Production Team

Writer/Producer - Becky Simpson

This is Becky's first film and also her first forray into the complicated world of producing. She has been writing since she was a child and comes from a family already involved in the industry - both her parents are professional writers, her mother is also a producer. Becky initially took up acting at the age of 8 and did this along side writing for fun; but when she enrolled at Leeds University on a Creative Writing degree she gave up acting and decided to concentrate on writing full time. Aside from writing she is also in a rock n roll group The Wes Paul Band gigging every weekend all round the North West and touring once a year in America. Becky came up with the idea for Thinking Straight at Uni and is based on her own experiences. She's pleased with how the film turned out and is looking forward to making her next one. Becky enjoyed the experience of producing and would definitely do it again. She would also like to try her hand at directing.

Director - Ric Forster

Ric is both a writer and a director and had a long stint as storyliner on Hollyoaks where he also directed over 70 episodes of Hollyoaks Backstage (Channel 4). In 2008 he created, wrote and directed all twenty episodes of online series LOL. Ric's last short We Need To Talk was screened at Cannes Short Film Corner 2010 and his graduation short In The Name of Security was broadcast on BBC2 in 2007. Outside of drama, Ric has directed a number of behind the scenes docs for series such as Apparition s and Paradox (BBC). Ric currently lives in Australia, where he is working on a new video games series for ONE HD.

Executive Producer - Diane Whitley

Diane spent many years as an actress before taking up writing, then gradually making the transition to producing, which she now does alongside her writing. She formed her first company Bite Back Productions in 1995 which produced many successful dramas for Radio 4, as well as a short film Boom Boom Clap. In 1998 she moved into childrens television producing such series as Childrens Ward, Big Meg Little Meg, The Worst Witch, 24Seven & Girls In Love. More recently Diane's play Vegetable won Best of the Festival at Manchester's 24/7 Festival, and her first book My Nana Is An Alien has been published. She is also involved with the exciting theatre group JB Shorts, professional writers staging short plays upstairs in Manchester's Joshua Brooks pub. Diane saw the potential in the script of Thinking Straight and put up the cash to make the film.

Assistant Producer - Wes Paul Gerrard

Wes Paul spent many years as a technical author & web designer, writing specialist documents and programmes for large companies including the BBC. For the past 7 years he has also been an actor and has built up an extensive CV. His real passion is music and this was how he and Becky first met - at the Cavern Club in Liverpool where he was running a weekly 60s music night for Merseybeat musicians. Wes and Becky are now in The Wes Paul Band together and have been for the last 4 years. Wes is also a keen writer and him & Becky often write things together. Becky gave Wes the role of Assistant Producer knowing his ability to organise and schedule things affectively. Although it was Wes's first role as producer, together they make a very good team and on their next film will be working together as co-producers.

Director of Photography - Adam Etherington

Adam is an experienced London based DOP with an impressive CV for someone so early on in their career. His work has won awards and been featured at many festivals round the world. Adam takes great pride in his work and spends time preparing each shot to get the light and colour just right. We were all pleased with his work on Thinking Straight and he brought energy and vitality to the team. Adam shot on his own Red Cam One which brought a distinctive visual style to the film.