I'm thrilled that the film based on my book set in Blackpool is a Hollywood award winner

A Blackpool mum is celebrating after a film shot in the resort and based on a story she wrote won a clutch of top industry awards, including in Hollywood.

Stephanie Oram, who writes under the name SJ Carmine, was proud to see the short film adaptation of her debut novel, Wax, Whips and My Hairy Bits: an erotic comedy of errors, premiered at Blackpool’s Regent Cinema in March.

It’s the story of Ann who, after a series of dull and uninspired relationships, begins a journey to find her very own Mr Uninhibited but things do not go quite as planned.

The 15-minute short scripted by Stephanie and directed by Michelle Devadas has been going down a storm at film festivals and has won international awards from Hollywood to Berlin.

Its roll of honour so far includes:

Best Comedy Short - Berlin Indie Film Festival;

Best Comedy - Hollywood Best Indie Film Awards;

Best Female Film Director - Los Angeles Movie and Music Video Awards;

Best Short Film - Lit Laughs International Comedy Film Festival;

Runner up best director - Lit Laughs

Runner up best ensemble cast - Lit Laughs;

Best Local Film - The Romford Film Festival.

“I’m really thrilled,” said Stephanie. “We’re going to need a bigger trophy cabinet

“The film was shot on location in Blackpool and is very northern, with the most amazing northern cast including a fabulous drag queen.

"My one condition when working with the production company was that it had to be very, very Blackpool. The town gets such bad press at times, I wanted to rail against that.

"The production team were all ladies of a ‘certain age’ and we were really keen to shout it loud and proud that age is not a barrier.

"I’m really excited that the film has been so well received.”

Stephanie’s writing career started when the Covid lockdown pulled the shutters down on her plans to set up a recruitment agency for over-50s, forcing her into a major life-changing re-think.

She says Ann’s frank amorous misadventures are not drawn from her own personal experiences, but are a mixture of real life anecdotes from people she knows, her own imagination and some very earthy sayings in the Urban Dictionary.

"It’s been an incredible experience and it shows what ordinary working class women in their over-50s can do,” added Stephanie.