Jules T-Smith's new Sweet As A Films to produce Stalking Ben Chadz feature

Jules T-Smith’s fledgling UK production outfit Sweet As A Films is to produce a feature version of comedy short Stalking Ben Chadz, starring Montserrat Lombard (Ashes to Ashes, Tower Block) and Olivia Poulet (In the Loop, Outnumbered).

The feature will follow oddball sisters Izzy and June who stalk the titular Ben Chadz throughout the UK.

Lombard and Poulet will reprise their roles as sisters Izzy and June and are writing the script (curently in development) with director Daniel Castella, who will make his feature debut.

Lombard and Poulet said: “There is a current niche in the market for female driven British comedy, particularly one which breaks so wholeheartedly from the established format of the ‘rom com’… We had such a great response, mainly from men, when they saw the short, it made us realize that this will have appeal to a much larger audience than we originally anticipated. We are thrilled to be working with Jules who has championed us to write the feature since we made the short.”

Jules T-Smith, formerly creative executive at Fragile Films/Ealing Studios, added: “This film represents so much of what Sweet As A stands for. In the current market there is a real desire from audiences to find interesting female-driven, unique British films and Stalking Ben Chadz is just that. Having known and worked with Montserrat since 2009 when we met on St Trinian’s 2, I am excited to be the producer she has chosen to develop her script with.”

Smith’s slate includes dance-comedy Out of Step written by Tony Hamilton-Shannon and Ineligible Bachelors about five friends preparing for a wedding in North Carolina, which is also written by Hamilton-Shannon with Tuck Lawson.