ABOUT
Action and humour, that's me.
For as long as I can remember, I have been infatuated with the action film genre, and particularly car chase sequences. The ‘Bourne’ trilogy, along with the Pierce Brosnan era of James Bond films, ‘Taxi’ (the French ones), ‘Ronin’, and the BMW film series ‘The Hire’ are hugely influential to me as a filmmaker. I love films that celebrate motion, energy, adrenalin and tension.
In addition, as I’ve grown older, another passion has grown within me, and that is my appreciation of comedy. There are number of people close to me who struggle with anxiety and depression, and I have seen first-hand the positive impacts that good comedy films have on these people’s mental health; the power to make people laugh, to provide relief, to give hope, and to bring a bit of joy into their world. This too has become an equal ambition of mine, to make films that induce positive mental wellbeing.
These two passions of mine, action/comedy, have come together in 'Wedlock'.
I wanted to make a short film that was like the BMW series ‘The Hire’. Films that not just a series of ‘cool’ action shots, but are well-structured stories with fantastic characters (and, obviously, great car sequences too). This is what I have tried to achieve in making ‘Wedlock’.
We made a real effort to make the car action sequences to feel completely real, so there's no CGI or green screen (apart from the flashes from the speed camera). Everything was shot on location at Millbrook Proving Ground with specialised camera rigs, tracking vehicles, and a low loader.
It has been no small challenge to pull off both a car chase and a wedding, and I am hugely grateful to the vast number of incredibly talented people who have brought my vision for the film to life. Thank you to all the cast, crew, extras, and equipment suppliers who have made this film possible.
My hope is that ‘Wedlock’ will lead me to work alongside professionals in the film industry to create more heart-pounding action sequences, and to continue to make films that lift people’s spirits and bring a little bit of joy into the world.
I hope you enjoy the film,
Stephen Ashwell (Director)
You can find out more about me on my website stephenashwell.com and my Vimeo.