Heist In The Willows

THE PITCH 

Imagine a world where the criminal underworld adopts beloved children's characters as their code names and disguises. These criminals take on the names and masks inspired by these iconic figures, using them as a tool to disguise their true identities. This concept combines the whimsical charm of Kenneth Grahame’s classic 'The Wind in the Willows with the gritty, fast-paced intensity of British gangster films like 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' and 'Snatch'.

THE PREMISE

Heist in the Willows is a tongue-in-cheek mash-up of the beloved children's story with classic British gangster noir. This surrealist British comedy comes with classical gangster tropes, witty character performances & comical animations to boot! 

Our story starts in a shady undisclosed location, where four masked criminals meet to discuss their next big heist, The Willows Bank, one of London's oldest (and not quite above board) banking establishments.

The culprits include Badger; the mastermind, Ratty; the hacker, Toad; the enforcer & new member Mole; the safecracker…if you believe what Badger says. 

With the biggest job they've ever pulled looming in the distance, a daring plan ahead, questionable intel and on top of that a green member in the team. Will this band of ‘characters’ be able to pull off the heist of the century? Well…

CAST

JIM BARCLAY as BADGER  

Jim has worked as an actor, comedian, actor-teacher, street theatre performer and voice-over artiste. His TV credits include the title role in BBC TV's highly successful Jossy's Giants (2 series) and the lead role in the C4 Drama documentary Body Story . Other TV appearances include Brookside, Eastenders, Grange Hill, New Tricks and 55 Degrees North . 

KAT TAYLOR SMITH as RATTY 

Kat has played an Emergency Dispatcher in Short Film Stay Calm with actors Shaun Dooley, Lucy Eaton and Saffron Davies. Written, cast and filmed by upcoming Director Chas Harrington working alongside Cinematographer Rick Joaquim. She also greatly enjoyed her role in Comedy Short Showing Time directed by Bjorn Franklin, as a Casting Director casting the role of a pregnant character.

ALEX ANSDELL as MOLE 

Alex made his professional debut in Strangers in Between at the Golden Goose Theatre, for which he was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Off West End Awards (the Offies). The Stage described him as ‘an exceptional debut performance...endearingly believable’. Since then his credits include Chris in Red Pill at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre, which received a Standing Ovation nomination at the London Pub Theatre Awards.

TOM CAPON as TOAD 

Tom’s professional debut was in The History Boys at the Rhodes Theatre, continuing to perform in large-budget plays and pantomimes at the Theatre. He’s had roles in a number of short films, music videos, animation, etc, while studying Film Production at college and University. Most recently, he has enjoyed roles in short films and pilots such as BLAST! FM and Joe's War Record.

THE CREW

James C  - Writer/Director
IMDb

James Copestake is a London-based performer who has been working in the TV & Film industry for nearly 10 years, with credits for both the BBC & Amazon Prime. Since 2020 he has been making a foray into Writing & with years of on-set experience under his belt, James will now be making his Directing debut with his first short film ‘Heist in the Willows’. 

Kotryna L - Producer
IMDb

Kotryna Lasaite is a London-based Head of People with a background in the visual effects industry. Originally from Lithuania, she has spent the last four years working with prominent Film and TV clients, gaining invaluable insight into the industry's inner workings and building strong connections with its professionals. Her lifelong passion for filmmaking now drives her to take the next step—producing a short film. With her industry experience and dedication, Kotryna is eager to bring this project to life.

D.G. Herrick - Cinematographer
IMDb

D.G. Herrick was born in Lebanon, Oregon. From an early age he was introduced to the film world by his father; the American actor Clayton T. Smith, making his first appearance as an actor in the 2017 short film 'Edelweiss'. It would be on this set he would discover his love for camera-work, going on to study cinematography in West Suffolk College (Bury St. Edmunds, UK) as well as Norwich University of the Arts (Norwich, UK).

THE BUDGET

• Location & Logistics: 41.67%
• Editorial & Animation: 16.67%
• Kit Rentals: 16.67%
• Masks & Props: 8.33%
• Cast & Crew Expenses: 8.33%
• Festival Submissions & Other: 8.33%