A film by Tracey Moberly

STAY tells the story of an artist (The Artist) sentenced to do time in The Curfew Tower, with only a handheld puppet of Elvis (Puppet Elvis) as company. While doing time, The Artist is expected to write the second-best song he has ever written. And this song is for the Ghost of Elvis and is to be performed at The 25 Comeback Special. In reality The Artist is just trying to escape the gathering storm clouds of his inevitable midlife crisis. That, and the reality of being a bad father. The only dialogue in the film is an internal one between The Artist and Puppet Elvis.

STAY is probably the bleakest film you could ever watch.

It contains no sex or violence, no kissing or killing, not even any fucking or fighting, or any of those other things some might want to vicariously experience via the medium of film.

STAY is a film without HOPE.

STAY was shot in and around The Curfew Tower on the Antrim Coast of Ireland in the Spring of 2024. STAY was directed by Tracey Moberly. 

Tracey Moberly is the only women to ever direct her first full length feature film in her 60s.

Tony Wright plays the part of The Artist. He also does both voices in the internal dialogue between The Artist and Puppet Elvis.

William E. Drummond wrote the manuscript. Some say it was based on the gathering storm clouds of the former Bill Drummond’s own midlife crisis back in the early to mid 1990s.

The budget for the film was annual UK state pension of the film’s producer (£12,548).

As for critical acclaim...“A low rent pastiche of The Shining meets Rod Hull & Emu” – The Lone Star

The screening at The Nickel is to be the only screening in UK in 2026. Tracey Moberly, Tony Wright & Puppet Elvis will be there for a post screening interrogation. The former Bill Drummond will be there to chair the interrogation. He will also be there to stamp people’s wrists as they enter the building.

WARNING: It is expected that everyone attending this screening will bring their own handheld puppet to watch the film with them – No Puppet, No Entry.

Also...

Puppet Elvis will be the judge of the post Interrogation Puppet Contest.

Runtime: 87 mins Certificate: 18