Private Project

Tea For Three

“Tea for Three” looks at power relations and mental illness, from a playful often surreal view point and was co-made by a mixed gender cast. A house wife tries to run her house with confidence, but her feeling of control is replaced by sinister visions...

This improvised film contains surreal dance elements, and takes place during an afternoon. A highly strung house wife micro-manages her jumpy maid whilst her husband completely ignores her, Strange things start to happen to the wife and she starts bullying the maid to feel in control... but when the glamorous guest arrives the beautiful meal is consumed in beastly way while the husband and guest flirt and play footsie under the table! The illusion of control which the wife had created falls apart and the tea for three climaxes into a psychedelic nightmare!

  • Samuel Vines
    Director
  • Samuel Vines
    Writer
  • T43 Dance Company
    Writer
  • Cast
    Writer
  • Samuel Vines
    Producer
  • MISATO INOUE
    Producer
    T42 DANCE COMPANY
  • FÉLIX DUMÉRIL
    Producer
    T42 DANCE COMPANY
  • MISATO INOUE
    Key Cast
    T42 DANCE COMPANY
  • FÉLIX DUMÉRIL
    Key Cast
    T42 DANCE COMPANY
  • LILY PHILIPS
    Key Cast
    Dana Dana: Pearl Pearl
  • MAY PHILIPS
    Key Cast
    Peterman
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Genres:
    Psychological Drama, Dance
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    September 23, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Switzerland
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Filmzeit Kaufbeuren
    Kaufbeuren
    Germany
    October 4, 2016
    European Premier
    N/A
Director Biography - Samuel Vines

Sam Vines (the director of “Tea For Three”) has worked in the Film and TV industry for over 10 years, mostly in the camera and lighting department. “Tea for Three” is his first short film.

Sam studied cinematography at the Australian Film Television and Radio School in sydney 2010. Afterwards he returned to the UK to work professionally in the camera department (as a focus puller) on shows such as BBC shows as Dr Who. In 2014 he moved back to Australia to work as a focus puller in Sydney. Sam has works on films dramas and commercials in the camera department and has started working as a camera operator and director of photography.

In 2015 Sam was approached by the T42 dance company (from Bern Switzerland) to shoot and direct a short film incorporating dance and improvisation. The key was going to be flexibility and spontaneity. We managed to incorporate the different voices into a coherent piece in a bottom up kind of way. The performances just come out rather than being forced out.

Sam has recently founded the production company phoenix heart films phoenixheartfilms.com

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I am passionate about connecting and reflecting the world through artistic process, I hope to direct more films as well as collaborating with other directors as a cinematographer. I think a clear aesthetic taste is important but even more importantly I aim to explore themes and emotions which I believes will help develop me and lead me to a more nuanced a and cultured human experience for my self and it would be a blessing if I could do the same for my audience.

I have recently become a father and I am very interested to see how this will effect my film making!