British independent comedy-drama Chubby Funny opens today, 30th June, at Picturehouse Central in London and at the Glasgow Film Theatre. It was filmed with cameras and equipment from Aimimage and was produced through Aimimage Productions, along with Free Range Films and Guinea Pig Productions.
Oscar (Harry Michell) thinks he’s special. He isn’t. He thinks it’s everyone else’s fault. It’s not. Moving to London, he gives himself a year to break into showbiz, but ends up waylaid by the same old problems: friendships, flings, and finding ultimate fulfilment. Say what you like, but it’s tough being Chubby Funny.
Along with Michell, who writes and directs, the film stars Augustus Prew (The Borgias, Prison Break: Resurrection) as Oscar’s long-suffering roommate Charlie; Isabella Laughland (Harry Potter) as Sophie, Oscar’s friend-with-benefits; and Olivia Ross (Personal Shopper) as Joana, a woman Oscar romantically pursues.
Supporting the main cast is a host of British comedy talent, including Asim Chaudhry (People Just Do Nothing), Alice Lowe (Sightseers, Prevenge), Jemma Redgrave and Dave Benson Phillips.
Using the Canon C300 with long lenses, including the Optimo 24-290mm, enabled Michell and Director of Photography Craig Dean Devine to shoot flexibly and guerrilla-style in and around Camden, capturing an authentic side of London that’s rarely depicted on screen.
Additionally, a pivotal scene in Chubby Funny was filmed in the Camden Studio in which Oscar, dressed as a squirrel for a chocolate commercial, is berated by a frustrated director (Julian Rhind-Tutt).
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian called Chubby Funny his “Left-field pleasure of the week,” while Jamie Graham of Total Film described it as “A potent cocktail of mirth and melancholy.” Samuel Spencer at HeyUGuys proclaimed that a “major new comedy talent has been unearthed by this film.“
After its runs at Picturehouse Central and Glasgow Film Theatre, Chubby Funny will be showing at Kinokulture cinema in Shropshire, the Errol Flynn Filmhouse in Northampton, and at Latitude Festival, with more screenings to be added soon!
