On Release - The Exchange

Following fourteen months production, I’m pleased to announce that that our short film, The Exchange is now being shown at festivals.
	The Exchange tells the story of Eva Gold, a disillusioned special agent who is on the run from her partner, Oksana. As the thriller unfolds we see Eva arranging to sell classified information then disposing of Oksana and her assistant Cezar. Eva ultimately re-deems herself by helping her father re-cover from an earlier breakdown. The film’s central theme is that the pursuit of greed comes at the expense of human relationships.
	Alan Robinson was to direct. His first decision was to shoot in black and white taking responsibility as cameraman. After talking extensively with Alan I began a treatment, then a screenplay of the story we had mapped out. With the final screenplay written, the first rewrites had been done by Autumn 2008, and pages were still being added and subtracted long after production began.
	Our preparation for filming was painstakingly thorough. The presence of producer Karen Cherrington ensured that recces, casting and rehearsals were underway by the year’s end. Arranging wardrobe, props and make-up formed the last part of the production schedule.
It’s early 2009 and the cameras turn to our acting talent. Knowing their abilities, Alan was keen to cast two actresses who had worked with us previously: Eva was played by Jacquelyn Kent and Natascha Slasten played Oksana.

	Playing Eva’s father, Gregory, is Partners regular Robin Ingram. Robin always brings conviction to his performance but especially needed now, as his character couldn’t speak. Robin was made to look artificially aged.
	And just because we’re making a low budget film doesn’t mean we overlook the value of good location sound. Partners sound supervisor, John James took the mantle as well as bringing his skills to produce the final mixed sound.
	Work on the film went smoothly. Eva and Oksana sparred majestically on screen, the weather kept in our favour, the light held and Lara Birkenshaw who played Eva, aged ten, performed with assuredness on Brighton beach. We kept to our £1,000 budget at locations, Chalfont St. Giles, West London and Southampton.
	Though the scene at the Devil’s Punchbowl where Oksana jumps off a gorge rather than surrender to Eva, is the climatic moment in the picture, it was not the last scene we filmed. We still had some shooting days planned but had to halt filming for a few months as cast and crew undertook other assignments.
	Composer Martin Westlake provided the score as cameras ceased rolling in August 2010. Very early we had taken the decision to edit as we went along so final post production was swiftly completed that Autumn.

Our fifteen-minute short is now in competition and our trailer is available to the left, enjoy!

The Exchange has also been put on a website, up-loaded by some chaps who were recruited to 'help out' on the film.

www.ealingvideo.com