Jus' Gaps
Live-action drama, UK, 2003
Director: Adrian Browne
Writer: Adrian Browne
Language: English
Colour:Colour
Runtime: 11 minutes
Short synopsis
A light-hearted comedy about how not to behave in a job interview.
Long synopsis
The relative calm of a barber's shop is pierced by Lucy's shrieked greeting. She is dressed in a suit and announces loudly and proudly that she is about to go to an interview for the post of receptionist at a sexual health clinic. Shakes, the proprietor, asks her about her current job in the shoe shop, and she tells him stories of all of the 'idiots' that come in. She also boasts about 'her man' Wiley, and the interview tips his sister has given her, before she confidently strides off to her interview.
The interview room is pokey and covered in sexual health advice posters, on one side of the table sit a man and a woman, and on the other sits Lucy. She explains that although she has no direct experience, working in a busy shoe shop requires similar skills. As she describes her methods of dealing with customers, flashbacks reveal the reality of her customer service skills. She appears proud and sure of herself.
While the woman interviewer is sympathetic and understanding, the man is stern and unimpressed. He is about to ask a question when Lucy's phone rings and she answers it. After hanging up she explains that it was her boyfriend and shows the interviewers a picture of Wiley. In disbelief, the male interviewer interrupts and asks Lucy how she would deal with the delicate nature of the position. Lucy's answers are tactless and insensitive.
Five days later Lucy is lying in bed surrounded by tissues and teddy bears crying into her phone. She is talking to her friend. Wiley has dumped her because she didn't get the job and she cusses too much. Despite clearly having flunked the interview, Lucy tells her friend she didn't get the job because she was overqualified.
Background information
About the film
Jus' Gaps is part of a series of three shorts entitled Step Up made by Adrian Browne. The Jus' Gaps episode was so well received at its test screening that Adrian decided to promote it as a short film in its own right, which resulted in Jus' Gaps being voted the audience's favourite short film at the Black Film Magazine festival, 2004. The film also won a best screenplay award for Adrian. The main character Lucy is played by Tameka Empson from the BBC Comedy series Three Non Blondes.
About the film-maker
Adrian Browne decided to make his first film after watching the films of Spike Lee. He attended Wandsworth College of Adult Education where he did a three-month practical film course during which he wrote Leaving, his first short film. After making several shorts, Adrian is currently promoting Sweet Obsession and a new Step Up episode entitled It's Gotta be Square.
Teaching materials and additional materials
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