After focusing on documentaries in recent years Number Three is a return to drama for director Michael B. Clifford. Michael is the BAFTA-winning director of Bouncer and Brown Paper Bag and on Number Three is working in collaboration with new writer J.J. Smith and first-time producer Mark Ellis.

Michael describes the origins of the production. “You’re always learning new things, arent you? Throughout my recent foray into documentaries I kept honing my storytelling talent, as relevant there as it is to any drama. I also kept working with actors in training workshops and it was in these two areas, storytelling and directing performance, that I was particularly keen to test my abilities again”.

“[Writer] J.J. Smith attended one of my film making courses as I began to search for new talent and material. I identified in his work strands that I connected with immediately – humour, masculinity, technology and transgression”, he adds.

The film tells the story of two Jehovah witnesses, who on their routine doorstep knocking come across a dishevelled man who invites the ladies into his home. However, something much more dangerous appears to be lurking under the surface and the developments in the house lead a routine call becoming far more sinister.

The director goes on to explain his attraction the story. “Number Three was one of the first scripts he showed me. I felt it worked on a number of levels; it felt unforced, naturalistic, witty and last but not least it seemed ‘do-able’ – low on resources needed and environmental impact”.

The film was shot on location in Cotteridge in Birmingham, before the UK lockdown, over the weekend of 1st-2nd February 2020 with director of photography Tom Martin and sound recordist Andrew Jones.

Number Three features a mix of experienced industry professionals and up and coming talent from the Midlands region. For most of the cast and crew this was their first time in front of or behind the camera in a professional production. Coming from a wide range of backgrounds the team were united by a passion for film and an ambition to make great work.

“The film is a really exciting blend of my work as a director and in education, as most of the cast and crew are from my film-making course at MAC Birmingham or from Louise Osbourne’s Acting for Screen”, says Michael.

Michael understands the problems facing local talent too. “The Midlands has seen a huge drain of film and TV talent in recent years but as a region it has great potential. Going forward, I think that this [talent spotting skills] could be one of the ways that new production talent could be developed in the region.”

Birmingham-based actor Michelle Regis will be playing Carol and Efia Minera co-stars as Leanne. Tim Parker stars as the mysterious “Number Three”.

Details here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/number-three-qa-with-michael-b-clifford-and-james-luxford-tickets-106910197278