Nina Conti inhabits Monkey alter-ego for dark comedy movie Sunlight
- Nina Conti has completed photography for Sunlight, her narrative film directorial debut, in which she also stars
- Written by Shenoah Allen, the film is described as a "hilariously dark and unconventional love story" and is executive produced by Christopher Guest
- The film has been developed alongside Conti and Allen's live double act, Monkey and Roy
Nina Conti has directed and stars in her first narrative film, a "hilariously dark and unconventional love story" written by and co-starring her regular collaborator Shenoah Allen, of the Pajama Men duo.
Referencing Conti's ventriloquism act with her puppet Monkey and developed alongside Conti and Allen's nascent live double act Monkey and Roy, Sunlight is set and has been filmed in Allen's native Albuquerque, New Mexico in the US, and features This Is Spinal Tap creator Christopher Guest as one of its executive producers.
Conti plays Jane in the road movie, disguising herself in a monkey costume and creating a new persona as she strives to break free from an abusive relationship, finding a path to freedom when she encounters Roy (Allen), a suicidal radio host.
After hitting the open road in Roy's Airstream caravan, the unlikely duo hatch a plan that could help finance a new life but could also land them in jail. Hot on their heels is Jane's controlling partner, Wade, who aims to put an end to Jane's newfound freedom.
"It was a five-year journey to this point and it's no less than a dream come true to see it come to life" Conti told US entertainment website Deadline. "I'm excited to share the film with audiences in 2024."
The film co-stars Bill Wise and Melissa Chambers, with Conti producing alongside Sam Parker for Anyway Content, Will Machin for sales company Metro International and Keagan Karnes and Tabitha McDonald for Inspirado.
Conti, who is best known for performing with Monkey, began wearing a full-size suit version of the puppet as part of her act in 2018.
She was BAFTA-nominated for her first film, the 2012 documentary His Master's Voice, in which she takes the bereaved puppets of her mentor and erstwhile lover Ken Campbell on a pilgrimage to "Vent Haven", the resting place for puppets of dead ventriloquists. Her second documentary, 2015's Clowning Around, recounted her two-year stint as a clown doctor.
As half of the Pajama Men, Allen won Australia's Barry Award with Mark Chavez, with the pair becoming firm Edinburgh Fringe favourites with their character comedy and improv in the early 2000s. Allen and Conti took their variety show Comedy Sassafras to the Scottish festival last year. The pair previously made the podcast Richard & Greta, in which they played new age lovers dispensing relationship advice.
Conti first worked with Guest when she starred in his 2013 BBC Two mockumentary Family Tree, playing Bea, a woman who communicates her feelings through her puppet Monk.
She recently took her Dating Show to New York, in which she asks audience members to wear facemasks as she improvises their voices, persuading Hollywood stars Susan Sarandon and Naomi Watts to participate.
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