The view from the window
Promotional poster for 'The view from the window' by Alice D Cooper
A D Cooper, a 2004 graduate from London College of Communication’s MA Screenwriting course, has just completed her second short film The View from the Window with Hurcheon Films as writer/director/executive producer. The script won the Prequel to Cannes Short Script Competition in 20009/10 whose brief asked for a well-known location in Dorset to be a key part of the narrative.
The story follows the arrival of Martin in Poole Hospital. He’s had a catastrophic car accident and gets put in a ward next to the talkative Harold who regales him with poetic words about the world outside, wind and weather. Only after the old man has gone, does Martin realise how much Harold and nature have helped him to heal.
The 10-minute film features Alex Barclay as Martin with other cast members including Felicity Davidson and Ruth D’Silva. Gabi Norland was Director of Photography, Avon Harpley was Line Producer, Lizzie Bardwell was Production Designer, Richard Lightman was Sound Designer and Composer, and Adam Gough was the editor.
Cooper’s directorial debut Feet was selected for 10 festivals in 2011 including two in New York, one in LA and the Cannes in a Van Festival. This last event also shortlisted Feet for Best Direction and Best Actor in the Van D’Or Awards. It has also been screened at the British Society of Cinematographers’ Annual Showcase and the Women in Film & TV Showcase, Show us your shorts. In February 2012, both films were screened at the Prequel to Cannes industry event followed by a Q&A.
In between these two films, she also wrote and directed a short film for the Actors Screen Collective (ASC) who had been commissioned by the Museum of Broken Relationships to make a drama using one of the museum exhibits. The Flask was improvised and cast by the ASC, with scripting, prepping and filming all completed in a breathless 72 hours. The film was then screened continuously as part of the Museum display in the Actors’ Centre at the end of August.
Read more about her work at www.hurcheonfilms.com
