watched over 8000 times on Vimeo and YouTube. 

You can watch it here.