Sheffield filmmaker jets to LA to film with Maggie Gyllenhaal

Sheffield film maker Kat Wood filming Home with Maggie Gyllenhaal

Kat Wood, from Charnock, was named along with two other finalists as the joint winner of the 2016 Jameson First Shot Contest – and was congratulated with a huge billboard outside Sheffield train station.

She said: “I was supposed to be meeting my friend from London and next thing I knew there was this billboard with my name on it outside the station. It was a bit of a shock because I genuinely thought I hadn’t won.

“On the Thursday I was told that I’d won and on the Saturday I was on my way to LA so it was a quick turnaround of events to say the least.

“I think when you get thrown into it you just have to swim in the deep end, so there was no time to think about it. I just want to make sure I make best film I can.”

Her film, ‘Home,’ which follows the story of a homeless woman called Ruth living on a beach, will star Maggie Gyllenhaal, known for her supporting role in Batman: The Dark Knight.

Kat, who used to work as a radio producer for BBC Radio Sheffield, spoke highly of the 38-year-old actress.

She said: “Maggie is really grounded and down-to-earth and very patient with her time. There have been no preconceptions surrounding her fame and she really has been wonderful to work with.

“The experience of having someone like Maggie in my film is important and it will hopefully allow me to develop my career further.”

Kat, who has worked as a screenwriter for the last two years, has already written a number of films including Mr Bojagi, which starred Brian Blessed, and most recently Arthur and Merlin.

However, this is her first foray into directing, a craft that she has been learning about over the past year.

Home will be produced by Trigger Street Productions – a company run by House of Cards actor Kevin Spacey and award-winning producer Dana Brunetti.

Kat has received support throughout her filmmaking career by The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund, who this year rewarded her with the John Brabourne Award and £5,000 in cash.

Home will be released on the Jameson First Shot website in late July.