Award-winning, Glasgow-based filmmaker, Steve Johnson, has been attached to direct a new psychological horror motion picture, Fr(e)ight, by international award-winning film production company, Stronghold. Steve was chosen to direct Fr(e)ight after his festival success with feature film Convergence, which won Best Feature Film as well as 20 additional award wins and nominations.
The movie went on to play at the Cineworld, Glasgow and is now for sale internationally. Fr(e)ight is currently in pre-production development with BAFTA award-winner Stuart Brennan attached to act in the film.
Written by screenplay writer and Scotland based novelist, Chris Watt, Fr(e)ight is a suspenseful thriller delving into the depths of extreme human psyche. An actress and a stranger find themselves trapped in a freight elevator when the lift malfunctions. With their calls for help unanswered, the two can only rely on each other, until their trust is shattered upon discovering they are not strangers at all. Steve Johnson’s first feature film, The Students of Springfield Street won Best Feature Film at the 2015 Aberdeen Film Festival.
He also has experience working on over 16 short films as a Director of Photography. Steve Johnson was thrilled to be approached about the movie and believes he can bring something unique to the direction of the film: “Fr(e)ight is a grounded and dramatic psychological thriller with a dark and moody undertone which I think reflects society at the moment.
Whenever you have a single location story, you want to utilise every inch of the playground that you have access to, which is a challenge, but we are taking advantage of the freight elevator location in some interesting and unique ways.” When asked what attracted him to the project, Steve Johnson said: “I’m attracted to films that really delve into the characterisation of a person’s psyche and Fre(i)ght looks at this from a complex juxtaposition of both male and female perspectives.” Stronghold is an entertainment production company with offices in Los Angeles, Calgary, Glasgow and London. Committed to the art and craft of creative, meaningful and unique storytelling with a strong focus on strategic development.
They have brought 5 movies so far to shoot in Scotland, this they hope will be their sixth. Recent credits include Tomorrow executive produced by Martin Scorsese and starring Stephen Fry, James Cosmo and Joss Stone.