Local writers film a pilot for new LGBT comedy series.
From the creators of the My Genderation documentary project comes Heartichoke – a quirky Brighton-based comedy series with a diverse cast, revolving around three twenty-somethings in a band, Pet (Alice Hannon), Wolf (Fox Fisher) and Jay (Lewis Hancox) who sing awful(ly) catchy songs about love troubles and life.
Wolf and Jay are both transgender and dealing with the unusual dating dilemmas while Pet has been in a long-term lesbian relationship since high school that’s on the brink of a breakup.
Heartichoke explores LGBT issues in an authentic, awkward, silly and surreal manner which is non-sensationalised and based upon the writers own experiences making the show relatable to it’s target age range of 18-35.
One thing for sure is that you don’t have to identify as LGBT to enjoy Heartichoke – dating, daydreaming, job-hunting, hitting your quarter-life crisis… these themes are universal.
Wolf is Jay’s housemate, landlord, his best buddy and he set up the band, Heartichoke. He’s cocky, stubborn and keeps his emotions boxed up (literally) but is a big softy deep down and cares for his band-mates a great deal. He transitioned fairly recently and has a habit of fancying lesbians, then getting frustrated that they don’t like him back. He runs a diverse dating website to help others in his situation but mostly just to help himself find ‘the one’.
Jay is neurotic, obsessive and always anxious. He transitioned 5 years ago and gets embarrassed when he has to disclose that he’s trans. All he’s ever wanted is a regular straight relationship but how easily will that be to find? He comes from a small northern town and moved to Brighton in the hope that he’ll feel more at ease. He works at a bar a couple of nights a week to scrape by. He’s the least musically talented – and plays his smart phone in the band.
Pet is down to earth, sarcastic and pretty sensible 99.9% of the time. She keeps Wolf and Jay grounded. Pet (full first name Petunia, but shh, it’s a secret) lives on the outskirts of Brighton with her partner Lilly. Typical lesbian family – 2 point 4 cats. Pet works a boring 9-5 office job but has always dreamed of becoming a tattoo artist, although she doesn’t have a single tattoo… yet. Sometime soon she’s going to come out of her shell and start acting like a true twenteenager.
At the moment they are working on the final edit of a Pilot episode Girls. Pet and her O.C.D partner Lilly are having another domestic. Will Pet be pushed over the edge? Jay is in the early stages of dating loud-mouthed Sophie who doesn’t yet know his trans status. Will he tell her? Wolf is reminiscing over his ex-girlfriend Macy, who he got with before he transitioned and now has to cope with the fact that she’s dating another girl. If he were still a lady would Macy still be interested?
The episode includes an obligatory song from the band simply titled: Girls.
Visually bright and colourful with subtle animation and surreal music video scenes, the show has a comic-book-esque style. Sound effects and camera tricks, inspired by Edgar Wright are utilised for humorous effect.
Never before has there been a comedy written about trans and LGB issues, by trans writers, starring trans and LGB actors.
Fox Fisher is a filmmaker, writer, actor and artist. He is director of Lucky Tooth Films and is set to co-present his own documentary ‘Transgender UK’ on Channel 4 in 2015. He starred in My Transsexual Summer during 2011 and since then has been an activist for the trans community, co-creating the My Genderation project, setting up Trans* Pride Brighton, doing a TED Talk on gender and illustrating the first trans-themed children’s book.
For more information on Fox, click here:
Lewis Hancox is a filmmaker, writer and actor. He has worked with Hollyoaks, directing and presenting backstage videos about the trans-themed storyline, available to watch on 4OD. He was a finalist in the Northern Writers Award 2015 and won a place on The Guardian’s Top 30 Young People in Digital Media. He writes his own sketches and shorts and recently played a supporting role in award winning writer Jake Graf’s short Chance that screened at BFI Flare.
Alice Hannon is an actor, writer and improv comic. She is part of the multi-award winning Brighton-based sketch comedy group Short And Girlie. She’s part of the LGBT committee at American Express and won the LGBT Network of the Year award at the British LGBT Awards.
For more information on Lucky Tooth Films, click here:
To view the trailor, click here:
The Pilot will be screened during a special film evening at the Duke of Yorks Picture House, on Friday, July 24 starting at 6.30pm. Kate Bornstein is a Queer & Pleasant Danger will also be screened followed by a Q&A with the Director, Sam Feder. Tickets are £5/£7.
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