EDITOR - PHOEBE HUMPHRIES
Phoebe Humphries is a film editor working on short films, documentaries and commercials. She's excited for There are Snails in the Grass to explore sensitive topics, whilst keeping emotion and authenticity at the heart of the film.
PRODUCTION DESIGNER - GABRIELLE BOADO
Gabrielle excels in creatively visualising narratives that convey realism. She is excited to make There are Snails in the Grass a vibrant and moving story with her experience in art and design.
CASTING DIRECTOR/SCRIPT SUPERVISOR - FRED QVORTRUP
Fred is a freelance producer and director pursuing a career in script development and production. He believes in the power of performance and considers There are Snails in the Grass an engaging and complex character study unearthing important topics such as mental health.
ART DIRECTOR - INDIA EASTWOOD
Lucy is an award-winning writer (Ethical Sauce, 2020, Best Undergraduate Film at Encounters 2020) and student producer of short films with an interest in progressive female-driven narratives.
SOUND RECORDIST - ALEX ROSLING
Alex has a serious passion for pursuing production sound as a career path and is looking forward to tackling the practical challenges There are Snails in the Grass offers head on.
SOUND EDITOR - JACK MARSHALL
Lucy is an award-winning writer (Ethical Sauce, 2020, Best Undergraduate Film at Encounters 2020) and student producer of short films with an interest in progressive female-driven narratives.
A Westminster Film School Graduation Film 2021
THERE ARE SNAILS IN THE GRASS
Gertrude Abercrombie
(1937)
THE STORY
After stepping on a snail, Emily crumples. Retreating back to her mother’s home, she finds solace in a neighbourhood cat despite her fear of the outside.
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There are Snails in the Grass tells a complex and nuanced story of mental health which explores the almost fantastical relationship between people and nature, whilst remaining on the precipice of the unreal world.
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The 18 minute short film will be shot on an Arri Alexa over 7 days in May 2021.
THE CHARACTERS
Emily
Emily is inquisitive and intelligent with a deep understanding and care for animals. She values her independence but during moments of extreme anxiety, seeks comfort in returning to her mother and childhood home. Emily feels a great sense of responsibility for all living things around her, the inevitability of their suffering the main cause of distress. She fights to regain a sense of balance with her feeling of misalignment with the world around her.
Mum
Emily’s Mum is a caring, soulful and
loving woman who clings to her purpose in
motherhood. Beneath her bubbly persona, she has a fear of no longer being needed. Her pragmatic nature can sometimes lead to tension between her and her daughter. She has kind intentions but Emily finds her drive for fast solutions overbearing at times.
THE LOCATIONS
Emily's childhood home near the sea. This is where most of the film takes place. Being away from the bustle of London life doesn't mean life is easy for Emily. Surrounded by nature, she is constantly reminded of her effect on the world and the inevitable suffering of all things. Her garden is where she meets Thomas, the cat, and where their friendship is founded. Emily also explores the South Coast Cliffs and Beaches which surround her home.
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YOUR HELP
There are Snails in the Grass is a really ambitious film. Your contributions will help make it all possible.
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Our main costs, and the places your contributions will be spent are:
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Thomas the Cat We will be hiring a trained cat and handler to play Thomas. He is one of our key characters and it's really important our cat-actor can perform everything we need him to!
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Location Fees We will be shooting for 7 days in 5 different locations, both in London and on the South coast. We will cover the costs for our cast and crew to travel.
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Set Design and Costume We will be dressing the locations to make them feel lived in (as per the examples). We will be sourcing specialist props for Emily and Thomas the cat, to interact with.
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There are Snails in the Grass is our final opportunity to make a film before leaving university. We hope to use the film as a platform to showcase the skills we have learnt to potential employers. We will be submitting it to film festivals internationally, and with your help, we are sure we can make an an award-winning film.
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(Please ensure you share your details on Paypal so we can contact you)
Please consider donating to our budget and sharing this website to spread the word about There are Snails in the Grass. All contributions are greatly appreciated!
If you donate, you will receive:
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£5 - A personal thank you from our crew.
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£25 - A personal thank you from our crew and a digital link to the film.
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£50 - A personal thank you from our crew, a digital link to the final film and your name in the credits.
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£100 - A personal thank you from our crew, a digital link to the final film, your name in the credits and a A4 film poster.
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£250+ - A personal thank you from our crew, a digital link to the final film and an Associate Producer credit. A hamper sent to you, including a DVD copy of the film, a thank you video from the Director and Producer, an A4 film poster and a prop from the set.
