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KOLTON LEE
THE LAST CARD
‘This impressive debut novel from ex-editor of The Voice
and writer/director Lee … serves up spot-on dialogue, excels in
explorations of how violence can escalate in the blink of an eye, and
gives the tried and tested tale of a beleaguered man facing his demons
a thrilling new twist in an unusual setting.’ Laura Wilson, Guardian
‘Kolton Lee, award-winning writer-director, is the new
kid on the block. His debut, The Last Card, is a simmering
noir novel set in the sleazy end of the London boxing circuit and illegal
gambling dens. He is a boxer past his prime, full of regrets and in
debt to a vicious psychopath. He is dragged into a multiracial underworld
of violence and extortion. Can he find a way out? The Last Card is sweaty,
brutal and powerful.’ Peter Gutteridge, Observer
The first novel from a well established film writer/director.
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For H, boxing
represents purity: one man against another, no corruption, no
games… Or so he thought. H was a man with a dream, and he
had brought crowds to their feet with his boxing style –
having made Ali’s shuffle his own. But, having lost a big
fight some years ago, H has been drawn deeper and deeper into
London’s gambling underworld. Now H staggers from fight
to fight for small change, attempting to boost his income for
his ‘gambling holidays’. In danger of losing himself
and the love of his life, H, whose world is increasingly populated
by violence, lies, big money, beautiful but damaged women, finds
himself obliged to confront his own demons and step into the ring
once more…
With brilliantly vivid
depiction, Lee's film-making skills are apparent as he takes us
into the world of gambling shabeens, boxing gyms, the underbelly
of London. We discover the London that we rarely read about in
fiction portrayed with true wit and bristling energy. |
THE LAST CARD so effectively displays today’s multi-cultural
society, that film-makers from America and South Africa are already
discussing production of the story, transposing it to their own cities
with ease. For fans of Jake Arnott, Glenn Patterson, Christopher Brookmyre
as well as Walter Mosley, there will be more from the universally appealing
H in Lee’s next novel.
Material: Finished copies
Sales: Maia Press UK & Commonwealth (excl Can).
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KOLTON LEE is already well-established
as a director and writer. He represented the UK as an international
basketball player, damaged his knee and turned to sports journalism.
Having moved on from that to work for the Voice he became editor
within a year. He then became the first black news editor of a
national paper - The News on Sunday (John Pilger). After its demise
he joined the BBC then went to film school and was signed up by
a film agent the moment he graduated. He worked on several TV
series, amongst them a Channel 4 commissioned drama set in the
Grime music scene, and Eastenders for the BBC. Then he moved to
New York and made a very highly acclaimed short film called AMERICAN
MOD, as well as having his play AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL JORDAN
staged at the Natural Black theatre of Harlem.
Recently he has written, directed and produced the excellent low
budget feature film CHERPS ("a brash indie debut...a fitting
'Alfie' for these times.." - Variety.com) for which he won
the Independent Spirit Award, Screen Nation's 2004 Best Independent
Feature Award, and which was selected for the Los Angeles film
festival. Another short called PUNCHBAG was selected for the BFI's
Blackworld show.
Later this year he will begin working on the film of Alex Wheatle's
novel BRIXTON ROCK and adapting that same book for theatre - Stratford
East. Both will be explosive. He is currently in LA making a movie
and his short film BLOOD is on TV in the US right now.
Investors interested in this and other Kolton Lee projects can
contact him at kolton@prophetpictures.co.uk
www.prophetpictures.co.uk
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