Who hasn’t wanted to make a movie at some point in their lives?
Well – we’ve gone and done it!
Since August last year I have been working with a core team of excellent actors and crew, to create an exciting mysterious movie that we knew we could pull off. And now we are in Postproduction and just looking for that last bit of funding to finish off the movie and get it in to the cinema where it belongs!
Here is the trailer for the film...
DEATH is a mysterious comedy and a story about the things people will do for love. And for guilt. They are easy to confuse...
Genre: A feature length mysterious comedy movie.
Tagline: I see live people - Everywhere!
Concept: Frankenstein meets The Others. An Indie film for lovers of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Amelie, Truly Madly Deeply and lovers of all that is Gothic.
Short Synopsis: Following the death of their Dad, four brothers and sisters return to the family home after many years to face each other, face facts and face the future. But what do they know of the past?
Leslie Phillips (more than 100 movies!), Paul Freeman (Raiders of the Lost Ark Hot Fuzz), Linal Haft (Moulin Rouge, East Enders), Nick Moran (Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), Michael McKell (Doctors, Emmerdale), Emily Booth (Evil Aliens, Dog House), Sarah Jayne Dunn (Hollyoaks), Claira Watson Parr, Ben Shockley. All of these Actors had worked with the Director (Martin Gooch) before.
Martin Gooch, Writer, Director & Producer. I’ve directed many short films, TV including Doctors, Hollyoaks and the BAFTA Winning Spooks interactive. I learnt my craft as a director during more than 15 years in the camera department on more than 200 TV shows and feature films. I have a Masters degree in screenwriting and wanted to put all this together and make a feature film. DEATH.
I have also just had my feature screenplay DEATHTRAP DUNGEON (based on the fighting fantasy novel of the same name) Optioned by a Hollywood production company.
My history can be viewed at www.martingooch.com.
Anke Schiemann, Production Designer. Anke grew up in East Berlin before The Wall came down – and as such has quite an interesting take on the world – She helped design the secrets in Dad’s Lab which… no I can’t tell you here.
Peter Davies, Editor. Peter has edited more than 30 feature films, including four James Bond films. He came to this project purely based on the script, which is a real compliment. Mark Hammond, Director of Photography. Mark met Martin when they were both camera assistants way back in 1997. Then worked together on Doctors (BBC1) on several episodes, one of which won an award at the ITV Soap Awards 2008. Mark has been a Director of Photography on a great deal of TV but DEATH is probably the weirdest.
Roger Taylor, the famous Drummer with Queen has given us free range to plunder his back catalogue and re-mixed some tracks just for us. Roger came on board after reading the script and saying it was “Right up his Strasse.”
Claudia Brucken & Paul Humphries. Claudia Brucken, singer with Propaganda and Act, and Paul Humphries, half of OMD, combined forces to remix one of their songs as out theme tune – The Theory of Everything Pt2, which felt somehow very apt. - http://www.theremusic.com/home.html
Russ Nicholson. Russ is a legendary illustrator who illustrated The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and Forest of Doom, the brilliant (and some might say best) Fighting Fantasy games books that are still on sale today! Russ designed the artwork and title sequence for the movie - as well as being a total genius - his blog is here - http://russnicholson.blogspot.com
Ian Livingstone - Author of the Fighting Fantasy books (with Steve Jackson), and Chairman of Eidos the computer games company who invented Tomb Raider also has a Cameo in the movie as Derek the Postman.
All money raised will go directly into postproduction and finishing off the movie ready for the cinema. We have a number of VFX shots to complete, and then go back to the edit to put everything together. Then we have to work on the sound – Dialogue editing, ADR, Foley, Sound Design, Music and Mixes. On a normal feature film, this could cost more than £200,000 alone!
The film was shot in January and February this year in a variety of locations in the South East of England, from a stately home once owned by Led Zeppelin, to an airfield near Swindon, two kitchens in Chalk Farm and another stately home near Basingstoke. We shot the whole film in two blocks of 7 days. Bringing the whole movie in, in just 14 days. The film was shot HD and looks fantastic – we used stedicam – cranes, weird lenses, and a whole lot of enthusiasm.
Filmmaking is very hard in this country. The only way you can prove that you are good enough to make a movie - is to make a movie - it's a classic Catch 22.
There is no funding in this country to speak of (especially if you wish to make slightly off the wall movies like this one).
When this film is complete it could open the gateway to a whole future for everyone on the movies in doing the thing we love - making movies.
You will help us actually make a movie. And your immortality will be achieved with you name on the credits.
We are working day and night to try and get the movie finished, but something just have to be paid for – no matter how much we smile and flash our eye lashes. The screenings, DVD’s and dividends can only happen once we have completed the movie – so the sooner it’s done the sooner we can enjoy the Movie with some popcorn, and maybe a hot dog.
If you have any questions – then just get in touch directly –
Let’s make movies!
Luke Rhinehart - world famous Author of The Dice Man novel watched the rough draft of our movie DEATH and said this -
"From the first you established yourself as a director who knows how to direct. The parallel is when I read a book, I know within five pages whether the writer can write."
What can be nicer than that!?
We got an article in Screen international!
http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/leslie-phillips-nick-moran-st...
Hooray for us!
A top bloke at the BFI watched the rough cut (and not even the good rough cut but the old one!) and said
"it managed to convey a sense of magical possibility and meaningfulness which injected a sense of wonder and depth into the proceedings".
(I think that means he liked that bit)
and -
"You've managed to achieve amazing things with such a miniscule budge."
The key word here is "Amazing".
We've got 72 hours to go!
Almost all the VFX shots are now complete and we will be going back into the edit suite to finish off and picture lock as soon as possible.
So check down the back of the sofa - smash the piggy bank, take the coppers to the bank and help a film maker make a film!
And maybe see you name on the big screen!
ACTION!
£10 or more : A tenner. Wouldn't even buy you a decent hardback book these days. But it will buy you a Psychic Hug from the person of your choice in contact with our psychic medium. Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Julius Caesar or Joan of Arc are currently in touch with our spirit guide, Running Boar (of the Luton Running-Boars). Unfortunately, We cannot guarantee that Psychic Hugs can be given at the moment of request - due to the varying and complicated nature of being a conduit from the spirit world. Please note Psychic Hugs are only available to people who back our movie DEATH. What's that? Oh? OK Marilyn. Ms Monroe says you have to keep you hands to yourself and no fresh stuff. (Once the psychic hug is complete we will send you an IMAGE of the psychic hug - to keep for all eternity. Each Image will be unique. Obvioulsy).
£20 or more : £20 quid - just like going to a gig. A Poster! Remember the excitement of the evening that you put some money into this movie - by having a Poster to show your friends! Be the envy of everyone who ever played Fighting Fantasy games books as a child, with this especially commissioned poster featuring artwork by Russ Nicholson, fantasy artist supremo. (The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, Forest of Doom).
£25 or more : £25:00 Will buy you a signed DVD, once the movie is completed, before you can even get it in the shops, before it's got a bar code on probably.
£50 or more : Fifty Quid. I believe this is known as a Bullseye in Cockney Rhyming Slang. And it would certainly be a Bullseye for us - as this can get us a whole day in an Edit suite in Pinewood Studios. It will get you a signed DVD of the movie - before it's out in the shops, A ticket to a special screening of the movie in the West End. And a specially created Poster with Art Work by famous fantasy illustrator Russ Nicholson. (The Warlock of Firetop Mountain)! Let me hear you say "Oooh!"
£75 or more : £75 quid. Ok - A deal - I'll bung in the DVD and a Poster, the psychic hug, and a ticket to the CAST and CREW screening - with an opportunity to hang out with people off the Telly and in the Films.
£100 or more : £100 What will £100 quid get you these days eh? Almost a round in a rubbish bar in Soho, and probably warm beer too, so miss out on a round and get yourself a big THANK YOU in the credits on the movie. A pretty cool present for yourself, but an AWESOME prezzie for a movie buff!
£250 or more : £250:00 This is a sizeable contribution to our tiny budget and will get you an ASSOCIATE PRODUCER credit and an invite to a special screening. That Associate Producer Credit could help you get in to other film festivals, if you fancy Cannes in May next year.
£500 or more : £500 quid eh? You are clearly a person of distinction and know a quality project when you see it - On this basis we'd like to offer you An Associate Producer Credit, invites to all the screenings, DVD's, Russ Nicholson Poster, And Lunch (or Dinner) at Pinewood Studios. If you don't work in the film industry then it is almost impossible to get into Pinewood for a wander round and a decent feed. Pinewood is also a stately home and has acres of grounds and a really decent restaurant, and you never know who will be sitting on the table next to you. I saw Jonny Depp and Tim Burton the other day.
£1,000 or more : A Thousand Quid. The film industry wouldn't exist if people didn't back movies - and you will be making a huge impact on our movie. In appreciation of this massive help - you can have the Associate Producer Credit, The DVD's, Posters, Psychic Hugs (We might be able to get in touch with Cleopatra for this), tickets to all screenings, lunch/dinner at Pinewood and assistance in getting accreditation for Cannes and other film festivals. You love movies. We'll get you in to the festivals. There is no quicker way to get into the movies, than backing someone. And you don't have to get up at 5am and stand in a freezing field all day in January. We've already done that bit.
£5,000 or more : £5000, Blimey. It's an outsider, I admit - but if you fancy putting in £5000 in to this once in a life time, never to be repeated, utterly singular, unique movie - then it will get you: An EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Credit, invites to all the screenings. And you can have DVD's, posters and T-shirts if we can afford to make them - you wouldn't believe the price of getting T-shirts done - It a shocker! Lunch/Dinner at Pinewood - We'll help you with accreditation to film festivals - and quite possibly the opportunity to get involved in my next movie. Eternal thanks and a warm fuzzy feeling that you've done something really cool with your money. This could be the start of an amazing journey that will change you life. (or it might not - that's rock n roll baby).
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Comments
Fantastic idea, best of luck with your funding! I will pass the word around at work. We definitely need to support the British film industry.
And on an extremely cheeky side not - if you ever need an actress (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) you can find me at www.victoriajaneappleton.co.uk, via my agent Fab New Faces or down the small but ever so lovely local rock n' roll bar (being a north Londoner I'm sure you know which one I mean!) Good Luck!
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