In the Shadow of Eli

Why we need you…

Firstly we want you to spread the word and enjoy the finished film.

Secondly to make this film a reality we need a budget. So far we have been fortunate in securing some financial backing through the very generous assistance of London based production company Content is King. However to make this film we need your support to reach our target budget.

Our great crew are all working for free, however filmmaking is not cheap, and although we’ve cut everywhere we can, there are some expenses that we can’t escape.

Your help will be going towards...

Location Costs
Actresses Fee
Camera Equipment
Lighting Equipment
Underwater Filming
Accommodation
Travel and sustenance
Musical Score
Post-Production / Visual effects

Pulpit Rock looms over Catherine. Something is going to have to change.

In the Shadow of Eli is a 20-minute psychological thriller set against the dramatic backdrop of a secluded coastal cove. Here lies Catherine’s world; a tranquil haven filled with inner torment.

Set in 1919, the story focuses ontwo sisters who have drifted apart through circumstances out of their control, but who nevertheless have facilitated this fraction. Catherine lives alone in a remote coastal shack, a shack overshadowed by Pulpit Rock, the place where her son has recently died. Beth and her newly born son are her only living family, but Beth has not been seen since Eli’s death. The burden of her guilt has been too strong to face confronting her sister. It is now Eli’s would-be birthday and Catherine has reached the point of no return. Confronted with the dilemma of how to resolve the conflict with her sister, she needs to bring Beth back into her life, but what is guaranteed to bring her back to Pulpit Rock? After living in the shadow of Eli for so long, something will have to replace Catherine’s loss.

Our approach to film making is that every shot must tell a story, and we want to capitalise on this to allow the serenity of the environment to clash with the tension of character orientated drama.   

We are a young, energetic and professional team with a hunger for filmmaking.

As a Writer / Director / Cinematographer duo (Hamish and Tom) our work has been screened at numerous film festivals; from Exposures in Manchester to VideoDanzaBa in Buenos Aires and even airings on Austrian Television. Together our crew has won 2 Royal Television Society awards, along with 2 other nominations. We both work at Production Company Content Is King, which means we have a wealth of industry experience, from Director of Photography credits on TV commercials to lead creative roles on national marketing campaigns.

We may be young but our team is tried and tested. With directors like Gareth Edwards heading off to Mexico with a couple of actors and a camera and coming back with a Blockbuster competing film like Monsters, it is becoming more and more evident that you don’t have to be in Hollywood or Pinewood to create a cinema quality production. We have the people and the skills and are desperate to get going.

Small crew. Small cast. One location.

Living and working at the location for just under a week, we want to be able to live and breathe the film 24/7, allowing an organic development of the production. Of course everything is meticulously planned, yet we believe in addition to working through the schedule, that spontaneity is crucial. Responding to the immediacy of an environment often leads to those magic moments you could never have planned. Having a small crew on site ensures this intimacy and readiness.

As a Writer/Director duo from a cinematography background, when working together we co-shoot and co-direct, this may sound odd – but it works for us. In theory this would mean alternating roles between directing and camera operating, but in reality neither of us are ever doing just one at a time. This means 2 directors and 2 cinematographers, and 2 heads are better than one.

A powerful and original film you can be a part of. We need you to make it happen.

We have a great script and a clear direction on how to bring it to life. Our individual approach means this isn’t an indulgent art film, or a generic low budget drama, but an original and truly cinematic short story that lends on the emotional pull and character of the location to further explore the personal conflict surrounding Pulpit Rock.

Obviously everybody says this kind of thing, but we really believe we are a team of strong, highly professional and passionate filmmakers, with something different to say.

There are loads of rewards for getting involved. But we hope the best one will be watching the film this summer, in a dark room, on a big screen, and with a sense of satisfaction.

Thank you.

Follow us on Twitter @Shadow_of_Eli and on our blog shadowofeli.wordpress.com

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