extraordinary lives
hippoboy & jeremy tapsill
Extraordinary
Lives is the latest Troika+ production. A series of six spoof
‘shock docs’. Written by David & Tom Howell and directed by
Ricardo Lacombe and Lee Civico-Cambell.
The series explores the lives of some of the strangest and most shocking people found in Britain. The Extraordinary Lives test material has now been completed. Combining two shortened episodes into one compelling pilot.
‘Hippoboy: The Worlds Most Modern Freak’ is the story of John
Carter, a 15 year old boy suffering from a rare condition known as Neurofibromatosis
more commonly referred to as ‘that thing the Elephant Man had’.
John just wants to be normal and have the life changing surgery that modern
medicine can offer him. The only problem being the magazine deals and TV
documentaries his parents are arranging. Johns father assures the doctors
that John has fans to think off and surgery is unthinkable, but with social
services becoming involved in the case can their profiteering last much longer?
Just as Johns plight appears to be improving, a sinister figure known as
the Circus Master Seamus O’Reilly makes contact with the Carter family
through an underground ‘freak’ chat room. Before long the Circus
Master announces himself as Hippoboy’s agent and arranges an appearance
on Britain’s third best daytime chat show – The Jeremy Tapsill
show. How this illiterate Irish freak master and Tarmac operative manages
to arrange an appearance on national TV with such ease is a baffling question
for everyone concerned.
‘Jeremy Tapsill: The World's Most controversial TV Host’ is an undercover investigation into the Jeremy Tapsill show and the people pulling the strings behind the scenes. During the making of the Hippoboy documentary a researcher on the show approached the production team offering to blow the whistle on the dubious methods and deception used to con the viewing public.
Kate Martin is the undercover journalist chosen to infiltrate the team
behind the show. It all seems so easy when she applies for a job as Jeremy
Tapsill's PA, but when, during her interview, she is invited to “get
really lesbian” with another researcher on the show, she realizes this
could be the hardest thing she has ever got her teeth into.
As Kate shamelessly flatters Jeremy’s ego she manages to get some
amazing confessions of alcoholism, parental neglect, fraud and other criminal
activities. Who is really behind it though? Is it Jeremy himself or ‘King
of Extreme TV’ Scottish producer Alex Phillips?
Kate's investigation
is abruptly interrupted when Jeremy’s uncle receives
a tip off that she is an undercover Journalist. Her cover compromised,
Kate attempts to take her evidence to the relevant authorities. A Flymo wielding
Irish psychopath is the only thing that stands in her way.
hippoboy Cast & Crew
Written by David Howell and Tom Howell
Produced by Lee Civico-Cambell and Ricardo Lacombe
Starring
John Carter - Chris Boydell
Alan Carter - Jim Caroll
Val Carter - Sarah Brown
Seamus O'Reilly - Paul Cambell
The Doctor - Karolyn Davis
Jenny (Researcher) - Alex Adams
Jeremy Tapsill - Tom Howell
Camera
Ricardo Lacombe
Sound Recording / Crew Assist
Sally Dalziel
Sound Design
Ricardo Lacombe
"Ballad Of John Carter" by Geoff Walsh (Outroads)
Visual FX
Ricardo Lacombe
Editing
Ricardo Lacombe
Directed by Ricardo Lacombe and Lee Civico-Cambell
Jeremy Tapsill Cast & Crew
Written by David Howell and Tom Howell
Produced by Lee Civico-Cambell and Ricardo Lacombe
Starring
Jeremy Tapsill - Tom Howell
Kate Martin - Jill Hirst
Laura - Heather Simmons
Seamus O'Reilly - Paul Cambell
Alex Phillips - Lee Civico-Cambell
Sandra Tapsill - Joey Ramone
Researcher 1 - Rachael Todd
Researcher 2 - Richard Somerville
Autograph Hunter 1 - David Howell
Autograph Hunter 2 - Judy Kimani
Abusive Pedestrain - Ricardo Lacombe
Camera
Ricardo Lacombe
Sally Dalziel
Jill Hirst
Sound Recording
Sally Dalziel
Sound Design
Ricardo Lacombe
Makeup
Layla Kippax
Paul Cambell
"Tapsill Show" Rap
BULLETZ aka Mr Blitz
Editing
Ricardo Lacombe
Visual FX
Ricardo Lacombe
Directed by Ricardo Lacombe