BECOMING

GENO
A FILM BASED ONTHE STORY OF 1960'S SOUL SINGER GENO WASHINGTON

about the Becoming Geno is a fusion of documentary and narrative film - as 73-year-

film
old Geno Washington takes us back to the pivotal night where he swapped
army boots for dancing shoes, and transitioned from USAF Airman William
Frances Washington to 1960s soul singer Geno Washington & The Ram Jam
Band. Amidst the smoke and sweat of an understated night-club in 1964,
this is the story of unexpected worlds colliding, and the beginning of a
career as one of Britains most famous black soul-singers of the 1960s.

synopsis The script is based on interviews conducted with Geno for the purpose of
the film and the majority of Genos narrative script is verbatim. Geno takes
us from his Grandmothers hardship and parents turmoil back in Indiana,
to life in Britain as part of the US Air Force.

Integrated stock footage is weaved with Geno today, along with fiction-
based narrative footage of a young Geno performing in a low-key night
club in 1964. Geno has escaped the regimented confines of the Air Base to
perform in a new and sensational world of lights and alcohol. When he
hears that the manager of the biggest club in Soho is coming to watch
him perform he thinks things cant get any better, and then he meets
Marianne; in a haze of euphoria Geno transcends the realms of this mortal
earth and finds himself in a psychedelic new world with the girl.

Time evaporates and Geno comes back down to earth with a thud when
his manager pulls him away from the girl to reveal that the big nightclub
owner never made it. Dejected, Geno realises the time andrushes back to
the stark parameters of the Air Base.

Full of longing, Geno fears that life in this new and invigorating world
might be over. Little does he know that a career as one of 1960s most
famous black soul-singers could be closer than he thinks

+44 7947 555103 sophieshad@gmail.com @undividedpics

 About Geno
Geno Washington was born William Francis
Washington, December 1943, Evansville,
Indiana. He is an American Rhythm and Blues
singer who released five albums with The Ram
Jam Band between 1966 and 1969, and eight
solo albums beginning in 1976.

They had two of the biggest selling UK albums

of the 1960s, both of which were live albums.
Their most commercially successful album,
Hand Clappin, Foot Stompin, Funky-Butt ...
Live! was in the UK Albums Chart for 38 weeks
in 1966.

Washington was stationed in England with

the United States Air Force during the early
1960s. While stationed in East Anglia,
Washington became known as a frequent
stand-in at gigs around London.

Geno met his wife Frenchie at the Bag O'Nails

club in London, which is also the place where
her sister met Peter Noone of Herman's
Hermits, whom she married, making Geno
Washington and Peter Noone brothers-in-law.
This is also the same club where Paul
McCartney met Linda Eastman.
He was close friends with Jimi Hendrix,
Sammy Davis Jnr, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling
Stones, Paul McCartney and many other
classics.

Geno today
At the age of 73 Geno still constantly
performs across UK and Europe. He recently
was interviewed by BBC Radio's Lauren
Laverne where he was instantly trending on
twitter.

Geno is has been interviewed by the creative

team and is aware of the project. He is fully
on board with the film.
Onyinye Egenti
Director

Onyinye Egenti received her LL.B from the

Nigerian Law School, Abuja. She has written
several novels and short stories and for the
past three years, has honed her craft as a
director and storyteller by writing and
directing three short films, one of which was
selected for screening at the BFI IMAX during
the Drop-Shot Film festival 2009.

Onyinye was a finalist on this year's Microwave

Feature Film Scheme.

Sophie Shad
Writer & Co-Producer
Sophie wrote and co-produced short film
'Kitty's Fortune' thathas qualified for a number
of short film festivals including BAFTA-
qualifying London Short Film Festival, as well
as the UK Jewish Film Festival, London Lift-Off
Festival and nomination for best short fiction
film at Plymouth Film Festival. Sophie also
helped secure nation-wide distribution for
'Kitty's Fortune' at Picturhouse Cinemas across
the country. Sophie has produced several short
films, commercials and corporate films.

Dalton Deverell
Co-Producer
Dalton is an experienced film producer and
post-producer - having worked on feature film
'Death of a Farmer' as well as several short
films, including 'Kitty's Fortune', of which she
raised the budget and saw the project through
from start to finish. She has also produced a
number of audio-books and has extensive
experience in sound production.
A script based
on truth...
The script is based on the story of Geno
and his wife Marianne, photographed
left and below in 1966.

Marianne had a profound effect on

Geno's personal and professional life,
and the pair still remain married today
(aged 73 and 76).