A New Film by Nick Swannell
Nick produced and directed his latest short, Fail Better, which was filmed in North Pembrokeshire using local cast and crew. The film is due to be released in early 2025, but we are pleased to be able to show you a taster of what to expect in the clip below.
The film stars Gareth J Bale who is best known as one of the lead actors in the BBC TV drama Steeltown Murders. Gareth has also performed his one-man show Grav, based on the life of Ray Gravell, to rave reviews up and down the country, including a performance at the Millenium Stadium to the Welsh rugby team.
The film is set during an unspecified time in the future. A famous artist is being looked after by a robot housekeeper which is female in appearance. He only has the robot on a trial period basis but wants to continue with its employment. However, the proposed monthly cost of the robot is prohibitive, and as he hasn’t sold any paintings for a number of years he cannot afford the expense. The film explores ideas of vanity, greed and is a sci-fi tale of the unexpected.
Nick Swannell
Nick is a Pembrokeshire-based filmmaker and record producer. A lifelong love of film lead him to begin making music videos for some of his recording studio clients, and in 2016 he shot his first short narrative film, EATING JESUS, a black comedy about a girl who has an unusual baby. The film features Helen Griffin (Human Traffic, Doctor Who) and newcomer Emily Power. He teamed up with old friend and veteran TV writer Jane Marlow to co-direct two award-winning shorts, DANCING ALONE and TAKE ME BACK. In 2019 he directed two more shorts, SELFIE and THE BUTCHER’S ARMS, as well as taking the roles of DOP and Editor on THEY THEM US, the pilot for a TV series written by Jane Marlow. Another short followed, CC JUNKIE, written by Alison Rayner and completed in 2020. Early in 2021 he called on Alison to write and co-produce his first feature, SCAM, which was filmed entirely on location in West Wales with local actors and crew. SCAM premiered in May 2022 and is available on Prime.
How Y Cerrig helped
Y Cerrig is proud to have supported Nick in the making of this film. The crew were all from Pembrokeshire, including students from Pembroke College, and the cast were all Welsh. We helped finance the filming including the provision of the film location for the four days of filming and the catering for the cast and crew.
