Bristol Evening Post, 26 June 1998, by Victoria Meakin
"Joy for Ash"
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FAT Chance - this was Bristol actor Paul McGann's comment on 
the potential of a TV commission to a company of actors. 

However, as Patrick Robinson's new short film *Monument* 
(shown last night HTV, 10.45pm) has shown us, where there's 
a will, there's a way. 

The Fat Chance production company was set up by a group of 
West Country-based actors including McGann, Tony Robinson 
and Sophie Ward. 

The company's first drama, *Monument*, which was written by 
James Helps and Bertel Martin and stars and is directed by 
Patrick Robinson (who played Ash in *Casualty*) has proved 
the doubters wrong. 

The drama, set in present-day Bristol, was premiered on 
Wednesday at Cineworld in Hengrove Leisure Park, and made 
its small-screen debut last night. 

This is the first stage for the Fat Chance crew, who are now 
hoping to have the film shown across the country, as well as 
entering it in several film festivals this year. 

The film also stars a host of well known faces such as John 
Telfer, Howard Goorney and Bill Wallis. However, the most 
surprising (but equally impressive) addition to the cast is 
HTV anchorwoman Sherrie Eugene. 

Sherrie plays the part of Robinson's frustrated and (most of 
the time) abandoned wife. 

As Patrick Robinson's directorial debut, the short film is 
an impressive depiction of the difficult issues that the 
slave trade still raises in the area. 

Robinson plays a TV journalist who attempts to broadcast his 
story of the excavation of The Jason, a possible slave ship 
found in the Bristol Channel. Patrick Robinson enthuses 
about his directorial debut, 

"From start to finish it was a joy, I have to admit. The 
project was very close to my heart. 

"When you work on something that you're very much involved 
with, you're not really thinking about money, you just want 
to get it on, and hopefully make it as good as you possibly 
can." 

*Monument* marks a definite move forward for both actors' 
companies and for Patrick Robinson, whose directorial debut 
certainly came up to scratch. 



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