Private Project

Bricked Up

When Milo wakes up to a kilo of cocaine in his recycling bin, he’s thrust into a chaotic race against time - dodging a ruthless kingpin, bungling police officers, and his own spiraling bad luck.

A fast-paced, gritty caper with British 2000s indie vibes.

Award-winning Best Film and Best Edited graduate short film from University of Salford BA (Hons) Film Production class of 2024, winner of Outstanding Achievement in Editing award; nominee for Best Entertainment and Comedy Drama at Royal Television Society North West Student Television Awards 2025.

  • Max James Walker
    Director
    Schamlippen, Crystal Ball, The Façade
  • Max James Walker
    Writer
  • Xavier Sonski
    Producer
    Liquid Architecture
  • Max James Walker
    Producer
  • Jeanette McNichol
    Co-Producer
  • Glenn Godfrey
    Key Cast
    "Milo"
  • Isabelle Whiteley
    Key Cast
    "Billie"
  • Tristan Grant
    Key Cast
    "Riz"
  • Emily Lunson
    Key Cast
    "Lucy"
  • Holly Richards
    Key Cast
    "Molly"
  • Saskia Pay
    Key Cast
    "Police Officer"
  • Louise Maguire
    Key Cast
    "Police Officer"
  • Jake Parry
    Key Cast
    "Cronie"
  • Declan Rossi
    Key Cast
    "Cronie"
  • Dario Di Giovanni
    Key Cast
    "Head Teacher"
  • Diana Maria Mihailescu
    First Assistant Director
  • Tom Carrick
    Director of Photography
  • Emily Lunson
    Production Designer
  • Xavier Soński
    Editor
  • Allysa Holliday-Smith
    Production Design Assistants
  • Olivia Kenyon
    Production Design Assistants
  • Emily Hagger
    Production Design Assistants
  • Lucy Harding
    Production Design Assistants
  • Eliza Wheatley
    Composer
  • Aaron Lee
    Sound Recordist & Mixer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Buddy Cop, Quirky Comedy
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 8 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 26, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Salford
  • Royal Television Society North West Student Television Awards
    Manchester
    United Kingdom
    March 26, 2025
    Nominee for Best Entertainment and Comedy Drama
  • University of Salford L6 Awards
    Salford, UK
    United Kingdom
    Winner of Outstanding Achievement in Editing
  • Liverpool Indie Awards
    Liverpool
    United Kingdom
    March 29, 2025
    Nominee for Best Male Student Director
  • The Collusion Trilogy Screening
    Salford
    United Kingdom
    February 26, 2025
  • Stockport Garrick Short Film Festival
    Stockport, Greater Manchester
    United Kingdom
    March 2, 2025
Director Biography - Max James Walker

Max James Walker is a filmmaker from Stockport, Greater Manchester, whose artistic journey began in childhood with illustration and evolved through music, graphic design, and photography. During college, he produced his first videography projects. His mantra — "If a picture can tell a thousand words, how many can a film tell?" — nurtures his dedication to cinema.

In 2021, Max began studying Film Production at the University of Salford. He expanded his knowledge into different areas of filmmaking, and fell in love with writing and directing, thriving in building a vision and watching it come to life. At university, Max’s work has received national recognition from film festivals such as Bolton International Film Festival and Cinemagic Young Filmmakers. Max’s work also received much praise from within the university, winning awards such as Best Film, Best Directing and Best Production Design on multiple projects.

Max’s admiration for creativity expands into all areas of his life, always looking for the deeper meaning in things. He understands that everything we see visually can tell a story and most importantly he understands the power in influencing and directing whatever part of his life he wants people to see.

The devil is in the detail.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

When I first pitched the original script for Bricked Up, I expected to be told to jog on for its sheer absurdity. “A gritty action-comedy about a hungover, expired twink trying to return a kilo of cocaine to a notorious drug lord.” Our lecturers were certainly taken aback by the idea. To my surprise, I was met with enthusiastic encouragement from both peers and educators alike. Word quickly spread throughout the entire Film Production course at the University of Salford about the ‘cocaine comedy’, and suddenly, everyone wanted to get in line for production.

When developing the script, I drew inspiration from the grimy, bleak aesthetic of 2000s British cinema. Filmmakers like Guy Ritchie, Danny Boyle, and Edgar Wright — whose work balances chaos, humour, and visual flair — became touchstones for how to frame Milo’s increasingly ludicrous world. I hyper-fixated on their films, dissecting how their directing styles amplified storytelling through pacing, dialogue, and dark humor.

At the time of writing, my life felt wildly out of control: an identity crisis, a painful breakup, and the impending doom of university coming to an end. It left me feeling as adrift as Milo. Creating a protagonist trapped in this crazy nightmare somehow became a cathartic way to reclaim agency amidst my own chaos.

The result is a film that lead to many great things in my own personal journey — both within and outside of filmmaking.

Our crew is a godsend of talented collaborators. We shared a collective passion for cinema and a drive to create something bold and distinct among our peers. The buzz around Bricked Up became infectious, sparking excitement across our course and reminding me why I make films: It's not just to tell stories, but about creating experiences that unite people.

This project has been one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. To see it resonate so early in my career fuels my ambition for future work. If Bricked Up proves anything, it’s that even the messiest chaos can lead to something unforgettable.