Two Headed Films is a start up film production company and social enterprise, intending to become a Community Interest Company once a board of directors is in place. The founder is John Casey, an artist and writer who lives in Wirksworth.
On the North East corner of St Mary’s Church in Wirksworth is a single gargoyle with two heads. Two Headed Films take this image as a symbol of the company’s two areas of concern, the artistic and the social, united in the creative and collaborative activity of filmmaking. For all enquiries please contact: twoheadedfilms@gmail.com
One Vision, Two Goals
Two Headed Films has the vision of innovative films being made locally, in a resourceful and socially conscious manner.
Two Headed Films has the two goals:
1. To produce films and other media as an artistic endeavour.
2. To engage and educate through workshops, events, education programs and job opportunities linked to film production.
- Emphasis will be given to reaching those who have low or no access to work and education in the creative arts, particularly young people from marginalised groups and those living in rural areas.
Why Wirksworth?
Wirksworth is an ideal base for a socially active film production company, it has a community that possesses a great wealth of talent and cooperative spirit and it is surrounded by varied and striking locations, from sites of great natural beauty to industrial wastelands.
Early in 2023, John had the idea to make a story of his into a short film, a psychological thriller set in the evocative landscape of the Derbyshire Dales, and asked local filmmaker Gavin Repton if he’d like to help. From then on the process of seeking collaborators grew into Two Headed Films, drawing on the deep well of talent in the local area. This process led to the realisation that making films was a social act, and that the company should actively aim for a positive social impact.
Artistic Remit
Two Headed Films aspires to produce films of artistic merit for international distribution, developing projects by critical discussion between in-house production team, contracted crew and cast, and participating students, apprentices and members of the public. Although there is no compulsion for films to engage with social themes, scripts that do tackle social or psychological issues in an inventive manner are likely to be favoured. Controversial themes stay very much on the table, with a belief in artistic freedom, but with the proviso that such topics are approached intelligently and not in a manner that is gratuitous, malicious or intended to incite hatred.
An alternative model for producing high quality films.
At the heart of Two Headed Films methodology is the concept of double use, meaning that during the production of any film, the company will run a program of corresponding projects that allow access to the filmmaking process in multiple ways. These include an education program for those with low access to the creative arts, and work experience and job opportunities for locals with an interest in filmmaking and for those from marginalised groups.
Workplace Wellbeing
Filmmaking does not occur in a vacuum, it is created by people collaborating; social relations are inseparable from artistic production. Therefore all Two Headed Films productions are conducted in a socially conscious and empathetic manner, with the physical and mental well being of all involved taken in deep consideration. Likewise labour relations with our employees and contractors are made as fair and transparent as possible.