How to Win Friends and Guinea Pig People
Filmed on a rainy day in February 2024, How to Win Friends and Guinea Pig People introduces Sandy, Kate and Collin as they discuss an invitation, a new friendship and a dead guinea pig.
Alice Murray (Sandy), Natalie Yates (Kate) and Joel Howard (Collin) star in the short comedy, directed and edited by Joseph Shepherd (Shepherd Creative).
The project was produced by Natalie Yates, as part of a collaboration between Evening Cat Productions and Shepherd Creative.
Cinematography by Timothy Saxby and sound mixed/edited by Jay Shute.
All marketing materials were created by Evening Cat Productions.
Shot in Barton-Upon-Humber.
Director's Thoughts
"I had such confidence in the actors and crew we had sourced to adopt a more actor-led approach to the shoot. Given that the script relies on fast-paced dialogue and individual performance, I opted for longer takes and a multi cam setup to maintain energy and encourage spontaneity "
- Joseph Shepherd, 2024
Awards and Selections
OFFICIAL SELECTION- Taiga, 2024
OFFICIAL SELECTION- Lift-Off Global Network First-Time Filmmaker Sessions July 2024
OFFICIAL SELECTION- Lift-Off First-Time Filmmaker Sessions 2024
OFFICIAL SELECTION- First-Time Filmmaker Sessions Hosted by @LiftOffGlobalNetwork 2024
OFFICIAL SELECTION- First-Time Filmmaker Sessions hosted by Lift-Off Global Network 2025
OFFICIAL SELECTION- First-Time Filmmaker Sessions Volume 8 2025
Laurels and Awards
Team Behind HTWFAGPP
MEET THE CAST
Kate
Collin
Sandy
Natalie Yates
Natalie started working professionally in theatre over ten years ago, touring the UK and performing at Ed Fringe as a teenager.
Since then, she's focused on screen, working extensively on short films. In recent months she's also done music videos, workshops and occasionally returned to theatre.
She's recently worked with NFTS
Natalie Yates
Natalie started working professionally in theatre over ten years ago, touring the UK and performing at Ed Fringe as a teenager.
Since then, she's focused on screen, working extensively on short films. In recent months she's also done music videos, workshops and occasionally returned to theatre.
She's recently worked with NFTS (Leeds and Wales), as well as on numerous shorts including In (Un)loving Memory and Requires Improvement.
Natalie also produced How to Win Friends and Guinea Pig People and most importantly got to clapperboard the entire film; although she's since vowed to give that responsibility to absolutely anyone else. Keeping up with updating the scene and take number at the same time as being an actor? Never going to be her specialism.
Sandy
Collin
Sandy
Alice Murray
Alice has been treading the boards for as long as she can remember. She made her professional acting debut on tour with 'Can't Touch This' in 2017, also working professionally as a movement director.
After a quick detour of 18 months teaching in China, Alice was ready to throw herself back into the business and has since been i
Alice Murray
Alice has been treading the boards for as long as she can remember. She made her professional acting debut on tour with 'Can't Touch This' in 2017, also working professionally as a movement director.
After a quick detour of 18 months teaching in China, Alice was ready to throw herself back into the business and has since been involved in a great deal of children's theatre, puppetry and pantomime.
Alongside this, Alice has been dabbling in screen work and is enjoying being involved in a variety of work.
Recent Screen Credits: Sandy in How to Win Friends and Guinea Pig People (Evening Cat Productions), Ava in Wrecked (Eski Media).
Recent Theatre Credits: Princess Jill in Jack and the Beanstalk (Grimsby Auditorium), Tinkerbell in Peter Pan tour and Kaa the Snake in The Jungle Book tour.
Collin
Collin
Collin
Joel Howard
Joel Howard enjoys working on new writing, and has recently been working with Derby Theatre for their Connect Up! Project due to go on tour later in the year.
Recent Credits: Firewall (Derby Theatre).
MEET THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Producer
Director of Photography
Producer
Natalie Yates is an actress and producer, based in North Lincolnshire, Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds and London. She regularly works on screen and most recently produced Messages, a short film by local writer Benjamin Peel which is currently on a festival run.
She also starred in How to Win Friends and Guinea Pig People, because why do one
Natalie Yates is an actress and producer, based in North Lincolnshire, Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds and London. She regularly works on screen and most recently produced Messages, a short film by local writer Benjamin Peel which is currently on a festival run.
She also starred in How to Win Friends and Guinea Pig People, because why do one role when you can do ten, right?
Natalie also worked on Requires Improvement, Evening Cat Productions' latest short, both as a producer and an actress. No, she doesn't sleep.
Director
Director of Photography
Producer
Joseph Shepherd is an up and coming, neurodiverse director from the North of England. He spent much of his early life on stage and in front of the camera, later on making the switch to production.
He has learned from directors such as Peter Cattaneo and has worked with a range of companies including the BBC and Netflix.
Director of Photography
Director of Photography
Director of Photography
Tim Saxby is a skilled individual, proficient in sound, lighting and camera work, currently employed as a Sound & Lighting Technician at Hull University's Student Union. Prior roles include producing at Jam Radio Hull and serving as Location Marshall for Netflix and Apple TV+ productions.
Tim's diverse experience spans freelance photograph
Tim Saxby is a skilled individual, proficient in sound, lighting and camera work, currently employed as a Sound & Lighting Technician at Hull University's Student Union. Prior roles include producing at Jam Radio Hull and serving as Location Marshall for Netflix and Apple TV+ productions.
Tim's diverse experience spans freelance photography, camera operator and digital marketing, showcasing a unique blend of technical expertise and creative versatility.
Sound Design
Director of Photography
Director of Photography
Jay Shute is a musician and producer based in Hull, with inspirations stemming from lofi and ambient sounds.
He also composed the score for Messages.
Full Credit List
Cast
Production
Production
- Alice Murray
- Natalie Yates
- Joel Howard
Production
Production
Production
- Natalie Yates (Producer & Writer)
- Joseph Shepherd (Director & Editor)
- Timothy Saxby (DOP)
- Jay Shute (Sound Editor & Composer)
Locations
Production
Locations
Filmed in Barton-Upon-Humber, North Lincolnshire, UK.