Writer/Director Lee Knight’s Brilliant Short A FRIEND OF DOROTHY: In-Depth Film Interview/Breakdown

My guest today is Lee Knight, an actor, writer, and director with a passion for storytelling across stage & screen.  As an actor, Lee recently appeared as Rosencrantz alongside Sir Ian McKellen in 'Hamlet' on Amazon Prime, 'Vigil 2' on BBC1, 'The Stolen Girl' on Disney+ and the upcoming series ‘Talamasca’ on ABC+.

His other screen credits include 'Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire', 'Sherlock', 'The Last Letter from Your Lover', 'The Trial of Christine Keeler’, and BBC’s 'The North Water’. As a writer, his sitcom pilot 'The Gym' reached the semi-finals of the BBC Comedy Writer’s Room, and his first short stage piece, No More Doughnuts, was selected for the Make It Beautiful New Writing Festival in 2021, which he also directed.

We are here today to talk about one of the most spectacular short films I’ve seen this year, ’A Friend of Dorothy’ marks his debut as a short film writer/director.

Ladies and gentlemen, you can feel the love coming off the screen when you see the wonderful Miriam Margolyes. A veteran of theater and the silver screen, her portrayal of Dorothy is so natural you want to adopt her right on the spot. She brings the element of love, acceptance, and a mentoring spirit. Attributes we need to receive and start giving to others. We all need to be Dorothys.

Alistair Nwachukwu plays JJ, a somewhat footballer, but who’s hidden desire to act comes forward when Dorothy starts to feed the little seed inside him. She fertilizes it and she’s the potential and I am not going to spoil the ending, so you’ have to see for yourself how one person can make a difference.

A FRIEND OF DOROTHY is the type of short film that the BAFTAs and the Academy love. It’s heartwarming, endearing and most of all, leaves a lasting impression on the audience to be better people.

Lee, thank you and I want to give a quick shoutout to Max Marlow for sending me the screener so we could talk about this incredible film. One of my favorites of the year. #friendship #mentorship #film #filmmaker #cinema #shortfilm #filmmaker #movie #bondoncinema #filmfestival #entertainment #cinephile #cinematography #theater