The first short in a brand-new comedy series titled LEADING LADY PARTS has premiered on BBC Four, it is now showing on BBC iPlayer and is available to watch now on Rebel Park Productions YouTube channel on Thursday for international audiences. You can also watch the first episode below and the exciting thing is, there are even more to come on BBC Four!
The short, produced by Rebel Park Productions’ Gemma Arterton, Jessica Malik and Jessica Parker in association with The Fyzz Facility, Hanway Films and Popcorn Group, is the first in a series aimed at shining a light on the portrayal of women in the media and the challenges women face in the workplace across all industries.
The eclectic, award-winning cast includes BAFTA nominee Gemma Arterton (THEIR FINEST), BAFTA, Emmy® and SAG Award® nominee Catherine Tate (“The Catherine Tate Show”), Gemma Chan (upcoming CAPTAIN MARVEL), Emmy Award® nominee Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones”) and Oscar® nominee Felicity Jones (THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING).
Golden Globe® and Emmy Award® nominee Lena Headey (“Game of Thrones”), Florence Pugh (LADY MACBETH), Katie Leung (HARRY POTTER franchise), Stacy Martin (NYMPHOMANIAC: VOL I & II), BAFTA winner Wunmi Mosaku (DAMILOLA: OUR LOVED BOY), Anthony Welsh (JOURNEYMAN) and Golden Globe® winner Tom Hiddleston (AVENGERS franchise) round out the cast.
Written and directed by Olivier Award winning Jessica Swale (Nell Gywnn), the short takes a sneak peek backstage as the cream of British acting talent step forward to audition for that dream role. Primed to take on the role of a lifetime, that complex woman, the strong woman, a woman for today. A lady part who’s more than just…lady parts.
They obviously haven’t met the panel.
“I have never experienced a project coming together so quickly, the support has been incredible across the board. We were filming within a month of having read the script.
As we were pulling the film together, it became clear that it should be part of a series of films to highlight the major issues that we face, not just in the film and TV industries but in all walks of life; bullying, harassment, racial discrimination and inequality, but with the serious message delivered through comedy,” said producer Jessica Parker.
“It’s not very often that something lands on your desk that addresses some of the serious misgivings that we all have about diversity within the industry, and never had we read a piece that does so with such wit and humour. As producers, we felt the same way as our wonderful cast and crew, in that this had to be made, and it had to be made now. We hope that by continuing the conversation, we can effect meaningful and lasting change,” said producer Jessica Malik.
“The genesis for the film began with a desire to see women on screen who are as diverse, characterful, three dimensional and flawed as the women I meet in my daily life. Enough of the identikit, thin, white, posh, sexy, flawless love interests who aren’t given a single good line- we have such amazing actresses, let’s give them proper parts! Until we start seeing real women on screen, represented in all their diversity, we won’t get anywhere,” said writer/director Jessica Swale.
The predominantly female crew includes composer Amelia Warner (MARY SHELLEY), editor Pani Scott (MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS), production designer Francesca Di Mottola (I AM LOVE) and cinematographer Chloë Thomson, a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit in 2017 (BBC One/Netflix’s “Requiem”).
The short premiered as part of an hour-long programme dedicated to BBC’s “Hear Her” season, showcasing women’s voices in a season of content to mark 100 years since suffrage and the centenary anniversary of women being able to vote in the UK.
