“The cacophony of sorrow entwines with the noises of pain”
What’s it about?
Imprisoned within inhuman squalor with other women; Paula’s existence and human function is abused as a resource by her captors.
Escape, on any level, is hopeless as the women are condemned to a life of enforced servitude for one reason only – their milk.
Enslaved, inseminated and abused – every facet of their life is violated. At first the premise seems exaggerated and absurd; but is, in fact, disgusting in its stark normality.
In short, THE HERD inflicts the life of the average dairy cow on to a group of human women and weaves this premise into a brutal tale of original horror.
What is ‘The Herd’?
Deliberately avoiding the lack of finesse associated with “torture porn” and exploitation, THE HERD eschews these in favour of a vicarious descent into the visceral nightmare of relinquishing the most innate rights of existence.
Existing principally as a dark and transgressive horror short; THE HERD also asks questions as to how we approach the sentiency of other beings and the importance of the concept of individual freedoms in modern society.
Who’s behind ‘The Herd’?
THE HERD began as a concept and script by horror writer Ed Pope. The project was then made real by artist, director and horror industry stalwart Melanie Light.
Melanie has assembled an exceptionally talented cast and crew to achieve the initial vision to the highest possible standards. These include Pollyanna McIntosh (The Woman, Filth, Burke & Hare), Victoria Broom (ABCs of Death 2, Stalled), Jon Campling (Sleeping Dogs, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows), Sarah Jane Honeywell (The Eschatrilogy: Book of the Dead, Dead Man’s Lake), Craig Conway (The Descent, Dog Soldiers) and Charlotte Hunter (Dungeons and Dragons, Vitality). An original score is composed and performed by Laurent Barnard from the internationally acclaimed band Gallows.
Confirmed crew are: the wonderfully talented Cinematographer Bart Sienkiewicz - http://bsienkiewicz.com/ and awesome Special Effects master Tristan Versluis (Game of Thrones, WWZ, Sweeny Todd) We also have some of the effects team GTFX from the film Inbred and Make-up Designer Marie Morgan. Comic book makers and costumer Gemma Bedeau and Lee Fenton Wilkinson will be designing and building props. Graphic Designer Heather Gordon (The IT Crowd, Psychoville) and Concept Artist Adam Pescot (Division 19, Vampires vs Leprechauns, The Crypt) also join us. Poster designs and artwork are provided by the talented Alex CF. VFX friend and award winner Oliver Smyth (Kirill, Corpse Bride) will handle our set extensions. Also, Frighfest behind-the-scenes filmmaker Mags Linster and voice over artist Sarah Holmes complete the current crew.
We are still on the look out for various other crew members and a passion towards our project within the crew makes a happy and fun shooting team!
Why should I support ‘The Herd’?
If you are interested enough to be reading this, we are extremely humbled. Thank you.
We would also like to assure you that we would not ask anyone for contributions to this project if we were not dedicated to producing cinema of the highest possible quality; we believe we have the team to do this. We want all contributors to justifiably feel a sense of pride in the film and their essential part in its production.
Each person that contributes financially to THE HERD is every bit as vital as any other member of the crew – because it will not happen without you.
We fervently believe there are many good reasons to contribute towards this project:
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Perhaps you are a passionate supporter of quality independent filmmaking?
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Perhaps you want to support an original script that dares to be different
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Perhaps you feel strongly about the themes in the film and the message it contains?
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Perhaps you’ve enjoyed the work of the actors cast in THE HERD and want to see more of them?
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Perhaps you are an aficionado of the horror genre? Be assured that this independent crew will give you want you want to see, not what studio executives deem appropriate.
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Perhaps you just like art that has the balls to be confrontational?
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Perhaps you’re a wonderfully supportive friend or family member?
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Perhaps you’re any or none of the above, but very kind and generous?
Whatever your reason for being interested in this project, we are so grateful that you are considering helping us to fund it and thank you sincerely. We will not let you or your donation down.
If you are generous enough to contribute, just pick the level of donation you wish to make and/or the perk that you are most interested in. We really hope you enjoy the whole process and offer our heartfelt gratitude.
How else can I help?
My goodness, you are a keen one! We adore you for it.
In one word: Share!
Please share this Sponsume page. Email, text, Facebook, Twitter - maybe even talk about it to your friends!
Sharing is the lifeblood, or nurturing milk, of this campaign. The more people who know about it the more chance it has of succeeding. We would be so grateful for any efforts to spread the word far and wide.
If you were kind enough to donate, we want you to tell everyone about your donation, so that they know what a bloody good sort you are.
What will you spend the money on?
The majority of people in the crew are giving their time for free, or in an exchange of skills. The writer and director (Ed and Mel) are also going to put our money where our mouths are and invest our own cash into THE HERD. We wouldn’t ask you to do something we were not prepared to do ourselves.
Funds kindly donated by you will go towards things like: location costs, very basic sustenance and, especially, to providing the highest production values possible with regard to cinematography, set design, make-up and special effects, sound and lighting etc.
What happens next?
Hopefully this campaign will be successful and THE HERD crew will get straight out on location and start filming under Mel’s directorial stewardship. There will definitely be blood and sweat, and almost certainly tears, until we have made one of the most brutally disturbing, yet highly thematic and justified, pieces of horror cinema you’ve ever seen.
We will ensure all the perks are honoured and we will keep you informed of our progress and let you know where the film screens so you can come and have a few beers with us.
You can donate from any part of the world! We'd love to go global!!
What happens if we fall short of the target funds?
As we believe passionately in this project, and because we will be using whatever we have of our own funds, we will make the film anyway – it just won’t be anywhere near as professional-looking or effective if we fail to hit our funding target.
Every penny raised from this funding campaign, however much that is, will go towards making this the best film it can be.
And finally…
Thank you!
Thank you for visiting this page.
Thank you for reading it and for your interest.
A big thank you if you have helped spread the word.
A very special thank you if you have donated.
We are going all-out on this film – we won’t let you down.
It’s going to be brutal.
Be a part of THE HERD.
Our Facebook page - for HERD updates on Cast and Crew along with artwork and designs.
www.facebook.com/TheHerdMovie
Melanie's website - www.misartressmelanie.com and twitter twitter.com/MisartressMel
Hi there
So The Herd has been busy hiding away these last few months trying to get everything finished in post production. We are still marrying up the last bits and pieces but I would like to announce that the films world premier will be in Manchester, UK at Grimfest Up North in October. The Herd has been chosen to open the festival which is a very honorable position.
I myself ( Melanie ) will be away working in Sweden and am unsure of a schedule and thus in the dark as to whether I can make it yet. Pollyanna McIntosh will be in attendance and possibly a few other cast and crew members.
Please if you can make the screening let me know! Everyone has been working very hard to make a very powerful film.
Without your donations and help we would never have got this far !
http://grimmfest.com/grimmupnorth/2014/08/grimmfest-opening-gala-announced/
So we wrapped shooting The Herd! such a group effort by all. This has been the hardest shoot of my own so far. All worth it . Bart our DOP did and amazing job, Phil our Art Director is a legend and Make-up, Costume and the legend that was our Production Manger Maria who saved my ass many a times!
The short looks wonderful and the Cast were outstanding, embracing their characters and taking them even further than imagined. This film is so harrowing and dark. We really are going to make some waves with this Vegan Feminist Horror film!
Congratulations all Cast and Crew and Thanks to Ed Pope who wrote the script as without him sending me the script this would never have happened.
Please have a look at our facebook page for some Behind the Scenes photos from the shoot.
I am always updating the facebook page to do follow us.
https://www.facebook.com/TheHerdMovie?ref=hl
And our cast is complete!! very happy to announce that Andrew Shim from one of my favorite shows and films ever ( This is England ) is to join the HERD - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0793532/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Great news and a cast update! our Male Captor 3 will be played by the legend that is Seamus O'Neil ( Sightseers, Inbred, This is England 86, Dead Man Shoes ) happy to have him on board!
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0642306/?ref_=tt_cl_t3
Great news today Ruth Pease our Make-up wonder woman has got us sponsorship of vegan and cruelty free make-up products from Obsessive Compulsive USA!
Whoo
http://occmakeup.com/
Thanks so much everyone! I shall do everything to make you all proud of us! Without all of your donations this really would not be happening!
I am humbled by you all
Movie on 07-05-2014 at 10.54 #2 from Melanie Light on Vimeo.
We are really happy and honoured to have support from Frys the vegetarian/vegan food suppilers Fry's . Fry's are donating us food for our shoot. Keeping our Cast and Crew happily fed with happy food!
Very happy that there are so many different ways people can share kindness and support -
http://www.frysvegetarian.co.uk/
A new edition of our post team, busting with great craftmanship is VFX artist and friend Jonathan Klahr!
Handling our set extensions, post work and our final credits. I am very very excited as it means as well as finally getting to work along side him I also get top quality too!
watch his showreel here- https://vimeo.com/90849901
Thanks and keep donating!!! x
Hey everyone!
As a thank you for your support so far and getting us to 50% i'd like you to have a listen to a sample piece of music our composer made just from reading the script. We are very excited to have Laurent apart of our team and very much look forward to what he will create with a picture lock!
Listen here- https://soundcloud.com/melanie-light/the-herd-sound-track-sample-laurent...
THANKS! now lets get to 100% or even more !!!
I am releasing this excellent new HERD poster for your eyes. Made by the talented Vegan, Animal Rights Artist Alex CF.
Hey there Everyone!
We have a cast update!
Francesca Fowler will be joining our HERD! she's been in Doctor Who, Forest of the Damned 2 and Bad Girls!
A vegan and animal rights supporter and also great actress!
Check her out - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1842417/
Francesca Fowler - Showreel from Actors Apparel on Vimeo.
Hey there
So we thought as we hit the £2000 mark then as a treat we'd release and other awesome poster created and deigned by the artist Alex CF - http://www.atheological.com/
What you all think?
Pollyanna McIntosh shares some wise words on THE HERD campaign to get you donating! We are so hyped about having her on board and apart pf the team! All the way from LA too!
Thanks!!
Pollyanna McIntosh - The Herd! from Melanie Light on Vimeo.