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The short film Cat Burglar was made by Lee Guilliland, who now works in London, but originally came from Felixstowe.
You can watch Lee’s film here
And here’s an appreciation by local screenwriter Michael Dredge:
This showing of Lee Guilliland’s first film ‘Cat Burglar’, which he wrote, produced and directed (shades of Orson Welles there!) is something of a coup for Felixstowe Films. Although the movie had a BAFTA premiere, was shown at the Manchester Film Festival, and courtesy of Canal-Plus was shown in eight non-French speaking countries on television ---this is the first mass showing in this country, and the world.
Indeed, given that tiny site broadcasts even to Hollywood, it’s possible Lee’s cinematic hero Steven Spielberg might glance at it if he has broadband . . . well, okay, Mr Spielberg probably does have broadband!
Felixstowe-bred Lee is 33, lived in Cobbold Road, and went to Deben High School. Although he now lives in London, he often returns to the Suffolk coast. Given that his day job is with London Transport, Lee could truly be called an underground film-maker! He studied Visual Cultures at university (history of art, film, and photography), but never imagined he might turn his dream of film-making into reality until a unique opportunity came his way . . .
Unable to break into films he had taken a job in security looking after a luxury development. Cheekily he brought girls back to the mansion to impress them with his accommodation, but doesn’t say how many were fooled. Well, they say write about what you know, and this exact scenario forms the starting point for ’Cat Burglar’, with Sid Owen (formerly Ricky from ‘Eastenders’) playing the Lee part.
It was the other major star who set the ball rolling though. Lee met footballer turned TV host Ian Wright through a mutual friend, and found him very enthusiastic about the project. Gemma Page, who appeared in ‘Topsy Turvy’ soon came on board as the third part of the acting talent . . . and has some of the best lines actually.
Now don’t get the impression this is a student film like Dawson from ‘Dawson’s Creek’ might have made. Admittedly the budget was low --- £22,000 probably wouldn’t buy the wheels on Tom Cruise’s trailer --- but the production qualities are as high as on any feature. The sound man came from the BBC, the gaffer was straight off the latest Bond film, and the cinematographer had previously shot ‘Human Traffic’.
Of course the budget would have been impossibly high if Lee had needed to hire the location. In fact, he admits, he stole it! The setting is simply the luxury mansion he was looking after, used without permission --- and when the owners came back unexpectedly cast and crew had to hide in cupboards!!
This film was made in 2001, and since then Lee has been busy: writing new projects such as a feature length fairytale, and a film about murderous clowns, as well as doing the leg-work to get them off the ground. He has already attracted the attention of producers, and household-name actors.
Where does he see himself in five years time? Hopefully, he says, he will have directed a feature film by then, and perhaps more shorts. In ten years? He’s too modest to say . . . but a well known suburb of Los Angeles with a sign on the hillside might just welcome him. Not bad for someone whose school report said, “Lee is forever daydreaming. He should wake up and join the real world.” This excellent film is the product of his daydreaming . . . enjoy it.
watch the film . . .
Michael Dredge
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