IMPROPER Wraps

A Screenwriter's Journal

After six weeks of shooting, I am thrilled to say that Rick Roberts’s British Crime Thriller Improper Bastards has wrapped principal photography. Six weeks is an incredibly long shoot for a micro feature, but Rick and his fantastic cast and crew have pulled off an epic 120-page screenplay with many characters, locations, and moving parts on less than the catering budget of most films. It’s a hell of an achievement.

I drove down to the lovely town of Lewes on the Sussex coast on the 21st May and finally met Rick in person. Even though I have co-written Improper Bastards and the as-yet-unmade WWII action film Zero Hour with him, we hadn’t yet breathed the same air, so it was good to finally meet.

Rick and his wonderful crew were great, and it was lovely to meet some of the main cast and watch a couple of scenes being shot. I even got to shoot my little cameo as a Taxi Driver. I have one line. I wanted my character to be called Trevor Fickle, but I don’t think anyone got the joke.

The film now heads into post-production, although I think Rick will have a rough cut very soon, as his editor has been cutting away as they’ve been shooting. That’s the way to do it. I can’t wait to see what he’s got.

There were a few casting shake-ups during production, but a full cast rundown can be found on IMDb… and what a cast it is.

All these wonderful stills are by Stuart Bertie and Adam Hollingworth. The film was produced by Fire in the Hole Productions.

Got to say, it feels good to have this in the can and also have How to Survive the Wild heading for a 2026 release as well, all being well.

And before you ask, I don’t know what’s happening with The House on Lidderman Street. I seem to have fallen afoul to the age-old story of the director having his film completely taken away from him.

Swings and roundabouts, I suppose.

Onwards.

(me and director Rick Roberts, together at last)