Billy the Kid

Fitting in to a new school can be hard, particularly when you were bullied out of the last one for living your life as a cowboy. But then 15-year-old Billy is joining a place that, though it doesn’t know it yet, is in need of a hero - a lasso wielding, John Wayne quoting, bubblegum chewing hero.

  • Sam Johnson
    Director
    Jasmine's Revolution
  • Sam Johnson
    Writer
    Jasmine's Revolution
  • Sam Johnson
    Producer
    Jasmine's Revolution
  • David Wade
    Producer
  • Simon West
    Producer
    Con Air, Tomb Raider, The Expendables 2
  • John Bell
    Key Cast
    The Hobbit (1-3), Battleship, Wrath of the Titans,
  • Johny Palmiero
    Key Cast
    Green Street, Welcome to the Punch
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, drama, fish-out-of-water, Western
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 20, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Palm Springs Shortfest Festival, 2015
    Palm Springs, CA
    June 18, 2015
    World Premiere
    Audience 'Best of Fest'
  • DC Shorts, 2015
    Washington
    September 12, 2015
  • Nevada City Film Festival, 2015
    Nevada City
    September 12, 2015
  • Isle Of Man Film Festival, 2015
    Isle Of Man
    September 13, 2015
    Best Of Fest, Audience Award, Best Comedy
  • Orillia Film Festival, 2015
    Canada
    September 26, 2015
  • 15 Short film festival, 2015
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    October 11, 2015
  • 24fps International Short Film Festival, 2015
    Texas
  • Aesthetica, 2015
    York, UK
    November 7, 2015
  • Adelaide Kids Film Festival, 2015
    Adelaide
    October 28, 2015
  • The Bahamas International Film Festival, 2015
    Bahamas
    December 5, 2015
  • LA Comedy Festival, 2015
    Los Angeles
    November 20, 2015
  • Coronado Island Film Festival, 2015
    San Diego
    January 16, 2016
Director Biography - Sam Johnson

Sam Johnson is an award-winning British film director.

Having read film at Kings College London, he spent two years learning the ropes on films including X-Men: First Class and Skyfall - shadowing directors and location managing gory British horrors.

In 2013 he went freelance as a director. His first short film Jasmine's Revolution premiered at the 57th BFI London Film Festival. Soon after, Billy the Kid was funded by BFI and Creative England, in partnership with the charity 'BeatBullying'. It premiered at the Oscar Qualifying Palm Springs Shortfest 2015, where it was an Audience 'Best Of Fest' winner. It went on to win 10 international awards, including Audience Awards at BAFTA qualifying Aesthetica, Adelaide and Boston film festivals.

His latest film Earthy Encounters was funded by the BFI's 'Emerging talent' scheme, and is the first short film ever to be shot on the Arri Alexa 65. It premiered at the Oscar Qualifying Cork Film Festival in 2017, won Best Short Film at Dublin International Film Festival, and was an official selection at Tribeca 2018.

He shoots commercially for brands including Vogue and Adidas, frequently collaborating with his photographer brother Tom Johnson, whom he shares a studio with in Shoreditch, London.

He is represented by Jack Thomas and Patrick Child at Independent.

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