A Short Film About John Bolton
American DVD Cover
Directed by	Neil Gaiman
Produced by	Matthew Vaughn David Reid Adam Bohling
Written by	Neil Gaiman
Starring	Pat O'Mahoney Marcus Brigstocke
Music by	Chris Ewan
Cinematography	John Pardue
Editing by	David Martin
Released	July 2003 (US) April 2003 (UK)
Language	English
IMDb profile

A Short Film About John Bolton is a 2003 film written and directed by Neil Gaiman. The film takes the form of a fictional television piece on real-life artist John Bolton (but played in the film by actor John O'Mahony). It was released direct to video, along with several bonus features. Neil Gaiman (November 2004) Neil Richard Gaiman () (born November 10, 1960, Portchester, Hampshire) is an English Jewish author of numerous science fiction and fantasy works, including many comic books. ... Matthew Vaughn (born 7 March 1971) is a film producer (Layer Cake, Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels among others), director (Layer Cake) and husband of Claudia Schiffer, whom he married in 2002. ... Neil Gaiman (November 2004) Neil Richard Gaiman () (born November 10, 1960, Portchester, Hampshire) is an English Jewish author of numerous science fiction and fantasy works, including many comic books. ... Marcus Brigstocke is a British comedian and satirist who has worked extensively in stand-up comedy, television and radio. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2003. ... This is a list of film-related events in 2003. ... Neil Gaiman (November 2004) Neil Richard Gaiman () (born November 10, 1960, Portchester, Hampshire) is an English Jewish author of numerous science fiction and fantasy works, including many comic books. ... An illustration by John Bolton John Bolton (1951, London) is a comic book artist and illustrator most known for his dense, painted style - often verging on the photoreal or resembling an oil painting. ... A film that is released direct-to-video (also straight-to-video) is one which has been released to the public on home video formats (historically VHS) first rather than first being released in movie theaters. ...

Synopsis

One of the Bolton paintings on display

In a posh London gallery, Carolyn Dalgleish (Carolyn Backhouse) prepares a showing of the latest works by John Bolton; disturbing portraits of beautiful, vicious vampiric women. The Interviewer (Marcus Brigstocke) collects information on Bolton, who seems to purplex those who work with him and collect his art (like radio personality Jonathan Ross (playing himself)). Image File history File links Download high resolution version (500x685, 24 KB) Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (500x685, 24 KB) Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Marcus Brigstocke is a British comedian and satirist who has worked extensively in stand-up comedy, television and radio. ... Jonathan Ross OBE (born November 17, 1960, Leytonstone, London, England) is a British television and radio presenter and film critic. ...

Bolton appears to review the placement of the paintings before the opening. Eccentric and detached, Bolton is uncomfortable with the amount of attention being paid to him. Forced to give a speech at that evening's party (where guests include the real John Bolton in a cameo appearance), Bolton quietly states that he simply "paints what he sees."

Following the gala, Bolton is interviewed at home by Brigstocke. Bolton again proves elusive with answers about his art, though he does (reluctantly) agree to have his work habits filmed for the first time (though only by the Interviewer, working without his crew).

As dusk approaches, Bolton takes the Interviewer to his studio, located in the basement of an ancient monestary and graveyard. As the hours drag on, Bolton shows no signs of getting started (he says he is waiting), and the Interviewer finally leaves. Filming himself as he walks out of the graveyard, the Interviewer spots two ghostly women (one with zebra stripes running up her leg) moving towards him. The camera falls to the ground, and the film closes on Bolton's latest work: a pale woman, with zebra stripes running up her leg, feasting on human flesh.

Trivia

• Gaiman claimed to have gotten the idea for the film after writing an introduction to a collection of Bolton's art, which took the form of a fictional biography of the artist.
• Bolton gave permission for the fictional film, and not only provided all of the paintings shown in the movie, but painted a new one based on the film's finale.
• The zebra stripes on the woman's leg are actually a tattoo.

External links

A Short Film About John Bolton at The Internet Movie Database The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) [1] is an online database of information about actors, movies, television shows, television stars and video games. ...