Beyond The TARDIS Strange Tales Video Review by DJ Forrest

Watcher Productions is a non-profit organisation based in Cardiff which makes web series, podcasts, comedy sketches and short films. This is their latest project. Strange Tales is a series of short, stand alone films that have a twist in the tale, and these three definitely have that, more so I’d say with the middle one. You don’t see that coming for a while!

The idea of the project is to provide local emerging talent, from actors, writers and film makers, with a showcase of what they can do and promote low-budget filmmaking in South Wales.

The screening of these three films was on the 5^th June, 2019 at Milk & Sugar, The Old Library, The Hayes, Cardiff.

You can find out more about the series of films and so much more by checking out their website here: https://www.watchersproductions.com/strangetales

Brand New Beginnings

'Our Memories are the Closest Thing to a Time Machine.'

It's an alternate present-day setting. Wales. More people are using social media as a way of life. It's easier to meet someone online these days than meet someone at a social outing away from the computer.

  

In this story, Seth and Tristan, played by Christopher Maxwell and Harold T. Spencer have a loving relationship, but something is missing; that spark of passion has died. So, they head off to the city and sign up for a treatment at the Brand New Beginnings clinic in order to have their bad memories wiped clean, replacing them with brand new but false happy memories. As Kate, played by Sarah Bennington explains the procedure, the couple have second thoughts. Sarah plays a blinder as Kate, so much so, the hairs on the backs of my arms stood to attention. You felt there was something much more behind her eyes and that strange finger movement - what was that about?

Written by Matthew Ford and directed by Matthew Fisher, this is the first of three videos in the Strange Tales collection, by Rhys Jones, that leaves you wondering whether this is really cutting-edge relationship counselling or something else entirely.

HR Master

'I don't like to repeat myself.'

Written by Richard Williams it is filmed in black and white and centres around Sam, played by Ellen Jane Thomas, an office executive of a company with very few staff. Noah, played by James Morgan, who comes from HR, and Justine Jones as Marcy, the Office PR, who arranges Sam's schedule.

The letter from HR seems unusual. They normally send out an email. Except, Noah from Human Resources, is not someone you expect to find in HR, and he's not there for the reason Sam thinks.

In fact, it's a very neat trick. This is a very twisted story and you may need to play it back a few times to the point where it changed. I didn’t see it at first but then it all made sense. It’s a great piece of acting from the three main cast members. Brilliant. Loved it.

Second Chances

'Sometimes you just have to be there.'

Second Chances, despite its hard-hitting beginning, is a light-hearted short story written by Matthew Fisher and directed by Teddy Smith of No. 37 Media, and centres around John Smith, played by Ben Wilson from The Whovians. John Hutch plays a truly entertaining Secretary to God and Lisa Grace plays Alice. It begins and ends at a bus stop, but it's the moments in between that matter, and the decisions that Ben makes that determine whether he can get a second chance.

Ben's character, John, has done nothing with his life, he's kept himself to himself, and doesn't want to get involved in anything. So, in the grand scheme of things, life would move on tickety-boo and nobody would remember him. It's as much a story about John, as it is about many of us, who move through life and achieve very little.

Very moving and wonderfully played. I think, as much as I enjoyed HR Master, Second Chances is my favourite and John Hutch plays the brilliantly up beat role in this story. I would like to see him in more roles. Be sure to hang on for the credits, that's truly worth it. I had a fair chuckle.