A Gun For George Matthew Holness

Written and Directed by
Matthew Holness
Produced by
Peter Carlton .... producer
Rachel Dargavel .... line producer
Ally Gipps .... producer
Rebecca Mark-Lawson .... executive producer
Jo McClellan .... executive producer
Original Music by
Matthew Holness
Cinematography by
David Rom (director of photography)
Film Editing by
Nick Fenton
Production Design by
Alison Butler
Art Direction by
Kerry Bradley
Costume Design by
Emma Rees
Makeup Department
My Alehammar .... hair and makeup designer
Natalie Wickens .... hair and makeup assistant
Production Management
Kerinne Jenkins .... production manager
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christiaan Faberij de Jonge .... first assistant director
Jan Zalar .... second assistant director
Art Department
Joe Avery .... illustrator
Myk Newport .... assistant art director
Adam Robinson .... assistant art director
Jack Weir .... art assistant
Arthur Williams .... art assistant
Sound Department
Stuart Bagshaw .... foley editor
Darren Banks .... sound effects editor
Oliver Brierley .... adr recordist
Alex Fielding .... assistant re-recording mixer
Nigel Heath .... sound re-recording mixer
Keith Partridge .... foley engineer
Alex Sawyer .... dialogue editor
Tim Surrey .... sound recordist
Daniel Vivash .... boom operator
Jules Zabbar .... supervising sound editor
Visual Effects by
Timothy Greenwood .... smoke artist
Edwin Metternich .... telecine
Simon Whalley .... visual effects producer
Stunts
Marc Cass .... stunt coordinator
Camera and Electrical Department
Marcello Bellini .... production stills
Adam Brown .... trainee gaffer
Luke Chidgey .... video assist
Sam Rawlings .... focus puller
Magdalene Symonowicz .... clapper loader
Frank Usher .... gaffer
Casting Department
Amelia Hashemi .... casting
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Maria Davila .... costume assistant
Editorial Department
Tom Henson-Webb .... first assistant editor
Rahat Kulshreshtha .... post-production assistant: Warp Films
Music Department
Joe Betts .... music supervisor
Andrew Hewitt .... music produced by
Other crew
Sarah Baily .... production coordinator
Nina Bangerte .... graphics
Sarah Dempster .... script editor
Joel Fowler .... floor runner
Sam Gibbins .... production staff
Chirs Gudgeon .... armourer
Rahat Kulshreshtha .... post-production assistant at Warp Films
Al Mackay .... location manager (as Alastair Mackay)
Alex Marshall .... head of business and commercial affairs for Warp Films
Kathy May .... business affairs for Film4
Jodie Orme .... business affairs for UKFC
Dean Rogers .... illustrations photographer
Barry Ryan .... head of production for Warp Films
Niall Shamma .... finance director for Warp Films
PROPERTY OF WARP FILMS

[@distantandvague]

Matthew Holness is the most underappreciated entity of the past two decades.

[@thetelegothika5327]

Yep. He just seems to pop up every few years for a cameo or short film but then disappear again!

[@SaidarSaraaah]

most underrated comment - @@thetelegothika5327 - words didnt do justice

[@tomh9487]

Stylishly bleak, tragically funny! a unique combination of reality and subtle dry silliness. Really enjoyed it!

[@thetelegothika5327]

Oh, this really could be a fantastic series! Both hilarious and searingly melancholic at the same time. I don't think there has ever been anything like a tragi-comedy police sitcom/comedy drama... Plus, Terry Finch seems to be one ouburst away from becoming a proper violent anti-hero as well. And anti-heroes are pretty popular atm! And they'd be so many police show tropes, series and films to reference as well - Morse, Sweeney, Get Carter.

[@jackchatham3947]

The Telegothika hilarious and melancholic perfectly sums it up. I was laughing at all the one liners, but by the end, I wanted to cry. Matt Holness is a criminally under-appreciated talent, and it upsets me that he doesn't get the wider recognition he deserves.

[@TransmissionEpicts]

Yep I agree, too. He pops up every now and then but then seems to go quiet, at least on the telly front. It's quite an affecting short film this. Could make for a good web series of 20 minute episodes perhaps? In any case, its clear that Terry's destiny probably would involve being shot dead by police marksmen.

[@scottrogers2971]

I absolutely LOVE this short!

[@MainDrainStudios]

that was totally excellent!

[@Vamboschannel]

Emmersive, Brilliant!

[@leonshackleford9585]

My daddy owned a Green Austin Allegro with the Black Vinyl Roof 42 years ago which he borrowed off Mr & Mrs Bailey Years ago good Car my Daddy had for 2 Years

[@Charontes]

I know it's meant to be a comedy, but this is actually quite depressing.

[@charleswright3150]

Jonathan Phay I think a lot of his comedy and others had very depressing elements. I was watching Bruiser and saw the "where's support?" sketch. Comedy like this is so confusing as you don't know what to think! Brilliant

[@TheCapedWriter]

Honestly, I think it's a tragedy that's meant to be quite funny in parts.

[@minirock000]

They shot the glass breaking scene before any others with the car. Why?

[@charleswright3150]

I'm trying to understand the photograph at 1:00, any thoughts?

[@ghastlytales]

+Charles Wright George was his twin brother, and the original owner of the Allegro, which Terry later named after him. It's George and Terry in the photo, and George you see getting beaten up in the flashback, and presumably killed, which led Terry to fantasize about becoming a vigilante and inspired those books. You briefly see what looks like a car battery being dragged towards George, which suggests he might have been electrocuted by the thugs, probably in the balls (hence Terry's "ball fixation").

[@charleswright3150]

Ghastly Tales thank you, I had suspicions along those lines but what you've said goes beyond any of that. Thanks, this is probably my favourite short video of all time!

[@rockduded8925]

I was wondering why you didn't add a dash, but I realized this isn't French writing.

[@iucounu1]

And yet somehow JOKER was like 2 hours long, and terrible

[@brianmay9434]

iucounu1 it just wasn’t terrible tho was it

[@iucounu1]

@@brianmay9434 It really was yeah, massively derivative and overrated.

[@brianmay9434]

iucounu1 maybe slightly overrated yes but I still class it as an amazing movie with amazing acting. They gave jauquin Phoenix an Oscar for it too which was well deserved. Oscars don’t get given out to ‘terrible’ ‘ derivative’ films

[@iucounu1]

@@brianmay9434 they gave Suicide Squad an Oscar. The thing about the best actor oscar is that they tend to give it to the most acting, rather than the best acting. Phoenix's performance is a massive buttload of acting but I thought it was as boring and one-note as the rest of the movie. Your mileage may vary!

[@brianmay9434]

iucounu1 well your opinion is valued but your opinion will be hated upon by many people. A lot of people regard joker as a masterpiece which touches on life and the selfishness of the society we live in which contains a huge emotional message for all of us

[@Bitscreed]

I can confirm that Westgate library definitely doesn't have an Allegro repair manual.

[@gedofgont1006]

It does now. And it's up to date.

[@paulpaulpaulpaulism]

What about my rights?!?! What about your wrongs? So fucking good

[@FillingtheVoidRevues]

This really makes me miss Matt Holness being on TV, most notably Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. This shows how talented he is, doing pretty much anything.

[@StatsReset]

Filling the Void Revues you seen he toast of london?

[@TheXitone]

That's Matt Berry .

[@kendoknackersackee]

It makes me miss Kent.

[@yellowblanka6058]

@@TheXitone Matthew Holness had a cameo in one episode. He also had a cameo in "Year of the Rabbit", another show starring Berry.

[@DrPacman]

He's a pretty good actor but an fantastic writer and director.

[@mnchls]

i can't believe how much this made me feel. holness deserves to be on top, with a new series, more recognition. this man is a genius.

[@ianlogan6632]

Notice that the illustration of the Allegro on his paper-back is the very cool original Harris Mann design which was a sharp, futuristic and sleek look, before the focus groups, committee and accountants ripped its balls off, the bunch of slags!

[@niallkennedy23]

THIS IS FUCKING GENIUS. even the name "the reprisalizer" deserves a bafta.

[@CinemaBiohazard]

This is an oddly powerful film: it bridged the pathos and bathos pretty well, and leaves you with a man who is dealing with some harsh emotions but unable to really come to terms with them. Even his creative outlet is starting to fail him, resulting in psychosis. At the end, there's so many ways this can go, and not all of them even remotely good. That gun, it seems, just gave someone who feels powerless the power to go out and do what he thinks he wants to do. It's the power of a good short film that makes you ask about what happens next, and I think it's a damn shame nothing more has been made from this. There's a good series here.

[@PotholesInMyLawn]

I'm agreeing with you110% That means I could backtrack 10% and I'd still be completely behind you! But... I will say one of the things to me that makes this great is that it ends... as well as never begins... we start and end with questions... it makes you want more.. but forces you to be satisfied... since there is no more...

[@niallkennedy23]

right on buddy!

[@tracymurray6840]

17 minutes is too darn short, I wanted to see what comes next, but if that was what was intended for the film, having the audience decide for themselves what the protagonist is going to do with the gun, then I'm all for it.

[@nosferatu5626]

"what about our rights?" "What about your wrongs!" Much appreciated, thanks :)

[@akastewart]

Would love to see Holness get the same recognition and opportunities that Gervais got. Holness is a very British treasure.

[@greenman6141]

Holness is never so self pitying as Gervain.

[@ZaptheZombie]

I would literally never equate the two. Holness is a different animal entirely

[@akastewart]

@@ZaptheZombie I didn’t equate them directly. I was pointing out that Holness, while occupying a different part of the comedy spectrum, is still a very British voice, and should be getting more recognition and access than he has gotten so far. He’s every bit the equal of people such as Armando Iannucci, Chris Morris, Charlie Brooker and Steve Coogan, but never got close to that level of recognition.

[@Weird-City]

Guy has a perfect "70's cop face". A real screen presence.

[@VisualTedium]

Its what Quentin Tarantino wants to film but doesnt have the balls. Balls means talent in this case.

[@TransmissionEpicts]

Why is it always the baaaalls?!

[@SimonMordue]

Tarantino steals other people talent. He's shite!

[@mrbrian826]

@@SimonMordue He does it really well, though. He basically just incorporates everything he loves about his favourite films into his own and gets payed millions to do it. Fair fucks to him! He is living some people's ultimate dream!

[@SimonMordue]

@@mrbrian826 He's a DJ... the next de-evolution in cinema. At least he shoots and projects on film! Small mercies. Awful writer and he should never, ever, ever put himself in front of the camera! His chin chews up the scenery.

[@ArmandoLoni]

A perfect homage to the genre, music track included, and actually quite a poignant ending. Matthew Holness is very talented - can't wait to see 'Possum'....

[@roddunne]

"You haven't got an allegro repair manual thats up to date" --- The Reprisalizer sticking it to the (library wo)man.

[@sanchopanzam8]

"...bringing lone wolf justice to the mean streets and postal pathways of Thanet..." Genius!

[@theonlyantony]

I did not want it to end! Superb! The Holness music works very well alongside classic KPM library music of Alan Hawkshaw, a genius, also.

[@SimonMordue]

I love his use of Library artists... Dark Places and Possum too,

[@tonypine3434]

Nature ft Nas - The Ultimate High uses the Towards Tomorrow sample

[@kevinaylott3529]

Get Carter ? Get Matthew Holness another bloody TV series !!! Thats what I say. He does cult British TV at its best, with gold guilt added. Really enjoyed this, a ball busting 10/10 from me.

[@SimonMordue]

Immediately made me want to watch GET CARTER

[@peterobinsonnow]

Beautiful. First thing i've seen from Matt Holness since Garth Marenghi. How i've missed him. This man played one of the best comedy characters ever, really good to see he's still making stuff this good.

[@TomBevan77]

This is so good. Manages to be both very bleak and very funny. Wonderful attention to detail and atmosphere.

[@bonnie3447]

Please make this into either a series or a feature length film. It's so good and hits so many emotions.

[@nickhopkins3794]

Absolutely fantastic. A great Get Carter feel and George looks remarkably like Ted Lewis, the wonderful British crime writer who wrote Jack's Return Home, the novel that film was based on. Why is there not more Matthew Holness on TV.

[@psynno1]

Brilliantly made. A great imagination on show here, clever use of 70s techniques without being derivative. Also thought it very poignant with a very intriguing central character. Would love to see this as a feature or series.

[@DirtyBoySingToGod]

" clever use of 70s techniques without being derivative "

[@petergaskell9756]

@@DirtyBoySingToGod surely the whole thing is derivative...isn't that the point?

[@pearlfisher2813]

Holness is a remarkable talent. Wish there was more of him on telly.

[@SpotlessLeopard]

He would need to be far less talented and unique to be on today's television.

[@brunovance8101]

Something about this speaks to me in a viceral way I'm not used to. The thumbtacks on the typewriter is such an amazing visual representation for the pain he feels he deserves for failing his brother. He's doing it all for his brother, whom he feels he failed. He cries and bleeds for him. No one else in his life gets it and they never will

[@costlyblood1927]

I think it's fascinating to look at this alongside Darkplace. There are clearly elements of Garth in Terry, but they're still two very different characters. Holness must have been thinking about these sorts of themes while developing Darkplace. Some of the little lines are so revealing. "I never take his money" for instance.

[@Retrostar619]

This is basically how I play my Disco Elysium character.

[@Weird-City]

This is an amazing piece of work. I wish it could have made into a series - but then perhaps it's too good for that. Three things I tend to re-watch once every year or two - Mike Leigh's Naked, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, and A Gun for George. I wonder what it means!

[@whomanbeing]

Really hope we get to see the feature length The Reprisalizer some day.

[@liamj2363]

"Disquieting ball fixation"

[@jm3267]

The librarian taking his book hostage had me in stitches: love it

[@irelandfishing4112]

I laughed.And cried.And shit myself.

[@shvinehoond]

Holness is super underrated... This is amazing

[@hotpopcorncake]

I'm the USA I just found out about him and it true.

[@mrbrian826]

Very true.

[@jakeycboyo]

"I'm going to drive that car til we explode." Utter, utter, gold from start to finish.

[@tetsuoshima7385]

Wow that felt like only five minutes. Love it. Want more. Thank you. Well done.

[@tykykable]

I wish I had an Austin Allegro like the Reprisalizer.

[@rorrt]

I'd love for there to be more of these.. I wouldn't even care if they were 15 minute shorts. This length is perfect for the story that is told.. And i must admit i let out a little squeal when i saw Westgate Library.. My grandmother used to live the other side of the train tracks. Though i can't say i ever walked past it, unless it was to go to "The Fish Pub" or the Walmer Castle, which has since gotten rid of its fish tank :'(

[@MarkAndrewEdwards]

Would watch the Reprisalizer, unironically. Also will watch anything Matthew Holness.

[@thetelegothika5327]

Really sad that this never became a series, it's really funny, yet melancholic and unsettling. I guess it was a wee bit too Life on Mars-like to get commissioned at the time.

[@mrbrian826]

It's times like this when i wish i was smart enough to better articulate myself. This is just great. Can't tell you why for the life of me. They've captured something and you can tell it took alot of effort to do it (or very little, which would amaze me even more). Somone smarter than me please tell me why this is so great!

[@nathanman8]

It's pretty much criminal that Matt hasn't got more stuff out there. The man's a comic genius.

[@thesmirker2909]

I love short films and i really enjoyed this one. If i thought any of my fellow northern californians would "get it" I'd share this on facetwitterinstabook. Fuck it...i'll share it anyway.

[@fminns]

This deserves more love as does Matthew Holness in general. Just heard him in Angstrom on Radio4. Brilliant.

[@donsknots6510]

About half way through you just gotta stop and realize how well made this is.

[@adrianandlaura]

As both a resident of Medway and a fan of Matt Holness I'm eagerly awaiting the publication of Terry Finch's latest book M2:Carnage

[@CptCrash21]

Terry Finch: Author. Visionary. Dream Weaver. And Actor.

[@karate7173]

A great short film, don't we all want to clean the mean streets of Thanet! I once lived in Arlington house.

[@rorrt]

I was meaning to take photographs of it. Its quite a handsome looking building.. I love 60's public/municipal/apartment blocks/brutalist architecture. And by today's standards it looks like something from the film Highrise. Its good.

[@jamesmorri5]

If anyone sees this comment any chance you know the song playing at 6:06

[@buddyhooch8860]

finally ever since film 4 i have being waiting to see this on youtube. legend. should have regular airplay its so dark so good so true so need to be. nothing better. we need more. a film maby? something more we need it

[@TheBabadook616]

So fucking brilliant, watched it at least 10 times by now :D it's just frustrating how underappreciated matthew holness is, then as now :')

[@lingonberriesofwrath1836]

I would definitely read a book where the cover says "They wanted mercy, he didn't." Come to think about it, I need a movie that says that too.

[@lpsp442]

I see this as a tribute to both Dirty Harry *AND* Basil Fawlty

[@cadencewyatt]

Ahh the Allegro or the 'all aggro' as my dad used to call them.

[@higurro]

What a phenomenal piece of work

[@jkjerome1]

That was fantastic. Matt Holness should get a knighthood.

[@christschinwon]

10:05 best line about a car ever!

[@tomashize]

Superb understanding genre. The tone is just right as in Dark Place

[@SimonKinsella]

At first I thought the soundtrack was Stig Baasvik.

[@perlefisker]

Yes - based on tunes originally whistled by George...

[@s4yanora]

All of the positive comments about this film(that I haven't watched yet) and Matt's work have warmed the blackened cockles of my heart. Genuinely looking forward to watching it tomorrow.

[@edwardsp1916]

The filming locations were fantastic.

[@WetHandsFilms]

BRILLIANT! This would make a great feature film

[@maxruehl]

Holness kind of reminds me of Terence Stamp in this.

[@Mr00dear]

maxruehl ditto

[@PotholesInMyLawn]

What a pure work of art... my goodness.. I watched this again 2 years later and it still tugs at the heart...

[@PotholesInMyLawn]

even now, the feelings are the same.

[@OfficialTWSandco]

This was incredible! I need more!

[@dai19721]

amazing loved the film now that was original cheers buddy

[@ayebing]

IT is called George

[@degaulle30]

He gets a feel for an era like nobody else. Eerie

[@severin99]

I would watch every episode of this, and its inevitable Netflix reboot

[@billyhodges7194]

Holness is so much more funny and talented than Gervais, even though i like Gervais..... He deserves all accolades and fame

[@Tessuroh]

I can't help but to think if this character would've gone to America his work would've been much more appreciated.

[@Lagrangeify]

Good gravy this was awesome! Think of all the weird low key epic things Holness is going to make before he's done. Can't wait to see that new horror he's written.

[@turinhorse]

"What about our Rights?!" ... "What about your WRONGS !" *click*

[@lugie69]

This was so good it made me wanna cry

[@scottehm86]

Amazing. Why is it always the balls?

[@WallKenshiro]

Absolute genius.

[@billyhodges7194]

What about our rights??? What about your wrongs....??!! Genius

[@AllThingsAlex]

I have an Allegro. Allegro's are cool :P

[@Georgieastra]

No.

[@ByteGuy]

@@Georgieastra Yes, they are

[@domcarter4326]

Proper looks like Ray Carling from Life on Mars

[@Redline748]

This is so good, we need more :)

[@uttaradit2]

Get Holness

[@michaelstewart4445]

Holiness is absolutely brilliant.

[@COL321]

Superbly done. I'm still hoping for a 6x30min series of the Reprisalizer.

[@therespectedlex9794]

Poignant and amusing, what was the series of short films called?

[@harrier1417]

Garth Marenghi meets Cyril Clunge via Target, The Sweeney and the Eqa... Reprisaliser. Superb!

[@stevewynne5145]

A true gent of the craft of book signing.Georgina.

[@matthewhendy5785]

Smacks of The Sweeney and Get Carter among other things. Great stuff.

[@ClintAndrewMusician]

Love this!!!!

[@nathanchalmers9857]

I want the soundtrack, it’s gorgeous.

[@SimonMordue]

It's all library artists. Alan Hawkshaw, KPM... once you start digging, you are going down the wormhole. Like Gialli's!

[@harryw2903]

I want to see so much more of this :(