JUNE 2024
THE GRADE IS ON
Colourist Faith Millin is currently working her magic on new Park the Bus documentary feature film, Going To The Dogs, due to be completed in early July. The film takes an in-depth look at greyhound racing, which at one time in the mid twentieth century was the second most popular sport in the UK. What does it represent to people? Why has it declined so dramatically? Why are charities campaigning to have it banned and most crucially to those within it - does the sport they love, with a passion, have a future?
MARCH 2024
PLATFORMS FOR ANIMALS
Award winning short film, Animals, is available to watch, free of charge, on Directors Notes and Framelight TV
FEBRUARY 2024
LUCY LATEST
Congratulations to Lucy Clark, one of the “stars” of Park the Bus film, In The Middle, who, having become footballs first Transgender Referee, has swapped her pink fox forty whistle to become manager of Sutton United’s women’s team. In doing so she will become the first transgender woman to be appointed as a manager in the top five divisions of English women's football. Lucy becomes manager at a time when the place of transgender women in women's football has come under intense scrutiny. A group of 48 MPs and 27 peers recently signed a letter urging the Football Association to change its rules on transgender inclusion to "protect women and girls”. However that is focused more on players. In the dugout, greater diversity of gender is common across women's football. Lucy says she has overwhelmingly received support following her appointment, including messages of congratulations from officials of other teams in Sutton's division. "I transitioned while I was a referee, and people don't like referees," she said. "There is nothing anyone can say to me that I haven't heard or seen already from when I came out. There's already been a few of the Twitter warriors who have said their piece, I let them crack on. I've been known as the trans referee, and that's gone fine. Sometimes the words can get to you, but I'm thick skinned - I hit the block button and get on with it. I'm prepared to deal with any abuse should it happen, so we crack on. I'm not going to stop doing something I love because of who I am.
FRAMELIGHT TV
We’re delighted to announce that short film, Animals, will be released online on Framelight TV on April 2nd 2024
DIRECTORS NOTES
We’re delighted to announce that short film, Animals, will be released online on Directors Notes, following an online Premiere on the website on March 19th 2024.
JANUARY 2024
ITM ON FREEVEE
In addition to being available to watch on demand on various platforms we’re delighted to announce that In The Middle is now available on Freevee.
DECEMBER 2023
TFM ON FREEVEE
In addition to being available to watch on demand on various platforms - we’re delighted to announce that The Football Monologues is now available on Freevee.
KOC AVAILABLE NOW
Remote Control Car Racing Documentary, King Of Clubs, is available now to watch on demand at Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube Film & TV.
NOVEMBER 2023
ANIMALS IN NAPLES
We're delighted to announce that short film “Animals” has been selected for the 2023 International Sport Film Festival in Naples, Italy, at the end of the month.
OCTOBER 2023
THOUGHT PROVOKING
Producer and Director, Greg Cruttwell, was in Bilbao, on October 12th, for the screening of his Park the Bus film, In The Middle, at the superbly organised, thought provoking, Thinking Football Film Festival. The world could do with more football festivals like this one which is backed by Athletic Club of Bilbao, a unique football club with an incredible history.
SEPTEMBER 2023
CONNOR WINS AWARD
We're delighted to announce that Connor Porter, in Park the Bus film, “Animals”, has won the Best Performance Award at The Short Focus Film Festival. It’s the first acting award for Connor, who is not long out of Drama School. The fist of many, we hope!
KOC ON VOD
Remote Control Car Racing Documentary, King Of Clubs, will be released on VOD on December 4th. Completed in 2022, the film follows a group of racers as they compete over the summer months of 2021, on different tracks in the South of England, all aiming to be crowned the King.
ANIMALS IN LOWESTOFT
We're delighted to announce that short film “Animals” has been selected for the 2023 Lowestoft Film Festival in October.
ANIMALS IN PALERMO
We're delighted to announce that short film “Animals” has been selected for the 2023 Paladino d’Oro Sports Film Festival in Palermo in November. This fantastic festival is where feature documentary "In The Middle” won the Best Screenplay Award in 2022.
AUGUST 2023
IN THE MIDDLE IN BILBAO
We are delighted to announce that “In The Middle” will be screened at The Thinking Football Film Festival in Bilbao, Spain, on Thursday October 12th.
FESTIVALS FOR ANIMALS
We're delighted to announce that short film, Animals, the latest release from Park the Bus, has been selected for the Lytham International Film Festival in August. the Short Focus Film Festival in September and the Aesthetica Short Film Festival in November. More news on these and other festivals to follow.
JULY 2023
HOLLYWOOD & FULHAM
Park the Bus are delighted to be releasing a new six part radio series, Hollywood & Fulham, on this website - RADIO - Written and performed by Greg Cruttwell, made in association with Guiltfree and Head Gear Films, the programme is a memoir about Gregs' experiences acting in Hollywood and following Fulham FC. The first episode will be released on Thursday July 27th. The further five episodes will follow on the following five Thursdays. The programme will also be available on Spotify.
MAY 2023
BUS ON THE MOVE
Park the Bus, originally parked in Peckham Rye, has moved out of London. It's now parked in the stunningly picturesque, but slightly less vibrant, Aldringham Cum Thorpe, in Suffolk. Whilst the surrounding area may be tranquil however the company is more vibrant than ever with projects such as ‘Going To The Dogs”, pictured above, in production and a full slate of others in development.
APRIL 2023
WHEEL CLAMPERS
Bookmakers, such as those pictured above, are normally the first to arrive and last to leave for a night at the races. "We’re as popular as wheel clampers", said Robert Dunn of RD Racing, in an interview for new Park the Bus documentary, “Going To The Dogs”, currently in production, which takes an in depth look into the fascinating, controversial world of Greyhound Racing.
MEDIA RELEASE
We are delighted to announce that Park the Bus has recruited exhibition and distribution agency Tull Stories’ Jonny Tull to lead on film distribution and film sector liaison for our slate of sports-related projects.
Jonny Tull will support Park the Bus in the role of Film Development and Distribution Director. He will lead on sales for Park the Bus’ recent release, the documentary, In The Middle, which was released in the UK theatrically in March, and which will make its bow on UK TVOD in May. The film has seen a flurry of interest from other territories following its UK release, and sparked discussion and debate in the UK and around the world about the treatment of football referees in the game.
Tull Stories and Park the Bus first worked together on the 2021 Park the Bus feature, The Football Monologues, which was released theatrically in October 2021 and on UK TVOD in April 2022.
Greg Cruttwell, Founder of Park the Bus said:
“I’m delighted that Jonny is taking on this new role, which entails working closely on all projects for Park the Bus. He has a real understanding of my work and how best to get it to as wide an audience as possible. He’s done top work on my projects so far and I’m excited to have him heavily involved in all new ones going forward”.
Jonny Tull, Founder of Tull Stories said:
"This is the natural progression for what has been a fruitful, fun and exciting learning curve for Tull Stories and Park the Bus since we first worked together in 2021. We’ve seen such a glowing response to Greg’s authentic, insightful filmmaking style and considerable interest from the UK and other territories, so we are excited about where we can take these brilliant projects”.
MARCH 2023
ITM RELEASE
In The Middle will be released theatrically, in the UK, on March 31st 2023 and on VOD on May 1st. For further details visit the Release page on the In The Middle film website.
ANIMALS POSTER
Here is the poster for the latest Park the Bus production, Animals, a short film about about a young man, in his early twenties, who can’t come to terms with what happened to his dad after a football match that he would normally have been at with him.
GOING TO THE DOGS
Filming has begun on a new Park the Bus documentary which takes an in depth look into the fascinatingly controversial world of Greyhound Racing, a sport which at one time in the last century, in the UK, was second only to football in its popularity.
SUPPORTING THE REFS
Park the Bus are delighted to announce that the release of feature documentary, In The Middle, will be in support of The Referees Association Benevolent Fund.
FEBRUARY 2023
ANIMALS ALL DONE
Short film, Animals, the second drama and fourth production from Park the Bus, is now complete. Festival and distribution announcements will follow soon.
BBC RADIO 4
Greg Cruttwell was on the iconic Radio 4 Today Programme on Tuesday February 8th being interviewed about In The Middle, which is due for release on March 31st.
JANUARY 2023
IN THE GRADE
Animals, our new short film, written and directed by Greg Cruttwell and starring newcomer, Connor Porter, has been in the grade in January. Colourist, Faith Millin, who recently did King Of Clubs for Park the Bus is pictured above, hard at work in her basement base at post-production facility, Wash, with the film’s DOP and Editor, Nathan Webber, who shot and edited both The Football Monologues and In The Middle for PtB.
DECEMBER 2022
KING OF CLUBS ON YOUTUBE
We were delighted with the limited test release of King Of Clubs on You Tube. It aired for a month and received over 6,000 views. The response to it was fantastic.
Comments posted online included:
"Absolutely loved watching that. Really important message at the end about getting the younger generations involved.”
"Well done! The film had a great motivational feel to it.”
"This was such a brilliantly put together film…..and truly shows why so many of us love RC and love RC racing. Sublime effort by all."
"Fantastic entertainment to watch and very well edited.”
"What a wonderful film. I remember Olly and Chris from back in the day when they were young up and coming stars racing on tracks up north.”
"Great film.. Makes me want to get involved.”
"Awesome film. Awesome RC racing."
"Great film. Hope it’s not the last one on the topic.”
NOVEMBER 2022
PTB DOUBLE IN CARDIFF
Two Park the Bus films, In The Middle and The Football Monologues, will be screening at the Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff in the last week of November. The screenings of In The Middle are previews, as part of a World Cup special, with the film due to be released theatrically in Spring 2023.
IN THE MIDDLE, Saturday 26th & Wednesday 30th November, www.chapter.org/whats-on/film/preview-in-the-middle/9010
THE FOOTBALL MONOLOGUES, Sunday 27th November, www.chapter.org/whats-on/film/the-football-monologues-15/9020
FIRST AWARD FOR PARK THE BUS
We are delighted to announce that In The Middle won the Best Screenplay Award at the 42nd Paladino d’Oro Sports Film Festival in Palermo, Sciliy on November 13th. Greg Cruttwell, the film’s producer and director, picked up the award, which is the first won by Park the Bus.
KING OF CLUBS PREMIERE
The film premiere for King Of Clubs will be on YouTube on Saturday November 19th at 8pm. The trailer is also available on the same platform.
KING OF CLUBS WEBSITE
A new website for remote control car racing documentary, King Of Clubs, is available to view at - www.kingofclubsfilm.co.uk
RC VISION
Park the Bus are delighted to be working with Andy Hyde of RC Vision - www.rcvision.co.uk - Andy is co-ordinating the online release and distribution of King Of Clubs - www.kingofclubsfilm.co.uk
AR:PR
Park the Bus are delighted to be working with Alex Rowley of AR:PR, who is handling PR & Marketing for PtB documentaries, In The Middle - www.inthemiddlefilm.co.uk and King Of Clubs - www.kingofclubsfilm.co.uk
OCTOBER 2022
SHOOTING COMPLETED ON NEW FILM
Filming on new Park the Bus short film, Animals, took place in Suffolk and London in October. It’s been written and directed by Greg Cruttwell and filmed by Nathan Webber. The central character is played by newcomer, Connor Porter, who is fresh out of drama school at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
FREELANCE OPPORTUNITY
Park the Bus is looking for a dynamic PR and social media marketing freelancer to support their ongoing programme of new work. We specialise in sports-related drama and documentaries, aiming to tell highly original, unique stories. The support required will be ongoing but not necessarily on a weekly basis. Regular catch ups however will be needed. It will span support for theatrical distribution, VOD releases, TV sales, at home and internationally and building up as much awareness as possible of Park the Bus’s slate of productions. We anticipate that this work will be an average retainer of minimum one day per month, rising at busier times. Initial contract will be for six months, and the fee is £250 per day. Find out more about Park the Bus and apply here.
SEPTEMBER 2022
THIRD PRODUCTION COMPLETED
Remote Control Car Racing documentary, King Of Clubs, is now complete. It’s the third production from Park the Bus and the second to be completed in 2022. Distribution announcements will follow soon.
AUGUST 2022
CONTINUED SPONSOR
Park the Bus is delighted to be a continued Sponsor of grassroots football club Balham FC. The club, who play at Step 5 in the football league ladder, has produced many top young players. They include, Fabio Carvalho (pictured above), who went from Balham to Fulham and is now at Liverpool.
JULY 2022
PALADINO D’ORO
We are delighted to announce that, In The Middle, has been selected for the 42nd Paladino d'Oro Sport Film Festival. It takes place in Palermo from November 7th - 13th and is the oldest Sports Film Festival in the world.
NEW WEBSITE
A new website for feature documentary, In The Middle, is available to view here. It has been created and designed by George Johnson who also created the Park the Bus website and one for the company’s first production, The Football Monologues.
JUNE 2022
KICK OFF FILM FESTIVAL
We are thrilled that The Football Monologues will be shown at the Kick Off Film Festival, Ireland's first ever football-dedicated film festival. The event will take place between July 22nd-24th at Newry City FC. For further information click here and for tickets to see The Football Monologues and other films being screened click here
TULL DISTRIBUTOR AGAIN
We’re delighted to announce that Jonny Tull - www.tullstories.co.uk - will be providing UK Distribution support for our recently completed grassroots football match officials documentary, In The Middle. Jonny has done a great job for Park the Bus in the same capacity on The Football Monologues.
MAY 2022
TYNESIDE SCREENING
The Football Monologues will be screening at the Tyneside Cinema on Tuesday July 12th. It will be followed by a Q&A with writer/director Greg Cruttwell. The film is also available to view via this website on a variety of platforms..
You can buy tickets for the Tyneside screening here
COMPLETE
Grassroots football match officials documentary, In The Middle, is now complete. Distribution announcements to follow soon.
APRIL 2022
VOD RELEASE
The Football Monologues was made available to rent or buy on five platforms as of Monday April 4th. To watch it on demand click here - www.thefootballmonologues.co.uk/watch-on-demand
FEBRUARY 2022
GUILTFREE PODCAST
We’re delighted to announce that Park the Bus has joined forces with Nic Cosenza and Chris Morris at Guiltfree to develop and produce a new podcast series, based on a life in football memoir written by Greg Cruttwell.
LOCK ON DOC
The picture has finally been locked on grassroots football match officials doc In The Middle which is now in the capable hands of Stef Perry at Framestore for the grade, George Castle for sound and Paul Cartledge at Yellowboat for music.
JANUARY 2022
BREWERY ARTS KENDAL
Supporters of Newcastle United, Carlisle United and Wrexham were amongst those who asked questions in the post screening Q&A at the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal where The Football Monologues was screened on Friday January 28th. The film is due to be released on VOD in early April.
THE THREE AMIGOS
It was the last official day of filming on January 10th for remote control car racing documentary King Of Clubs. The Three Amigos Production Team of Greg Cruttwell, Peter Hayes and Andy Hyde gathered at the Hyde residence, in Hampton, to get Andy on camera reviewing the King Of Clubs event, which he ended up organising.
DECEMBER 2021
BAFTA Q&A
The Football Monologues was entered into the BAFTA film awards in November 2021. Click on the poster to watch a Q&A with writer and director Greg Cruttwell, recorded for BAFTA members.
FREE KICKS & STREET LEAGUE
It was great to meet Steve and Nilesh from the Free Kicks Foundation - Free Kicks Foundation - and Robyn and Haddy from Street League - Street League - at the ArtHouse Crouch End Screening of The Football Monologues. Both charities are doing excellent work and we were delighted to have them as part of an event that we’re very pleased went ahead despite being hit by Covid.
NOVEMBER 2021
CHARITY SCREENING AT CROUCH END
We're delighted to be bringing The Football Monologues to Art House Crouch End in London on Tuesday December 14th. The screening is at 8pm and it will be followed by a Q&A with writer/director Greg Cruttwell and members of the film’s cast.
The event is being held in partnership with four grassroots football charities who will be present on the night.
Our charity partners are:
You can buy tickets for the screening at Arthouse Crouch End HERE.
OCTOBER 2021
GUARDIAN REVIEW
Another nice review for The Football Monologues in The Guardian.
SECOND REVIEW
The second review for The Football Monologues is out and we're delighted that it's another 4 star one.
FIRST REVIEW
The first-ever review for The Football Monologues and for a Park the Bus production is out. We’re delighted that Total Film has given it 4 stars.
SEPTEMBER 2021
A SPLINTER OF ICE
Stephen Boxer, who plays Gordon in The Football Monologues, can be seen playing Soviet spy Kim Philby in "A Splinter Of Ice" at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London in October - www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk - Emma Amos, who plays Kimberly, can also be seen on tour, at Richmond Theatre, in "The Dresser", with Matthew Kelly and Julian Clary.
AUGUST 2021
SPONSORSHIP
Park the Bus is delighted to be a sponsor of grassroots football club Balham FC - www.balhamfc.com - Founded in 2001 as Balham Blazers, with one Under 10 team. the club currently has age group teams from Under 7 upwards, a flourishing girls and women's section and a Senior Team who. following five promotions in six years, play at semi professional level in the Combined Counties League as well as in the FA Cup and FA Vase. The Blazers have been London FA Charter Standard Community Club of the Year three times and Wandsworth Sports Club of the Year four times.
THE ONLY CONCERN
There were no thoughts of ice lollies, flip flops and putting a toe in the water at the fifth and final race meet of an enthralling King of Clubs series, which took place at Adur Motor Racing Club in Shoreham-by-Sea on Sunday August 15th. The only concern was four wheel speed on the track and attempting to finish on top of the podium at the end of the day when it mattered most to be there.
JULY 2021
TRAILER AND POSTER
Check out the trailer for The Football Monologues which is now available to view - Trailer - The final poster, which features all seven characters, has also been completed.
BACK IN CONTENTION
There was more epic remote control car racing at the fourth meet in the King Of Clubs series at the West London track on Sunday, July 18th. Chris Grainger, thirteen times a National Champion. was back in contention having not performed as he’d hoped to do in the previous rounds.
ROCKET RON
We are very sad to report that the legend that was “Rocket” Ron Clarkson, 60 years a match official in grassroots football, died on July 13th. Warm-hearted and unassuming he was the inspiration behind, In The Middle, our grassroots football match officials documentary which is currently in post-production. Here is a teaser for the doc, which is all about The Rocket - Teaser
JUNE 2021
NEW WEBSITE FOR TFM
Check out the new website for Park the Bus feature film, The Football Monologues, which is due to be released in the UK in October - www.thefootballmonologues.co.uk
ICE COOL OLLY
Ice cool X-Ray racer Olly Jeffries was in fine form going into the third race meet of the King Of Clubs series at Colchester on June 27th. As always he arrived the day before to prep his cars, setting up his caravan with pitman and best friend, Marcus Askell, as close to the track as possible.
MAY 2021
FASHIONISTA
There’s no doubt that the fashionista in Aldershot on Sunday May 16th, at Race 1 of the King Of Clubs series, was contender, Harley Eldridge, who was seen throughout the day in an Yves St Laurent face mask.
APRIL 2021
NEW DOC
We are delighted to announce that Park the Bus is teaming up with videographer, Peter Hayes - www.hazephotography.london - to make a documentary about remote control car racing. It will follow five racers, on and off the track, as they compete to become the King Of Clubs.
MARCH 2021
IFA LONDON
We’re delighted to announce that The Football Monologues is a semi-finalist for the Best Drama Award at the 2021 Independent Film Awards, London.
ITM LATEST
Editor, Nathan Webber, continues to work through the footage for grassroots football match officials doc, In The Middle. It’s the longest part of the process but good progress is being made.
FEBRUARY 2021
TFM RELEASE
We’re delighted to announce that cinema and arts consultant Jonny Tull - www.jonnytull.co.uk - will be handling festival support, sales and UK distribution for The Football Monologues.
FESTIVALS
The Football Monologues is an official selection for The Montreal Independent Film Festival and has received an honourable mention for the London International Monthly Film Festival.
JANUARY 2021
THE GOLD MOVIE AWARDS
We're delighted to announce that Siobhan Bevan, who plays Lucy in The Football Monologues, has been nominated as a semi finalist for The Gold Movie Awards -https://www.goldmovieawards.com - which take place in London in August. She’s been nominated as Best Actress.
TFM POSTER
There are seven different versions of The Football Monologues poster featuring each of the characters in it. They have been designed by Faye Davies who also designed the Park the Bus logos.