Four:Play – The Vignettes

“Why do you keep calling it ‘gay marriage’? It’s not called ‘gay going to the shops’…”

Four:Play is a rom-com – a gay rom-com about same-sex relationships and marriages, attempting to attack the stigma surrounding it by focusing mainly on love and the role of family. Presented at this event were vignettes and a pitch from director Bruno Collins and writer Craig Daniel Adams for a producer and more funding to make the concept into a full-length feature. Cineworld have already come on board to support its release.

The Vignettes are a triptych of short films that introduce the lead roles of the film. First, Michael (David Paisley) and Jay (Arron Blake) are interviewed for a magazine about their impending marriage. It is later explained that none of these scenes will appear in the actual film, which has an entirely separate script but will begin with this wedding day. Blake’s Jay is impassioned and comfortable, while Paisley gives Michael a romantic, gentle quality that plays off one another well. The interviewee is also featured in this scene, powerfully portrayed by Olivia Hamilton (known for her role in Channel 4’s Sugar Rush) as suitably ignorant at first.

Darren Lee Murphy introduces the character Albin, who is attempting to film an online dating video, which is entirely relatable and endearingly awkward. His cameraman (Ben Fensome) is the common thread between the scenes, forever appearing to capture the moments of young love. Fensome is the light relief, the comedy gold of the piece and is cast perfectly.

The sound quality of The Vignettes is poor, but can be forgiven due to its low budget and short filming time (a mere three days). Its angles are occasionally questionable and static, which in turn jars the script at points. The vision of the ultimate piece is inspired largely on Richard Curtis’ work and attitude to love, and Craig Daniel Adams talks with a passionate, fuelled charm about his drive to make the film. Its attempt to destigmatise is appropriate and arguably needed in the current debate around gay marriage.

When asked how they wanted the audience to feel on leaving the film, the team simply asked for a relieving sigh and the same response you might feel when leaving a heterosexual rom-com film. Whether a production company sees this as an investment or not, one will just have to wait and see. 

Sarah Milton

For further information about Four:Play and the crowdfunding campaign visit here.

Watch the crowdfunding video for Four:Play here: