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Five Eighths

An ageing gangster and his protégé are forced to confront the chasm between them as they dispose of a body in the river Thames.

  • David Carter
    Director
  • Stuart Wilmot
    Director
  • David Carter
    Writer
  • Stuart Wilmot
    Writer
  • David Carter
    Producer
  • Stuart Wilmot
    Producer
  • Brendan Gibson
    Key Cast
    "Old Man"
    Peaky Blinders, Mr Selfridge, Penny Dreadful
  • Rhema Blanchard
    Key Cast
    "Young Man"
    Tobacco Vanilla
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Comedy, Crime
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes 32 seconds
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Super 35mm
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - David Carter, Stuart Wilmot

Sirop Films was founded in 2022 by lifelong friends David Carter and Stuart Wilmot.

While we didn’t realise it at the time, we’ve spent the better part of two decades developing our shared sensibilities, taste, and sense of humour. We began our journey developing and directing documentaries, music videos, experimental films and commercials, as we worked to craft a unified voice as writers — a process not unlike assembling flat-pack furniture without the instructions.

David, a Canadian-British filmmaker, graduated from Columbia University in New York with a degree in film and as recipient of the Guy Gallo prize for Screenwriting. Stuart, a Filipino-British filmmaker, gained experience interning at Western Edge Pictures and assisting on BBC and Sky documentary editing before discovering his passion for writing and directing.

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Director Statement

'Five Eighths' marks the first true representation of our narrative work as Sirop Films. We wanted to dive into the beautifully mundane ritual of queuing - where a deep sense of order collides spectacularly with an utterly lawless situation. After all, what’s more British than maintaining decorum while the world around you descends into chaos? This contrast felt ripe for tension, as it could set the stage for a sharper, more revealing interaction between the two protagonists.

We draw the audience into sweeping wide shots that reveal a vast, untapped canvas of potential. Yet, paradoxically, the two characters are crammed into a sedan, trapped in comically close quarters. This physical closeness underscores their tragicomic saga as mentor and protégé, where the microscopic gap between them contrasts sharply with the immense philosophical and generational gulf that keeps their connection tantalisingly out of reach.