Midlands Spotlight on Number Three
midlandsmovies • June 5, 2020
Midlands Spotlight on Number Three
Number Three is an upcoming horror fantasy from West Midlands filmmaker Michael B. Clifford. With a mid-June release date and a Q & A lined up alongside, we find out more about this exciting short film project.
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”.
Rounding out the production team is Associate Producer Louise Osbourne and Executive Producer Shahzad Khan.
The film will be released online on 11th June 2020 at the same time as a Q&A hosted by James Luxford via Zoom.
Details here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/number-three-qa-with-michael-b-clifford-and-james-luxford-tickets-106910197278
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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