Experiencing Interruptions?

Just Jackie

Enter the joyful and exuberant world of nine-year-old Jackie, who loves lip-synching, sweeties and trying on his Mum’s clothes. Jackie dreams of winning the approval of Tegan, the girl next door - and won’t let the Scottish weather or health-conscious Mum stand in the way. With a delicious candy-colored palette and 90s aesthetic, Just Jackie is a queer, quirky, bubblegum pop fantasy about friendship and self-acceptance for anyone who’s ever used their toothbrush as a microphone.

  • Michael Richardson
    Director
  • Ali Taylor
    Writer
  • Reece Cargan
    Producer
  • James Heath
    Producer
  • Josh Lawrie
    Key Cast
  • Erin Benson McGinley
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 18 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    24,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Michael Richardson

Michael Lee Richardson is writer and filmmaker based in Glasgow. Michael’s short film, My Loneliness is Killing Me – directed by Tim Courtney – won a BAFTA Scotland Award in 2018. It’s been shown on BBC Scotland, and at film festivals around the world.

Michael has worked across television, film, radio and prose, and has projects in development with a range of different broadcasters and production companies, including the feature film A Good Spell with Bombito.

Michael is passionate about telling rich, authentic stories about queer and working-class lives and culture.

Outside of writing, Michael likes 80s makeover montages, witches, and going to the shops.

Just Jackie is Michael’s first short film as a director.

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Director Statement

I’ve worked with LGBTQ+ children and young people for over a decade now. There’s a huge, often toxic, ongoing debate about trans and gender non-conforming children at the moment, and it’s especially noisy over here in the UK. I was over the moon when Ali sent me the outline for Just Jackie, this sweet and simple story about acceptance and belonging, which centres Jackie’s Jackieness, and highlights the importance of friendship, and the fact that kids so often get this better than adults. It feels like it brings so much light to a subject that’s often all heat. I saw a lot of myself in the story, too – I was definitely that kid singing into my toothbrush in front of the mirror and dressing up to do my own wee shows! – I think a lot of people will see themselves in Jackie.