The British Film Institute (BFI) funded a Watford man’s short film based on his experience of an assault near Watford Junction.

Matt Hass, a photographer who grew up in the town, took a very different venture when creating his first script in 2019.

‘POLE’ is described as a 15-minute revenge drama and was filmed exclusively in North Watford – mainly at Garnett Close - to depict the tale of a metropolitan couple who begin to get attacked in a small suburb.

Watford Observer: Matt HassMatt Hass (Image: Matt Hass)

From there a “man with no name” saves the two in the black-and-white film.

The BFI held a preview screening of POLE at the Soho Screening Rooms in central London on Wednesday (September 28) as Mr Hass has his eyes set to showcase his production at various film festivals.

Describing the inspiration behind the film, he said: “I saw an altercation at Watford Junction station in 2019, and I’m quite an awkward guy, never had a fight. I felt totally powerless as a gang set upon this couple and the couple.

“I think there was some sort of other reason for the tension between the two people. I remember sitting there as an observer and when I got off Watford Junction I called my friend straight up who’s a composer, and I said for the first time in my life I’m going to write something because of a reaction – my artistic reaction to something.

“I’m going to turn it into a piece of art because I was unable to get involved or help.”

Watford Observer: Behind the scenes of the filmBehind the scenes of the film (Image: UGC)

After writing the script together in a weekend, he submitted it to the BFI for script development and it was submitted for funding.

Shot in two days, the “new-wave” inspired film is said to take on a Western genre.

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Mr Hass said: “I’m a massive film nerd, to say that is an understatement. I looked at genre structures very closely and there are rules to writing narratives and you have to follow the rules. The film itself takes on a traditional style of a Western, there’s a couple out of town who arrive to a town just outside of a city.

“One of the big inspirations is Brexit – the violence in the film is simply a device to highlight my feelings of Brexit and how immigrants are treated in this country.”

The first-time scriptwriter explained he was in awe seeing the project come together when working with editor Simon Willcox and producer Richard Parry.

POLE features some notable names such as David Schaal, known for his roles in The Office (UK) and The Inbetweeners.

Now thrilled from working on POLE, Mr Hass is already working on other film projects.

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