Kevin Short, critically acclaimed former Royal National Theatre actor, and award-winning writer for film and stage, is best known for his award-winning feature ‘Punk Strut – the Movie’. Several other short films have won awards on the Festival Circuit, namely ‘The Creature from the Bag Lagoon’ – a humorous reminder to recycle – and ‘Run Hermes’ – in support of the Nobel Prize winning anti-nuclear weapons organization ICAN. Kevin’s stage work includes being co-writer and director of ‘Flying into the Sun’ for the Royal Opening of the Charles Cryer Theatre. Producer and promoter of 200+ Edinburgh Festival Fringe events, winning Best New Play, Best New Venue, and several Spirit of the Fringe awards. Kevin’s other features as writer/director include the award-winning semi-autobiographical ‘A Reel Life’ and ‘Speed Love’ which stars several well-known British actors, including the celebrated First Lady of the Musical Elaine Paige OBE in the lead role. His most recent feature is the multi-award-winning ‘Tom and his Zombie Wife’ and another award-winning screenplay ‘Will’s Secret’ (based on John Hole’s novel) which explores the relationship between playwright Christopher Marlowe and Shakespeare.

NY Elite Exclusive Interview with Kevin Short, Writer/Director/Producer/Actor

NY Elite: Congratulations on being an ISC finalist. What does it mean for your work to be selected at the International Screenwriting Competition in New York?

Kevin Short: I love New York, and to be selected as a Finalist by such a long-running Competition is both thrilling and an honour, especially coming from a renowned NY-based group such as ISC.

NY Elite: Can you tell us about the work that you participated with at ISC? What is the story about?

Kevin Short: The piece is called ‘Poker Nite’ and, as the title suggests, is about a game night of regular poker players who know each other of old, but on this particular night a new player enters the fold; a femme fatale figure, no less, who throws the regular male-dominated game into crisis.

NY Elite: Can you tell us about yourself and your artistic talents?

Kevin Short: I have had a very varied career in the arts. Being a keen writer and organizer from an early age, has led me on quite a diverse journey: from London West End musicals, to forming a punk band, to writing for and being co-director of a London Soho Theatre, and in more recent years writing/directing/producing original works for stage and screen. Basically, I love it all.

NY Elite: What scripts have you written so far?

Kevin Short: I’ve written several award-winning scripts for both stage and screen. ‘The Pigsty’ and ‘GO4 – a technodram’ were recognized at the Edinburgh Festival, Scotland, and films such as ‘Run Hermes’ (supporting the Nobel Peace Prize winning anti-nuclear weapons organization ICAN) and ‘The Creature from the Bag Lagoon’ (in support of recycling plastic bags) regularly play the festival circuit.

NY Elite: Top 3 favorite projects that you have been involved in?

1. Appearing in the UK’s Royal National Theatre of ‘Guys and Dolls’.
2. Bringing my multimedia piece ’Zombie Zoo’ to New York for Halloween 2019.
3. Having a reunion of my punk band for the filming of ‘Punk Strut-the Movie’.

NY Elite: What type of scripts do you want to write in your career?

Kevin Short: I would like to cover several genres. Already I have tackled zombies, a romantic thriller, and a semi-autobiographical piece, so, a Christmas film, a musical, and a horror might be next.

NY Elite: As a writer, what is the most important aspect of building a character?

Kevin Short: I generally write about people or characters I know, sometimes even with an actor in mind, so from the moment I begin to build a character I have a sense of who they are, and even if they grow into more exaggerated or surreal forms their base is a solid reality.

NY Elite: What projects are you currently working on?

Kevin Short: I am thrilled that two of my films have recently been released in the US and UK by Bayview Entertainment. I am doing all I can to promote them. Please watch out for Punk Strut-the Movie (about the reunion I spoke of), and A Reel Life (the semi-autobiographical film). Plus, I am busy promoting ‘Tom and his Zombie Wife’ (my homage to Romero) which I hope will be also released later in 2022.

NY Elite: Do you express yourself creatively in any other ways?

Kevin Short: I love to write poetry/plays/and songs. After many years of playing the guitar, in recent times I have fallen in love with the ukulele, such a happy sounding instrument.

NY Elite: What advice would you give to someone who wants to have a career in filmmaking/writing?

Kevin Short: Read and study the great writers. Research and watch the great films by directors you admire.