Images: Clout Communications PR
By Jon Donnis
British feature film CROSS TALK, a darkly comic drama set in a rehabilitation centre, has officially wrapped production and entered post. The film was shot across Yorkshire and at Provision Studios in Leeds, with a fully local crew supporting the production.
Starring Jo Joyner (No Angels), Mark Benton (Persuasion), Bill Fellows (Ted Lasso), Joanne Mitchell (Bait), and Anita Dobson (EastEnders, Doctor Who), the story follows Diana, a journalist who checks into a countryside wellness retreat hoping to reset her life. She quickly realises the retreat is far from what it seems. Behind the clean-living façade lies a tightly controlled system where prescription drugs are misused and residents are kept docile under the watch of Miss Natasha, the enigmatic manager running a quietly sinister operation.
The film is co-written and directed by Steve Nesbit, known for Gloves Off and North Versus South. This marks his latest turn into darker, more satirical territory. The script was co-written with producer Deborah Henry, who says the story uses fiction to explore real concerns.
"In setting the film inside a closed institution, we were able to look at how vulnerable people can be manipulated under the guise of care," says Henry. "While the subject is serious, we've approached it through dark humour. It was important to let the characters breathe and allow the absurdity of the situation speak for itself. What the cast and crew brought to it was remarkable. It felt like everyone involved truly understood what we were trying to say."
The ensemble cast also features Adam Fogerty, Kaitlyn Akinpelumi, Oliver Anthony, Jennifer Bryer, and Chris Villiers. Cinematography is by Heather Crompton, editing by Thomas Grimshaw, and music composed by Maurice Cheetham. Casting was led by David Shaw.
CROSS TALK is produced by David Ralph for Broadsword Entertainment and Deborah Henry for DH Films, in association with Studio KS1. Executive producers are Karl Hall (Studio KS1) and Tomas Maher (Broadsword Entertainment).
A release date has not yet been announced.
