Honeytrap: Case Study

A brixton-set drama about a 15-year-old girl, Layla (Jessica Sula) whose desperate need for acceptance leads her to take part in a tragic act of violence. She was living in Trinidad before returning home to her estranged mother in Brixton where she is faced with settling into a new home and a new city. Unsupported by her mother and rejected by her female peers, she is drawn to Troy, who marks her as his 'Trini-Princess.' When that seems to fail, she takes comfort in a friendship with Shaun, another admirer, where desperate needs lead to a tragic betrayal of kindness. Director Rebecca Johnson was actually inspired by a real life case and explores gang culture from a girl's perspective.

Genre: Urban Drama 

Director: Rebecca Johnson (and writer) 

Rebecca has been making short films with young people in Brixton for the last 10 years with the company Fierce Productions. She uses drama workshops to generate material and and to achieve incredible performances by young actors. In 2010, Rebecca was awarded development funding from the UK Film Council (not British Film Institute) to write the script for Honeytrap. 

Rebecca Johnson said: "The urban genre has not been explored from the female perspective before and it's time this side of the story was told. Jessica is a rare talent who will bring Layla to searing life. I'm very excited to have found her."

Producers: Sarah Sullick and Amy Ricker

Editor: John Dwelly 

Running time: 93 minutes (1 hour and 33 minutes) 

UK Distribution: Anchor Bay 

Released in the UK on 17th october 2014 at the London Film Festival 

Production companies are Bright Pictures and Creativity Capital (in association with) and Finite Films. Honeytrap will be a co-production between Bright Pictures and Fierce Productions, drawing on both companies' networks and expertise. The film location for this small independent film is Brixton, London, England, UK. 

Fierce Productions have been awarded £20,000 towards Honeytrap's Training and Mentoring Programme from South London trust the Walcot Foundation. 

Main stars: Jessica Sula, Lucien Laviscount, Ntonga Mwanza, Naomi Ryan 

Jessica Sula, Lucien Laviscount, Ntonga Mwanza and Naomi Ryan

Official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHfCeClJEFI

Website: http://www.fierceproductions.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeytrapfilm

The first public screening for Honeytrap took place at the Ritzy Cinema in Brixton as part of the BFI Film Festival and tickets sold out within 2 hours!