Self-proclaimed future award winning documentary filmmaker Ames Pennington presents their landmark documentary series TOPS. On the question that defines trans masc experience in the UK today: “What TOP did you wanna wear after TOP surgery?”
In this profound and intimate film, Ames meets four unique individuals: a powerlifter and gay-games Olympian hopeful, a housing-officer-slash-actor, an Essex filmmaker, and an equality diversity and inclusion-specialist-and-occasional-model. Ames' curiosity illuminates their experiences, through extraordinary unlimited access into their lives, homes, and bags of dicks. Insightful and invasive, TOPS allows audiences to fully understand the question on everyone's lips.
TOPS is a genre-busting documentary (with fictionalised elements) inspired by the chaotic, brash, self-deprecating and clueless style of 1990s/2000s British TV. Presented by an ever-so-slightly desperate and lonely version of the artist Ames Pennington, who is willing to steal footwear and camp out in the gardens of interviewees for ultimate unencumbered access and the potential of their first-ever trans friend. TOPS wants to give space to the experience of top surgery, and those that have it, without being another sad or gory story. Your nipples might fall off - but you can still have a lol.
This artwork is co-commissioned by Homotopia, Studio Voltaire and Islington Mill with funding from Arts Council England.
Directed by Ames Pennington, Jos Bitelli
Written and edited by Ames Pennington
Cinematographer Jos Bitelli
Producers For The Uncultured Ash Bowmott, Laura Sweeney
For Grey Moth Archie Sinclair
Executive Producer Ames Pennington
FEATURING Maz Murray, Yaz Senghor, Elliot Davis, Oskar Marchock
Cam Operators Tilly Garland, Samara Addai
Camera assistant Rowan Needham
Sound Recordists Toby Burroughs, Felix Waverley-Hudson
Costume design Jordan Taylor + Threadmaidens
Production assistants Roshana Rubin Mayhew, Emma Edmondson, Lowri Evans
Additional editors Jos Bitelli, Sophie Chapman, Jessica Crooks, Noemi Varga
Sound Edit Felix Waverley-Hudson
Graphics Alex Lundström, Mikala Georgia Grante, Sophie Mallett
Post Producer Noémie TJ Phillipson at Digital Orchard
Colourist Luis Reggiardo at Digital Orchard
Equipment and support Grey Moth
Access Consultant Abi Palmer
PR Lover Management
Music Rubie, Planningtorock
N.S.T.S.N Host Jaye Hudson
Guests Serena Morgan, Pecs Education, Mr Lez
Camera Operators Archie Sinclair, Will Hazell, Arie Priede, Judah Meade
Production Design Jordan Taylor
Art Assistant Cath Shayler
Editors Archie Sinclair, Ka Ki Wong
Graphics Mikala Georgia Grante, Alfie Millar