Brothers of the Head (2005)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Directors:

Keith Fulton
Louis Pepe

Writers:

Brian Aldiss (novel)
Tony Grisoni (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 October 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

For some people... Rock & Roll was always a freak show.

Plot:

In the 1970s a music promoter plucks Siamese twins from obscurity and grooms them into a freakish rock'n'roll act. A dark tale of sex, strangeness and rock music. |

Plot Keywords:

Twins | Brothers | Incest | Punk | Conjoined Twins

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Jonathan Pryce	...	Henry Couling
Harry Treadaway	...	Tom Howe
John Simm	...	Boatman
Luke Treadaway	...	Barry Howe
Sean Harris	...	Nick Sidney
Ken Russell	...	Himself
James Greene	...	Brian Aldiss
Elizabeth Rider	...	Roberta Howe
Luke Wagner	...	Young Zak
Anna Nygh	...	Zak's Mum / Rita Bedderwick
Howard Attfield	...	Zak Bedderwick
Edward Hogg	...	Chris Dervish (as Ed Hogg)
Bryan Dick	...	Paul Day - 1970's
Nicholas Millard	...	Tubs
David Kennedy	...	Paul Day - Present day
Ken Bones	...	Henry Couling
Jane Horrocks	...	Roberta Howe
Roger Watkins	...	Old Howe
Steven Eagles	...	Spitz
Raymond Pickard	...	Druggy
Joe Van Moyland	...	Druggy Friend
Tom Bower	...	Eddie Pasqua
Ray Cooper	...	Himself
Kenneth Hadley	...	Pub Manager
Isabel Skinner	...	Concert Vox Pops
Michelle Bayton	...	Concert Vox Pops
Gillian Garr	...	Concert Vox Pops
Ruthe	...	Concert Vox Pops (as Ruthe Spottiswoode)
Neil Mackay	...	Spottiswoode (as Neil McKay)
Matthew Pearson	...	Spottiswoode
Kieran Rushby	...	Spottiswoode
Kristel George	...	Spottiswoode
Brian Dawn	...	Stylist (as Brian 'Dawn' Chalkley)
Anne Lambton	...	Cilla
Tania Emery	...	Laura Ashworth - 1970's
Diana Kent	...	Laura Ashworth - present
Jack Dunkley	...	Roadie
Jeffrey Wickham	...	Sir Allardyce Stevens
Barbara Ewing	...	Dr. Janice Marsden
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ross Gowland	...	Partygoer (uncredited)

Directed by
Keith Fulton
Louis Pepe

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Brian Aldiss		novel
Tony Grisoni		screenplay

Produced by
Peter Carlton	....	executive producer
Simon Channing Williams	....	producer
Gail Egan	....	producer
Tony Grisoni	....	co-producer
Kate Ogborn	....	executive producer
Tessa Ross	....	executive producer
Lisa Marie Russo	....	co-producer
Mario Zvan	....	executive producer: Kenya, Blue Sky Films

Original Music by
Clive Langer

Cinematography by
Anthony Dod Mantle

Film Editing by
Nicolas Gaster

Casting by
Nina Gold

Production Design by
Jon Henson

Art Direction by
Patrick Rolfe

Set Decoration by
Michelle Day

Costume Design by
Marianne Agertoft

Makeup Department
Francesco Alberico	....	additional hair stylist
Carolyn Cousins	....	additional assistant hair stylist
Carolyn Cousins	....	additional assistant makeup artist
Carolyn Deacock	....	additional assistant hair stylist
Carolyn Deacock	....	additional assistant makeup artist
Martin Hodgson	....	prosthetic technician
Jennifer Lenard	....	assistant hair stylist
Jennifer Lenard	....	assistant makeup artist
James Pavlov	....	additional assistant hair stylist
James Pavlov	....	additional assistant makeup artist
Aaron Sherman	....	prosthetic makeup designer
Maralyn Sherman	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Sarah White	....	additional assistant hair stylist
Sarah White	....	additional assistant makeup artist
Daniel Woodley	....	prosthetic technician
Louise Young	....	additional assistant hair stylist
Louise Young	....	additional assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Sheryl Crown	....	head of production: Screen East
Alistair Hopkins	....	post-production supervisor
Tracy O'Riordan	....	assistant production manager
Hemal Shah	....	production manager: Kenya
Andy Stebbing	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dan Channing-Williams	....	third assistant director (as Dan Channing Williams)
Michael Elliott	....	first assistant director (as Mike Elliott)
Bernard Gathogo	....	first assistant director: Kenya
Anthony Wilcox	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Keith Brown	....	painter
Gareth Cousins	....	assistant art director
Arwel Evans	....	stand-by props
Sophie Geliot	....	chargehand painter
David Gray	....	painter
Ken Hook	....	painter
Prue Howard	....	assistant stand-by props
Dave Jeffries	....	dressing props
Mark Larkin	....	graphic art director
Chris Lightburn-Jones	....	dressing props
Alex Lynch	....	painter
Roger Phillips	....	graphic designer: Frameline Productions Ltd.
Kathryn Pyle	....	art department assistant
Nick Thomas	....	property master

Sound Department
Mark Appleby	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer
Tim Barker	....	sound designer
Tim Barker	....	sound recordist
Oliver Cohen	....	boom operator (as Oli Cohen)
Oliver Cohen	....	foley editor (as Oli Cohen)
Dave Croft	....	foley mixer
Jack Dunkley	....	sound technician
Lenny Franchi	....	sound engineer: 'Bang Bang' band
Zane Hayward	....	sound effects editor
Andrea King	....	foley artist
Dave Poulton	....	foley artist
Jonathan Rimas	....	adr mixer
Alan Shearsmith	....	sound engineer: live PA
Jack Stew	....	foley artist
Andy Thompson	....	adr mixer
Andy Thompson	....	foley mixer
Andy Thompson	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Paola Varvaro	....	cleanup

Visual Effects by
Marcus Alexander	....	digital intermediate producer: Framestore CFC
Sule Bryan	....	compositor: Framestore CFC
Jason Burnett	....	digital cleanup: Framestore CFC
Andy Burrow	....	scanning and recording manager: Framestore CFC
James Clarke	....	scanning and recording: Framestore CFC
Adrian De Wet	....	visual effects supervisor: Framestore CFC
Paul Doogan	....	scanning and recording: Framestore CFC
Jonathan Dredge	....	digital cleanup: Framestore CFC
Ben Gillingham-Sutton	....	digital cleanup artist
Joe Godfrey	....	scanning and recording: Framestore CFC
Dianne Gordon	....	data operator: Framestore CFC
Charlie Habanananda	....	data operator: Framestore CFC
Alistair Hamer	....	film mastering engineer: Framestore CFC
Piers Hampton	....	visual effects producer: Framestore CFC
Adam Hawkes	....	retouch and restoration
Jan Hogevold	....	digital intermediate production executive: Framestore CFC
Kevin Lowery	....	scanning and recording: Framestore CFC
Roz Lowrie	....	head of visual effects editorial: Framestore CFC
Claire McGrane	....	digital intermediate production executive: Framestore CFC
Maria Michalopoulou	....	data operator: Framestore CFC
Kirsty Morgan	....	visual effects coordinator: Framestore CFC
Mike Morrison	....	digital grading assistant: Framestore CFC
Stuart Nippard	....	data operator: Framestore CFC
Dan Perry	....	scanning and recording: Framestore CFC
Gavin Round	....	digital intermediate film editorial: Framestore CFC
Cal Sawyer	....	head of data operations: Framestore CFC
John Sharp	....	compositor: Framestore CFC
Matina Skouteri	....	scanning and recording: Framestore CFC
Paola Varvaro	....	digital cleanup: Framestore CFC
Stephen Willey	....	systems engineer
Annabel Wright	....	digital cleanup: Framestore CFC
Brian Krijgsman	....	titles compositor: Framestore CFC (uncredited)

Stunts
Willie Athill	....	marine coordinator
Clive Curtis	....	stunt coordinator
Paul Herbert	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Barlow	....	grip
Andy Cole	....	best boy
Chris Connatty	....	second assistant camera
Frank Dawson	....	sparks
Anthony Dod Mantle	....	camera operator
Paul Edwards	....	Steadicam operator
Neil Johnson	....	camera trainee
John Law	....	rigger
Tim Morris	....	camera trainee
Thomas Neivelt	....	gaffer
Summers Nick	....	camera operator: rostrum camera, Frameline Productions Ltd.
Steve Obunde	....	grip: Kenya
Curtis Radcliffe	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Susi Rowell	....	epk camera operator
Simon Tindall	....	first assistant camera
Nick Wall	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Stephen Moore	....	casting associate
Kate Rudge	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jennifer Allen	....	costume assistant (as Kenni Allen)
Katarina Borosova	....	costume assistant
Tabitha Doyle	....	costume stand-by
Emma Fryer	....	costume supervisor
Fiona Gibsey	....	costume assistant
Nat Turner	....	costume researcher
Alice Wolfbauer	....	costume design assistant

Editorial Department
Marcus Alexander	....	digital intermediate producer
Tony Appleton	....	video conformist: True Media Ltd.
Ameenah Ayub	....	post-production coordinator
Justinian Buckley	....	first assistant editor
Mark Eckersley	....	first assistant editor
Steve Farman	....	negative cutter
Adam Inglis	....	colorist
Lorraine Lydon	....	colorist: rushes
Sean Lyons	....	second assistant editor
Ben Peters	....	video conformist: True Media Ltd.
Wendy Saunders	....	rushes coordinator
Richard Smither	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Jim Benner	....	music consultant
Bryan Dick	....	musician: live bass player
Jack Dunkley	....	musician: studio bass player
Steven Eagles	....	musician: guitar
Hugh Gadsdon	....	music coordinator
Clive Langer	....	music producer
Clive Langer	....	orchestrator
Johnny Langer	....	music engineer
Nicholas Millard	....	musician: drums
Ian Neil	....	music supervisor
Snarby Richard	....	musician: plectrum calibration
Harry Treadaway	....	musician: guitar

Other crew
Chris Allies	....	title designer
Phylis Andika	....	production assistant: Kenya
Ameenah Ayub	....	production secretary
Leon Ballin	....	location finder
Niall Bamford	....	managing director: Invicta Capital Ltd.
Kelly Bassett	....	runner
Imogen Bell	....	production coordinator
Aaron Boughtflower	....	location assistant
Richard Brenin	....	transcriptor
Claire Broughton	....	assistant: Gail Egan
Abbie Browne	....	assistant: Simon Channing Williams
Richards Butler	....	legal services
Dom Channing-Williams	....	runner (as Dom Channing Williams)
Nick Comley	....	production graphics: Frameline Productions: td.
Theodore Cook	....	production runner
Gemma Coombs	....	production runner
Peter Courridge	....	production trainee
Nick Darvill	....	location finder
Tone Davies	....	laboratory project supervisor: Soho Images
Graham Easton	....	completion bond: Film Finances Inc.
William Fowler	....	assistant archive researcher
Christine Gayford	....	production accountant
Graham C. Gayford	....	assistant accountant
Sarah Golding	....	script executive
Tristan Goligher	....	runner
Paul Grindey	....	head of business affairs: FilmFour
Dan Hodgett	....	location services
Sally Hodgson	....	location services
David Huxley	....	technical director: The Machine Room
Chris Irvine	....	business affairs executive: Film Four
Shauna Johal	....	operations director: Invicta Capital Ltd.
Tracey Josephs	....	head of production: FilmFour
Consolata Karani	....	production assistant: Kenya
Tony Kelly	....	script assistant trainee
Jeremy Kimberlin	....	clearances advisor: FilmFour
Richard Knight	....	location finder
Angela Kombu	....	production assistant: Kenya
Emily Lappin	....	location services
Bek Leigh	....	additional accountant
Shiv Mandavia	....	production assistant: Kenya
Greg Mcmanus	....	runner
Michael Myrie	....	location assistant
Muthoni Ngacha	....	production assistant: Kenya
Robert Norris	....	legal services
Anna Nygh	....	choreographer
Gerardine O'Flynn	....	production coordinator: FilmFour
Sylvia Parker	....	script supervisor
Abigail Payne	....	lawyer: Harbottle & Lewis, for EM Media
Richard Philipps	....	legal services
Alex Protherough	....	production runner
Luis Rosa	....	travel services
Jan Haydn Rowles	....	dialogue coach
Jonathan Rutter	....	publicity: McDonald & Rutter
Nic Smith	....	location services
Bob Sohanpal	....	production secretary
Harriet Stanes	....	production assistant: Kenya
John Taylor	....	laboratory project supervisor: Soho Images
Heloise Vokins	....	production trainee
Lucy Whitton	....	archive researcher
Chris Wilding	....	location manager: Kenyan unit
Hayley Williams	....	assistant: Keith Fulton and Louis Pepe
Henry Woolley	....	location manager
Ella Woolner	....	production trainee
Emma Yeomans	....	runner

Thanks
Will Kemp	....	thanks
Jack Turner	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Potboiler Productions
• EM Media
• Film4
• HanWay Films
• Screen East

Distributors

• Asmik Ace Entertainment (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• IFC Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Tartan Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fuse Network (2006) (USA) (TV)
• Kadokawa Entertainment (2007) (Japan) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
• Palisades-Tartan Acquisitions (2008) (UK) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Framestore CFC (visual effects)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment supplied by
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies (as Audiolink)
• Barclays Bank PLC  banking services
• Beethoven Street Filmes  original songs recorded at (as Beethoven Street)
• British Pathé  archive footage courtesy of
• Edit Hire (New Technology) Ltd.  editing equipment (as Edit Hire)
• Film Finance  completion bond (as Film Finances Inc.)
• FilmFlow  facilitiues
• First Sense Audio  sound equipment
• Frameline Productions Ltd.  production graphics
• Framestore CFC  digital intermediate and titles
• Goldcrest Post Production London  adr recording (as Goldcrest Post)
• Goldcrest Post Production London  foley recording (as Goldcrest Post)
• Goldcrest Post Production London  sound re-recorded at (as Goldcrest Post)
• Granada Television  archive footage courtesy of (as Granada)
• Harbottle & Lewis  lawyers: EM Media
• Huntley Film Archives  archive footage courtesy of
• ITN Archive  archive footage courtesy of
• Jacobs Studios  original songs mixed at
• Jacobs Studios  original songs recorded at
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• London Editing Machines Ltd.  editing equipment
• Lyme Terrace  music score recorded at
• Mayflower Studios  adr recording
• McDonald and Rutter  publicity (as McDonald & Rutter)
• Media Insurance Brokers  insurance
• Media Services  stationery supplier
• Media Travel International  travel services
• MovieTrack  sound editing equipment
• Oxford Scientific Films  archive footage courtesy of (as Oxford Scientific OSF)
• Professional Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Real Spice of Life, The  catering
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script
• Showtravel  travel services
• Soho Images  film laboratory
• The Machine Room  telecine services
• True Media  video conforming
• Universal Sound  foley recording

MPAA:

Rated R for language, drug use and sexuality.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18 | USA:Not Rated | USA:R | Ireland:16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:MA (2008)

Company:

Potboiler Productions

Quotes:

Barry Howe: What are you writing about?
Laura Ashworth - 1970's: Well, you guys specifically.
Barry Howe: What about us?
Laura Ashworth - 1970's: Well, you know, you're kind of... you know, you're different. Young and exciting.
Barry Howe: Young, exciting, what else? Give me a- give me a third.
Laura Ashworth - 1970's: Listen, I'm actually writing an article about exploitation of the physically impaired.
Barry Howe: [long pause] Speak to Tubbs, he's got a dodgy ankle.

Movie Connections:

References Tommy (1975)

Deftly crafted with an authentic pre-punk soundtrack

Directors Fulton and Pepe get full marks for the rare feat of making a film where the fake-verite style is not a distraction and takes a back seat to the story and characters.

The film is very deftly crafted, especially considering the subject matter. After all, the film is about conjoined twins being sold to a music promoter who wants to make them into pop stars. (The mind boggles at the heavy-handed way such a story MIGHT have been told.)

And, yes, there is an actual meat and potatoes story here. The fact that these brothers are conjoined is key to the plot, but mercifully, it is NOT a one-note gag that the whole film is hung on.

The directors made many interesting and ultimately daring choices, such as shooting the film in a verite style. Unfortunately, this will beg obvious (but ultimately irrelevant) comparisons to other fake-verite films with musical themes.

Another interesting choice was shooting the performance scenes in what appear to be live takes, rather than having the actors lip sync to a studio recording. This seems like an insane choice because of the extra casting and logistic hassles. You'd have to find actors that could actually play, get them to practice together and then who knows if they'll be a decent band. But they pull it off. The music is authentic-sounding pre-punk--an undeniably raw and vital soundtrack. (I'll buy the soundtrack for sure. They could even put this band on tour and I'd go see them.) So, here's to insane choices.

There are modest, surreal sequences between some scenes, but the directors know when to say when on this. The art-house crowd (and the stoned) are thrown a bone. But normal people will not be left rolling their eyes or checking their watch. These parts don't feel like art for art's sake.

The casting is amazing. Using two different actors to play the older and younger versions of certain characters is yet another interesting choice. A few of the actors bear such a striking resemblance to one another that you may find yourself scanning the credits to see if they're related.

This is the first narrative film by these two directors and I wholeheartedly encourage them to make many more films.