As part of Arts Network Sutton’s grant programme, Sutton FilmMakers were invited to create a production with a positive message, one that supports creativity in the local community.
Our members decided on a double project, a short comedy film called Best Day Worst Day, alongside a behind the scenes documentary celebrating Women in Film. The short was directed by Julie Childs, had a predominantly female crew, and was written by the film’s lead actress, Rachel Wright.
See the IMDb page for details
A Short Comedy With A Twist
Contents
Best Day Worst Day follows Chloe, a scatty young social influencer who bounces between excitement and panic as she makes a string of impulsive choices. After staging an impetuous selfie, there’s a twist in the tale, and she has to face the consequences.
Awards – Hopefully the first of many
“I found it so rewarding to be the writer of Best Day Worst Day, because everyone worked so hard to bring my story to life and it was exactly how I’d pictured it. I was really grateful to all the crew for that.”, Rachel Wright
“It was refreshing to have a female majority crew, we all blended well and managed to get the production completed on time, with lots of laughs.” , Julie Childs
The Team Behind The Film
The women behind the project come from all walks of life and are at different stages of their filmmaking journeys, bringing skills from acting and marketing through to therapy and music. With support from the wider club, the production came together with a brilliant mix of focus and fun.
“As Director and Editor, I decided to shoot Best Day Worst Day in just seven shots, moving the actress rather than the camera. My advice for any first timers would be, keep it simple. Getting a clear narrative across is more important than unnecessary fancy shots.”, Julie Childs
“I was stoked to be asked to be 1st Assistant Director as I hadn’t done it before. It was challenging, especially doing the shoot schedule, but I embraced it (and got to be bossy in a nice way!). I had the best time with the crew and learned loads.”, Charlie Hall
“Being the actress in Best Day Worst Day was so much fun because it was a character I wouldn’t normally play, she’s quite the opposite to me. Working with Julie was great, she gave me such clear direction, and having a mainly women crew was really lovely, such a breath of fresh air.” , Rachel Wright
Behind The Scenes, Celebrating Women In Film
Filmed on location in Tadworth, the shoot was completed in a day, with a second team capturing behind the scenes footage and interviews throughout. The resulting documentary, Women in Film, follows the team’s journeys into filmmaking, their roles on the production, and the practical problem solving that keeps a set moving, even when time is tight.
“Coming from the music industry in a female rock group, we got sick of hearing we were great… for girls. So it’s wonderful to be part of Women in Film, a meaningful project that highlights women’s work and creativity.” , Charlie Hall
“From my point of view as producer, working with a predominantly female set of Heads of Department on Women in Film was a real highlight. There was a calm confidence to the way decisions got made, a lot of quiet competence, and honestly a warmth that kept the day moving even when we were up against time. What I loved most was how collaborative it felt, people backing each other, stepping in without fuss, and still holding the creative line. It didn’t feel like ‘making a point’, it just felt like a good team doing good work. I’m genuinely proud of what we made together.” , Paul Howard
Watch The Documentary
With the guidance and support of the Sutton FilmMakers community, we’ve created a film, and a documentary, we’re genuinely proud of.
Best Day Worst Day is now being submitted to film festivals so it is not available to watch just yet. However you can watch the Women in Film documentary here.