Midlands Review of Five Steps to Success
midlandsmovies • October 2, 2021
Five Steps to Success
Directed by Ryan Stott
2021
Written and directed by Nottingham based filmmaker Ryan Stott, Five Steps to Success is a short film about frustration, ambition and a case of mistaken identity.
We're introduced to a room of bored, tired attendees of a self-help seminar, eager for an early finish out of there. Whilst waiting on the conference's last guest speaker Professor Kelly, a man hastily enters the room, out of breath and anxious.
It is clear to us that this is not Kelly, however the session's host approaches and when she wrongly assumes this man is who the room is waiting for he decides to go with the flow and extends his hand to her.
The man is actually Kingsley (Christien Bart-Gittens) a smartly dressed man with a firm grip on his briefcase and an aura full of confidence. As he looks behind him and sees the subject “Five Steps to Success” he takes the opportunity and runs with it.
This is where Stott's screenplay shines, Kingsley reels off real world advice, problems with the economy, the trouble with goals and happiness and so on. This feels personal to the writer which is great to see on screen. It is always a pleasure to see a short film expose what is currently going on within society through a genre film and Stott does this expertly whilst avoiding the danger of being sanctimonious.
With all due respect to the fine supporting cast, this is practically a one man show as Kingsley features in almost every frame. Short film or feature film, in order to pull that off the performance has to be solid, which it is here. Bart-Gittens speaks from the heart and is able to pull off brilliantly Kingsley's desperate but confident attitude towards his situation and the task at hand, telling a room full of people his own “five steps to success”.
I wouldn't want to spoil the film and give away the identity of Kingsley however it is hinted at throughout the short, the reveal and pay-off is a fun one without a doubt, Five Steps to Success cannot come recommended enough.
I'll be waiting for Nottingham native Ryan Stott's next project, whatever that will be, with great anticipation.
Guy Russell
Twitter @budguyer
On Sunday 26th April Midlands Movies Editor Michael Sales & awards ceremony co-host Ed Stagg (BBC Radio) announced the nominations for the 2026 Midlands Movies Awards live from the Queen of Bradgate Vintage Cinema in Leicester. A big thanks was given to the entire Jury Panel of industry experts who gave up their precious time to watch a huge selection of creative projects and as always, had a difficult time choosing from the excellent number of films from the region. You can read the full list of nominations across all 16 categories below and watch our announcement videos here: Part 1 & Part 2 And please also check out our great awards partner Chrome Video Best Actress in a Leading Role Karendip Phull for Family Kate Bracken for The Lace Rachel Baker for Throwing Fruit Chloe Wade for How Long Sophie Bullock for Ma Prison Best Animated Film Of All the Things by Steff Lee Big Red by James Pyle Statue in the Garden by Qianhui Yu Butterfly by Jacob Christie Best Director Luke Worrall for The Waterline Lily Portman for Quiet Jack Richardson for Daniel’s Room Jonathan Hawes for Sorry We’re Closed Sophia Dall'Aglio for Man from Mars Best Documentary Nothing's Impossible by Jacob Thomas McClean A Birmingham Symphony by Jemma Saunders We Bring Light: Leicester's Diwali Legacy by Kieran Vyas The Sunshine Café by Jill Lampert Through the Viewfinder by William North Best Sound (Editing or Mixing) Neil Evans & his team for Artificial Insanity Alasdair Gretton for Dead on Distribution Deepanjali Patel for Earworm David Hamilton-Smith for The Pause Heidi Wilson for Of All The Things Best Actor in a Supporting Role Devon Junior for Lazar Tim Sparrow for Safety Net Shaiek Ahmed Rana for Family Luke Rollason for Quiet Peter Willoughby for A Story of Spring Best Visual & Special Effects Jake Wesley-Worrall for Soul Trader Steve Askey & team for The Correction Unit Nick Willett, Matt Burkey & Jayne Hyman for Black Goat JaqD SFX MUA, Mind Magic Studios and Ben Harker for Beyond the Witching Hour Jacob Christie for Countenance Best Cinematography Gary Rogers for The Pause Laurence Mason-Guetta for Sorry We’re Closed Ian Snape for Soul Trader Ash Connaughton for Daniel’s Room Duane Adamoli for Surfing (nominations continue below...)
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