THE destructive nature of greed and man’s pursuit of it is explored in a new dark comedy by a talented team who have got the backing of a prestigious funding scheme. Cupidity, the short film starring Richard Glover, was selected from hundreds of projects to receive financial support from Film London’s annual London Calling fund.
Meera Thavasothy, a co-writer and producer on the picture who also works as a director at the BBC, told Eastern Eye it was the perfect short film to show the excess of greed in an entertaining way.
“It was interesting to me writing something about the destructive nature of greed and the desire for excess; that’s why we ended up with a slightly surreal story and script,” she said.
“The series of events mean that the greed that is within the characters is allowed to come out and take over and move the story forward.”
Thavasothy, who directs Newsnight, has worked with Cupidity’s director Simon Connolly on five previous projects which have been screened both nationally and across the globe.
They scooped the Best Foreign Film award at the 2013 LA Comedy Festival for their production of The Hapless Love Life of Jesus Grey.
Actress and writer Chloe Ewart, who starred in the project, has joined the pair on their latest venture which she helped to co-write.
London-based Thavasothy studied filmmaking in New York during a break from the BBC, and directed a short called Angel which was shown at the Tribeca Screening Room.
“I’ve really grown as a writer and learnt a lot from the director. He’s got a very good visual sense that I trust and he challenges me,” she said.
“We’ve worked together for five years. It’s nice that we’re in a position where our catalogue of work is something that Film London wants to support. That makes us very proud.”
London Calling mentors Asian and black creative talents with previous experience in the field as well as emerging writers from all backgrounds.
Previous shorts which have received funding include Riz Ahmed’s Sundance-selected Daytimer.
This is the first time the trio has been handed a bursary, and they have set up a crowd-funding page to drum up extra support for Cupidity, which will be shot in London next month.
The BBC director added: “Impressing them (Film London) with our back catalogue of work and our script and energy was important because they are the people who have the right contacts
and funding.
“The funding enables us to move forward to make the film as great as it can be.”
Having worked her way up from a floor assistant helping on studio shoots at the broadcasting company 28 years ago, Thavasothy has directed at the BBC for six years. The producer, whose parents arrived in the UK from Sri Lanka in the 1960s, explained that her role on Newsnight, which is broadcast live, required her to constantly think on her feet.
“Every day I have a new challenge because the programme is made that day and constantly changing up until five minutes to air. You have to react to that, and it’s live, which adds to that excitement and adrenaline.”
Despite the TV production industry being dominated by white males, she believes the BBC’s news department is unique in its diversity.
“I may be the only female Asian director, but there are Asian male directors and black female directors, and my working environment is very diverse and richer for it,” Thavasothy said.
For more info go to https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/cupidity-a-short-film
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