Private Project

No Ordinary Joe

Inspired by the life of Marion Barbara "Joe" Carstairs, 'No Ordinary Joe’ explores the most extraordinary and lasting relationship between a colourfully defiant lesbian and 'Toddie', the young man who was the love of her life and just happened to be a dapper, little Steiff puppet.
Through this ebullient puppet, ‘Joe’ Carstairs gets to appreciate just what she has achieved and the impact she has had on the world. And that she certainly had a life stuffed full of adventure and incident, without conforming to any expectations of gender or sexuality. Living life on her terms, only.
The film is set in a stylised bedroom towards the end of Joe’s life, mixing intense performances from a live action actress and a stop-motion animated puppet.

  • Barry J C Purves
    Director
    ScreenPlay, Achilles, Plume, Rigoletto
  • Barry J C Purves
    Writer
    ScreenPlay, Achilles, Plume, Rigoletto
  • Glenn Cox Holberton
    Writer
    ScreenPlay, The Funeral, Achilles
  • Glenn Cox Holberton
    Producer
    ScreenPlay, The Funeral, Achilles, Rigoletto.
  • Lindsay Duncan
    Key Cast
    ""Joe" Carstairs"
    Birdman, Gifted, Made In Italy.
  • Ben Keaton
    Key Cast
    "Lord Tod Wadley (voice)"
    Father Ted.
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 30, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    153,820 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital/Arri Alexa
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Barry J C Purves

BARRY JC PURVES

Barry has been working with puppets and stop-motion for over four decades, directing series such as Wind in the Willows and Twirlywoos, as well as his own award-winning films: Next, Screen Play, Rigoletto, Achilles, Tchaikovsky and Plume.
He has also worked on several feature films with the likes of Tim Burton (Mars Attacks!!) and Peter Jackson (King Kong).
Barry teaches around the world, has written several books and also directs and designs for the theatre.
His partnership with producer Glenn Holberton goes back to the early 90's and covers many commercials and most of his short films.
No Ordinary Joe is their latest collaboration.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

'No Ordinary Joe' explores the most extraordinary and lasting relationship between a colourfully defiant lesbian and the young man who was the love of her life and just happened to be a dapper, little Steiff puppet.
Through this ebullient puppet, ‘Joe’ Carstairs gets to appreciate just what she has achieved and the impact she has had on the world. And that she certainly had a life stuffed full of adventure and incident, without conforming to any expectations of gender or sexuality. Living life on her terms, only.
The film is set in a stylised bedroom at the end of Joe’s life, mixing startlingly intense performances from a live action actress and a stop-motion animation puppet.