Private Project

Lies on the Line

Lawrence Gordon installs telephones, still a novel item for most households in the 60s. However, his motive for doing so is not for the benefit of his customers. Using the telephone system, he taps into private phone calls out of an insatiable need to discover domestic indiscretions. His base of operation is his childhood home, a home haunted by unpleasant memories that motivate him in his mission. In one instance, Lawrence instals a new phone in the stylish home of Lesley Morris, a young woman who tires of her unfeeling husband. She, like all of Lawrence’s victims, is oblivious to his spying and has no idea that her own secrets are threatened to come to hideous light.

  • Nicole Sarah Fry
    Director
    Desires and Delusions
  • Nicole Sarah Fry
    Writer
    Desires and Delusions
  • Jasmine Fry
    Writer
    Desires and Delusions
  • Anita Fry
    Writer
    Desires and Delusions
  • Anita Fry
    Producer
    Desires and Delusions, Black Sunflowers
  • Tom Lane
    Key Cast
    "Lawrence Gordon"
  • Yasmine Meaden
    Key Cast
    "Shirley Ann Gordan"
    Desires and Delusions, Happy New Year
  • Emma Falcon
    Key Cast
    "Leslie Morris"
    Take Control
  • Ross Cullum
    Key Cast
    "Mr Morris"
    Bridgerton, The Ruins of Athens, Embers
  • Louis Kemp
    Key Cast
    "Young Lawrence"
  • Jill Penfold
    Key Cast
    "Mrs Gordon"
    One Last Laugh, The Pure and the Damned, Opa
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 33 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 11, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.00 : 1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Nicole Sarah Fry

Nicole Sarah Fry is a British director, actress, and writer raised in Dorset. Growing up, she loved all aspects of filmmaking from garment making and special effects makeup to performing arts. In aid of discovering her true passion, she made costumes, acted, co-wrote and directed her first short film Desires and Delusions which was well received in the festival circuit and was selected by BIFA qualifying Brighton Rocks International Film Festival. After completing this project it was clear that directing was her intended career path and she has since finished her second short film 'Lies on the Line', set in the 1960s. Nicole undertook multiple roles in the production, including: directing, co-writing, costume design and songwriting in a 1960s style.

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Director Statement

Lies on the Line was born from my appreciation of the aesthetics and sound of the 1960s, including its psychedelic colours, nostalgic music and unprecedented clothing styles. More modern media including Queen’s Gambit and Austin Powers informed the tone and colour palette of my film. The advancement of technology, particularly concerning the telephone, was of my chief interest thematically, playing on more general modern-day fears of a loss of privacy and contracts people don’t read. This is explored through the character of Lawrence, who uses the newly emerging home telephone to spy on his customers. Music is also significant to the film, and I personally wrote three of the four songs featured in the short. The aim was to aid in immersing the viewer in this bright exaggerated version of the 60s. Creating the songs exclusively for the project allowed us to tailor the sound and lyrics to its corresponding scene. In all, I wanted to expand my filmmaking skills and attempt to execute a more ambitious end product then my first film. As previously mentioned, we created original songs, and also built a set for the protagonist’s bedroom, utilised a larger cast and crew and played even more with shots, lighting and colour.