Good Boy is a 2023 short comedy drama film. It is written and directed by Tom Stuart, and starring Ben Whishaw and Marion Bailey. Good Boy premiered at Leeds International Film Festival. It was shortlisted for Best Live Action Short Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
Contents
Premise
Out of money and out of luck, Danny (Whishaw) is determined to turn his life around, but the interventions of his anarchic mum (Bailey) and the reappearance of figures from his past threaten to derail him at every turn.
Cast
Ben Whishaw as Danny
Marion Bailey as Jackie
Dino Fetscher as Leon
Paul Chahidi as Doctor
Jocelyn Jee Esien as Nurse
Mark Monero as Funeral Director
Wendy Nottingham as Vicar
Bettrys Jones as Surgeon
Tommy Belshaw as Pallbearer
Ephraim Sampson as Pallbearer
Production
The film is written and directed by Tom Stuart in his directorial debut. He has described the film as deeply personal. Stuart has explained that the film was his way of coping with the loss of his own mother, and help process his own feelings of grief. Kay Loxley, Max Marlow, Elettra Pizzi and Tom Stuart produce for 130 Elektra Films, with Alex Gonzalez, Gia Coppola and Goldcrest Films CEO Chris Quested executive producing alongside Emma Thompson. Filming took place on Worthy Farm, Somerset in April 2023.
Release
The film was given a preview screening at the 2023 Glastonbury Festival.