All Out
In 1985, an improbable Scottish village cricket team defied all the odds to win the National Village Cricket Cup, and demonstrated to everyone that believing in yourself can lead to apparently impossible achievements. All Out is the incredible story of Freuchie, a working class team from a rural Fife village, who spun, hooked and drank their way to glory at Lord's, beating England's finest at the home of cricket. It's a classic underdog story - a feel-good comedy-drama with big laughs and a big heart - and what's more, it's true. We are looking for development funding to turn this amazing story into a fully-fledged screenplay and package so that we can raise the budget to get the film made and into cinemas.
About Us
My name is Sandy Batchelor and I am a producer and actor. I've acted at the National Theatre, Bath Theatre Royal and the Hammersmith Lyric, appeared in shows like Our World War and Ordeal by Innocence at the BBC and starred in a number of independent feature films. The story behind All Out has been told by my family for as long as I can remember. My family grew up in Freuchie, they lived this story, and my grandparents followed the team to Lord's to witness that historic match. This is my first time producing a film but I have teamed up with Tom Sands, a producer with an impressive track record in independent films. He has produced five feature films through his company Substantial Films, signing on actors such as Emilia Fox, Sophia Myles and Kevin McNally, getting his films played at prestigious international festivals such as St Louis International Film Festival, and scoring distribution deals with Netflix, Amazon Prime and dozens of international platforms. He has an excellent overview of the production process from conception to exhibition.
Tom: "When Sandy first told me about the project, I was dubious. A film about a Scottish village cricket team? But as I started to uncover the facts, I quickly changed my mind. I was completely charmed by the characters. The sheer improbability of some of the events convinced me this was a special story that would make a moving and exciting piece of cinema: cricket matches in torrential rain with lighting provided by car headlights; a series of nail-biting matches to reach the final; thousands of Scottish supporters with kilts and bagpipes descending on Lord's; sceptical media attention turned grudging respect; and the team's raucous night out in Soho."
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What We Need and What You Get
We have optioned Neil Drysdale’s book “Dad’s Army - how Freuchie took cricket by storm”, upon which the film will be based. We have also secured the backing of Freuchie Cricket Club and the project is already gaining interest from industry and public alike. Sandy has appeared on BBC Radio Scotland and the film has been covered by The Daily Record.
We have has also gained considerable interest from studios and distributors but before they can get behind a project like this, we need to be able to present them with a package. This means hiring a screenwriter, signing on a director, conducting research, creating a budget and perhaps creating a proof-of-concept trailer. This is why we're asking for your help.
We're looking for £30,000, which breaks down like this:
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Screenwriter: £20,000 - this is well below the industry standard, but we are meeting writers who understand the grassroots nature of the film and who are keen to provide support in this way.
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Budget, schedule, finance plan: £2,000 - this is vital to be able to show studios that we can deliver the film.
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Casting: £1,500 - hiring a casting director (at a very reduced fee) will enable us to sign on world-class acting talent, which is essential to make the project financially viable.
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Presentation Materials: £2,500 - this includes creating a mock-up poster, mood boards, storyboards and a proof-of-concept trailer.
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Research: £2,000 - to cover costs. This will include visits to Freuchie and interviews with residents.
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Legal and Accountancy: £2,000 - film financiers will need to know that all of the underlying rights are secure before they consider financing the production.
What Crowdfunding Means to Us
So far, we have covered all of the development costs ourselves but we're simply unable to keep going without help. We would love for the development of the film to be financed by a grassroots movement like this. It stays true to the meaning of the film - that the underdog can prevail with a the right attitude - and it clearly demonstrates from the offset there is still an audience for a classic British comedy like this.
Risks and Challenges
Film-making can be a risky business. The environment is very competitive and it can be a long, arduous process, with some films taking decades to reach the screen. But we really do believe we have an amazing story to tell and that people want to see the film. With your help, we can prove it.
When developing a film, there is of course always a risk that we will not raise the budget to get the film into production. Ultimately, we will need industry backing to get the film made so our main challenge is to ensure that the package we create satisfies both the audience and the financiers. We can work towards this by being in constant consultation with our network of industry advisers, and by building a team with a reassuring track record.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't contribute, that doesn't mean you can't help. Spread the word instead! We want as many people as possible to hear about this film.
