Cast and Crew
Writer, Producer & Director: Francis Lee
Francis was brought up on his parents' farm on the Pennine Hills above Halifax in Yorkshire.
After training as an actor at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, Francis has performed extensively in theatre, television and film. He has worked with directors including Mike Leigh, Sandra Goldbacher, Danny Cannon, Nancy Meckler and Dominic Dromgoole in productions such as TOPSY-TURVY, ME WITHOUT YOU, THE YOUNG AMERICANS, CLAPHAM JUNCTION, HEARTBEAT, A TOUCH OF FROST, THE GOVERNOR, MIDSOMER MURDERS, DALZIEL AND PASCOE, EASTENDERS, EMMERDALE, THE MISSING POSTMAN and DINNERLADIES.
Francis wrote his first short film BANTAM in 2009 which was commissioned and funded by North West Vision and the UK Film Council and it was the development process of this project that initiated Francis' desire to visually realise his own scripts.
Francis co-founded Straw House Films with Lee Hickman in 2011.
THE FARMER'S WIFE is Francis' directorial début and he is currently in development on his first feature film.
The Farmer’s Wife: Geraldine James
Geraldine’s most recent film work includes: David’s Fincher’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for Sony Pictures, and Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes sequel for Warner Bros, both due for release Christmas 2011. Other films include Arthur, Made in Dagenham and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland; Gandhi, The Tall Guy, Wolves of Willoughby Chase, The Bridge, Prince of Shadows, Words Upon The Window Pane, The Testimony of Taliesin Jones, The Luzhin Defense and Calendar Girls. She won the Best Actress Award at The Venice Film Festival for her performance in Sir Peter Hall’s She’s Been Away.
Geraldine has been BAFTA-nominated four times for her television work; for Dummy, The Jewel in The Crown, Band of Gold and Sins. Other TV credits include: Little Britain, Caught in a Trap, Phoo Action, City of Vice, The Last Enemy, Rapunzel, The Time of Your Life, Heist, The Amazing Mrs Pritchard, Jane Hall, He Knew He Was Right, State of Play, Hound of the Baskervilles, Crime and Punishment, White Teeth, Drovers Gold, Kavanagh QC, A Doll’s House, Blott on the Landscape and The History Man.
On stage, Geraldine most recently played Gertude in Michael Grandage’s Donmar on Broadway production of Hamlet opposite Jude Law. Other theatre credits include Victory (Arcola Theatre), The UN Inspector (National Theatre), The Cherry Orchard (Oxford Stage Co), The Faith Healer (Almeida Theatre), Death and the Maiden (Duke of York’s), Hedda Gabler (Royal Exchange Theatre), and Sir Peter Hall’s productions of Lysistrata (Old Vic and West End), Cymbeline (National Theatre) and The Merchant of Venice (Phoenix Theatre and Broadway) for which she won the Drama Desk Award, and was nominated for a Tony Award.
Geraldine trained at The Drama Centre and was awarded an OBE in 2003.
Director of Photography: Gary Shaw >>Biography
Editor: Marianne Kuopanporrti >>Biography
Sound Designer: Mauricio d'Orey >>Biography
Composer: John Parish >>Biography
Executive Producer: Lee Hickman>>Biography
The Girl: Hannah Metcalfe
Denise: Alex Kelly
The Auctioneer: James Cartwright
Dog: Purdey
Man: Martin Preston
Man’s Mother: Brenda Preston
Female Radio Broadcaster: Nicky Wainright
Male Radio Broadcaster: George Hayles
1st Assistant Directors: Mark Roberts/Michael Gallivan
Runner: Hannah Lee
Script Supervisor: Samantha Holdsworth
Focus Puller: Tim Allan
DIT Technician: Matt Wright
Camera Assistant: Helena Willcocks
2nd Assistant Camera: Matt Wright
Gaffer: Ewan Cassidy
Art Director: Jeannine Lee Ching
Art Department Assistant: Robert Marwood
Costume Supervisor: Sandra Fenton
Sound Recordist: Phil Cape
Miss Metcalfe’s Chaperone: Ann Metcalfe
Animal Co-ordinator: Carson Lee
Animal Casting: Sue Beale
Dog Handler: Lynda Woodrow
Catering: Sylvia Lee
Graphic Design: Kristian Tennebo
Foley Artist: Lago Suono
Online Editor: Andrew Maddison
Special Effects Supervisor: Ben Ashmore
Special Effects Co-ordinator: Claire Ashmore
Special Effects Technician: Alan Horsfield
VFX: Andrew Maddison
VFX Producer: Beth Vander
Telecine: Dave Ludlam
Post Production Producer: Andy McLintock
Line Producer / Producer: Lynn D Roberts
Executive Producer: Jonas Grimas
THE FARMER’S WIFE PT1 & PTII
Written & Performed by John Parish
Courtesy of Bug Music Ltd obo Torquewrench Productions Ltd.
Straw House Films supports animal rights and would never harm an animal for the sake of a production.
Special Thanks To:
Christine & Ian Bland, Will Massa, Nicky Ball, Marcus Wilson, Daniel Geoffrey Brown, Bernard Bentham, Sue Beale at The Woofer Agency, Steven Beresford, Robin Baker, Tony Bains, Danny Howarth at Pro Vision Leeds, Vision & Media, Screen Yorkshire, Beth Vander, Wizzo & Co, Wizzo FEATURES
Filmed entirely on location at Far Laithe Farm, Laycock, West Yorkshire - www.farlaithefarm.co.uk