Last Chance for Fiz in Soho…

 


We all dread the toll of the bell when “Last Orders” are up, but we’re here to give you plenty of notice to try out Fizbar in Soho for one last time before they close there doors this Saturday. London’s first sparkling wine bar opened it’s doors 9 weeks ago for a 10 week residency at iconic London haunt, Lights of Soho. Started by three friends, their quest was to bring a hint of Barcelona’s backstreet Cava bars to London. With a playful and eclectic list of international fizz, the aim was to take a step away from the pretentious wine bars and over-priced, bourgeois culture associated with drinking sparkles in the Capital. As well as a damn good list of drinks to make your way through, the food here is also well curated and carefully selected to pair with your drinks. The atmosphere here is like no other, you can enjoy your bubbles whilst watching the Chef’s cook your food to order right at the bar.

Just to give you an example of how eclectic this wine list was, we made our way from House Fiz which was a crisp Cava at £4.5 a glass all the way to the unusual ‘Black Queen’. Hailing from Barossa Valley Australia, Black Queen is a red fizz with hints of dark cherry and fruit. Not for the faint hearted, this was described by one of the owners as the Marmite of Fiz. There are of course a few Proseccos that feature on the menu but our stand out fizz by far was a lot closer to home, all the way from Kent. Balfour Estate by Hush Heath winery in Kent was an example of something very elegant, dry and sophisticated. The production of this fizz is very similar to Champagne and is unsurprisingly award-winning. If an adventurous journey through fizz is more of what you’re after, there is something for everyone at Fiz, alongside the sparkling red, there is an Italian Sparkling wine with notes of lemon and lime and also something from Brazil too. The wines on the list go from £4.5-£10 a glass to give you an idea of how casual and affordable this joint is. The food offerings include a cheese board, a meat board and a selection of sliders to name a few, we recommend the Pastrami which we are told is made on site. As well as a bottomless brunch available on the weekend. We really enjoyed the little quirks and added extras to the place including a couple of alcoholic ice pops to choose from and of course the striking backdrop that is Lights of Soho featuring many neon light designs.

We highly recommend you checking out Fiz before they close there doors this Saturday before they move on to their next location so stay tuned for more info…

https://www.fizbar.com

Bubbles: Short Film Perfection

I went to see Bubbles at the Soho Screening Rooms, and it was perfection.

Short films are hard to do. Trying to tell an entire story in under 20 minutes is something not everyone can achieve, although they do try. Bubbles succeeds on many levels. When it ended, everyone at the screening was disappointed.

Bubbles is an amazing accomplishment: a short film that you don’t want to end. Beautifully shot and framed, Bubbles is a high quality film which is well-written and well-acted. A triumph for all involved.

Vanessa Bailey is wonderful in her part, sexy, beautiful and smart. Playing a role most actresses would kill for. She is definitely one to watch.

The film tells the story of three generations in a country mansion after a funeral. A photograph resurfaces that changes everything. The past becomes present, and former loves refuse to be forgotten. Leyla Pope is an outstanding talent, I cannot wait for her next film, or, indeed, a feature length version of Bubbles.

http://www.shortfilmbubbles.com/index.html

New Film 'Bubbles' Paves Way For Women In Film

Following on from Bridesmaids, a new film written and directed by women, lead role is a women and a high proportion of women on the crew. The shape of things to come? Let’s hope.

Here is all you need to know about Bubbles.

The Director

Leyla Pope comes from a professional background in communications working for Medecins Sans Frontiers, but her passion for filmmaking led her to the decision to make a career shift and follow her dream to work as a writer/director. Her short film Bubbles is a huge milestone for a female (also juggling the roles of wife and mother) in an industry which is still very much a male-dominated work environment.

The Film

The film’s central character, Lily, is a strong, intelligent woman struggling with suppressed desires and tense family dynamics. Following the death of her mother, Lily steels herself to organise her father’s move out of the family home. She has little support from her husband who is deeply absorbed in his latest composition and unable to relate to Lily’s tense presence. In the midst of this turmoil, a former lover appears and Lily finds her ordered life thrown out of balance. Buried feelings emerge and Lily begins to question her life’s choices. Will she live life as her mother did, putting expectation above desire? Or will she confront her feelings at the risk of unravelling the life she has built for herself? As Lily’s inner turmoil surfaces her young teenage daughter begins her own journey of sexual awakening.

Bubbles is an intelligent and evocative drama. Just as the novels of Jane Austen dissected and explored the choices for women in marriage and love, so Bubbles throws light on how these same choices are played out within a contemporary, upper class family. With a visually rich, Merchant-Ivory feel, Bubbles is a potent blend of classic storytelling and contemporary British drama.

The locations

From the outset it was clear that no ordinary location would do justice to the themes of Bubbles, so we secured the use of the stunning, rambling Grade II listed manor house “Plas Dinam” in Mid Wales as the setting for the majority of the shoot. This afforded not only the authentic interior of an historic family home, but also panoramic external shots.

The crew

The crew needed to be extremely skilled and experienced. Key to the final result were Bafta-winning cinematographer Huw Walters and top industry professional John Richards (Little Black Book, Girls’ Night, Band of Brothers) as Executive Producer.

The cast

With castings taking place individually in both Wales and London, it is testament to Leyla’s instinct and her rigorous casting process that she brought together a talented and balanced cast, including Welsh acting legend Howell Evans, to bring reality and depth to the characters in the script. Across the cast there is a vast amount of experience in TV and film.

The music

Music is not just a finishing touch for Bubbles, it is an integral part in the story. In the early stages of the film we see the building tension within Lily’s relationship to her husband Robin, a once-successful classical composer. Robin is no longer able to connect with Lily. His mounting frustrations with his wife’s attitude towards him are reflected in his struggles to express himself through his compositions.

Bubbles needed an original score that would help the audience to feel the changing emotional dynamics of each character, particularly in the final montage section of the film which has no dialogue.

Composer Jack Westmore was the perfect choice for this crucial element of the film. He possesses an incredible sensitivity to story dynamic and emotion. Jack wrote a score integrating solo cello into themes which are haunting and lyrical and perfectly express the contained but shifting restlessness of the film.

Soloist Rosie Biss is lead cellist with The Welsh National Opera. We were absolutely delighted when she agreed to play the solo cello parts. Her masterful interpretation of Jack’s score fully brings to life the complex emotions which are written into the music.

The continuing journey

Bubbles has finished post production but is only just beginning the journey to reach a national and international audience. We are now actively pursuing development of the short into a full-length feature or episodic TV series, including the American market.
There is an upcoming private London screening in late September for anyone interested in investing in or sponsoring the future development of Bubbles.

With a combination of visual beauty and strong plot and an emphasis on celebrating “Britishness” we see Bubbles very much as a showcase for the very best in British creativity. Opportunities to collaborate with British fashion designers, songwriters and musicians, perfumiers, luxury car brands, interior design etc abound. We see Bubbles as a canvas on which to paint a highly marketable picture of the best of British creativity on many levels.

For more information on investing in, supporting or sponsoring Bubbles, or for any other information you may require about the film or Bottlegreen Productions please email FAO Sophie Walcott at: bottlegreenproductions@gmail.com

Website: www.shortfilmbubbles.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Bubbles-Short-Film/173451646048497

Twitter: @bubblesfilm
Tumblr: http://bubblesshortfilm.tumblr?.com/