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Area Boys

A comedy-drama short film set in South East London.

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Area Boys

Area Boys

Area Boys

Area Boys

Area Boys

A comedy-drama short film set in South East London.

A comedy-drama short film set in South East London.

A comedy-drama short film set in South East London.

A comedy-drama short film set in South East London.

Area Boys Ltd
Area Boys Ltd
Area Boys Ltd
Area Boys Ltd
1 Campaign |
London, United Kingdom
$4,562 USD $4,562 USD 73 backers
51% of $8,850 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

'Area Boys' is an exciting new comedy-drama short film from Writer-Director team, Toye Oladinni and Bruno Atkinson. 

We're so close to making this project a reality, but we need you to help us raise the funds to make it happen! Support young artists and help us hit this funding target by pressing the green button and support 'Area Boys' today!

Backing this project is an opportunity to support a group of young filmmakers in telling an urgent story from outside the mainstream of the industry, a story with the violence that young Black children in London are habitually exposed to at its heart. Who are we to consider ourselves immune from violence in a violent society? 

‘Area Boys’ looks at two British-Nigerian young men with a warmth, humour, and emotional sensitivity that is seldom seen on screen. Its screenplay is steeped in Black British and Nigerian diasporic culture. It comes from a writer obsessed with translating those cultures into art in a genuine, organic way, and a director passionate about developing these texts into stories imbued with wit and contradiction. 

'My cuz back home said the Area Boys do this for a lil extortion. I figured it can run here.' 

After an incident wounds his pride, sixteen-year-old Chris gets a call telling him to come to the common, and to bring a sledgehammer with him. His cousin Tobi plans to bring a racket from the notorious ‘Area Boys’ in Nigeria to the UK - smash a hole in a bridge, put a plank over it, and charge the public for the privilege of crossing.

The two forge a fractious alliance, but in the middle of past trauma and deep-rooted tensions, we wonder how long it will last. 

Some of the filmmakers that have inspired us for 'Area Boys' include Ayo Akinbade and her photographic sensibility to socio-political struggles latent in urban environments (DEAR BABYLON, TOWER XYZ), Caleb Femi’s visually breathtaking imaginations of alternative realities of the lives of black men (SECRET LIFE OF G'S), John Ogunmuyiwa and his explorations of homosocial relationships between men in violent environments (MANDEM), and Steve Macqueen’s focus on the ways in which male intimacies can arise through aggression (BEAR). 

Check out some of their work (and ours!) below:

Artistic Inspiration:

Stills from our Previous Work: 

Meet the Team! 

We're incredibly proud to be workings with a young and diverse team of up-and-coming filmmakers, committed to telling outstanding stories with a sensibility outside of mainstream representation on screen. 

TOYE OLADINNI - WRITER

Toye Oladinni is an accomplished new writer from South London. He wrote both the film’s screenplay, and the short story on which it is based. 

His work has been published in Onyx Magazine, the Oxford Review of Books, and Epiphany: Literary Journal. Most recently, he has been working with BBC Writer’s Room screenwriter Alegria Dedeji as a writer on her upcoming YouTube comedy series, THERE’S RICE AT HOME. 

“I came up with the idea for ‘Area Boys’ from an anecdote from my mum, about how the so-called “Area Boys” in her home town of Ikorodu would extort money from people at makeshift tolls and bridges. The story seemed to immediate resonate with people, so when Bruno and I were looking for inspiration for our next film it was a natural choice. 

Young Black men and boys are at the heart of so much intrigue and controversy in London - the way they dress, the way they talk, the way they act - but so often people’s interest is only surface deep. So often people’s interest is based on caricatures and stereotypes. There are none of those in this film. I can’t wait to share it with everyone.” 

Toye was a member of the Ashoka x UEA International Creative Writing Group, headed by Commonwealth Prize winning author Amit Chaudhurt, and was awarded runner up in the ORB Short Story competition, judged by Booker Prize shortlistee Daisy Johnson. Previous credits include DUSKLANDS (Official Selection, Oxford University Short Film Festival).

BRUNO ATKINSON - DIRECTOR

Bruno Atkinson is an independent filmmaker based in London.

His short films have been shown at a number of film festivals across the UK and internationally. He is also an exhibited video artist, having installed work for the BBVA in Spain, the Muestra de Cine de Lanzarote in Lanzarote, and Fusion Arts in Oxford. 

He was previously elected as President of the Oxford University Filmmaking Foundation, where he funded the OUFF-BAME film fund, the only student-led fund dedicated to ethnic-minority filmmaking in the UK.

Whilst his filmmaking is international in scope, with ‘Area Boys’ he is coming home to South London. Working closely with Toye Oladinni, he has assembled a team of diverse and socially conscious collaborators to tell Chris and Tobi’s story. 

“When Toye first sent me the ‘Area Boys’ short story, I burst out laughing. We decided then and there it was going to be our second film together, and we haven’t looked back since. 

My main objective is to bring out the text's humour and sensitivity to character complexity so powerfully present in the text. I want to make you laugh, but then I want to shock you. Laugh first, think second. It's the natural order."

Previous credits include UPPER AIR (Short Film, Finalist, Stockholm City Film Festival; Semi-finalist, London Indie Shorts Festival; Official Selection, Manchester Film Festival & Hinterlands Rural Film Festival), DUSKLANDS (Short Film, Official Selection, Oxford University Short Film Festival); MATAMULAS (Visual Installation, Exhibited at the Valdepeñas Centro Cultural), and THE TEMPEST (Short Film, Post-Prod). Check out his website here: https://www.brunoatkinsonfilm.co.uk/

NANCY CASE - PRODUCER

Nancy Case is an Independent Producer and disability advocate from Oxford, UK. 

She has worked across a range of award-winning Short Films, shown at a number of international film festivals. Having previously been part of the Production Team for the National Student Drama Festival, she now works professionally as a Casting Assistant, casting for productions with Hulu, Netflix, Showtime, and others.

“I’m lucky enough to read a lot of fantastic scripts for work, but when Bruno sent me Toye’s screenplay for ‘Area Boys’ I knew it was something special. 

The story feels new. It’s a story for this moment, one of second-generation British-Nigerian boys trying to bridge cultural tradition and individual identity, of the increasingly absurd commodification of our daily lives, of police mistreatment of young Black men, and of financial disparity in urban environments.

Bruno is a fantastic director, able to convey moments of both absurdity and tension without slipping into caricature. Both he and Toye have a knack for bringing characters to life. For better or worse, I found myself rooting for Chris and Tobi. I can't wait for you to meet them!"

Film credits include YLEM ( Short Feature Film. Best Short Feature, Berlin Short Film Festival), UPPER AIR (Short Film. Finalist, Stockholm Short Film Festival; Official Selection, Manchester Film Festival), DUSKLANDS (Short Film. Official Selection, Oxford University Short Film Festival), and the up-coming Web-Series PILLOW TALK, starring Charithra Chandran (BRIDGERTON, ALEX RIDER).

Casting credits include THE GREAT S3 (TV Series. HULU), OUR MAN FROM JERSEY (Feature Film. NETFLIX), THE POD GENERATION (Feature Film. dir. Sophie Barthes), and an as-yet-undisclosed Studio Feature for WARNER BROS. 

IONA GREAVES - DOP

Iona Greaves is our fantastic Director of Photography.

She is a freelance camera trainee & assistant from London, as well as a developing DP. Since graduating from Bournemouth Film School specialising in cinematography, Iona has mostly been working as a camera trainee in the long form world, working on Disney, Lucasfilm & Netflix productions. It is here that she has gained insight into the creative decisions of some of today’s top cinematographers. 

Her creative nature and love for collaborating with new filmmakers fuels her ability to shoot short form narratives & music videos alongside working as a camera trainee. As a cinematographer, her interests lie telling honest stories and using visual language to portray engaging and thought-provoking characters. 

"I’m incredibly excited to be joining the talented team of ‘Area Boys’. When I first heard about the project it was immediately apparent how enthusiastic everyone was to work together to create something meaningful. 

Although the story has its funny moments, Toye has created complex characters and incorporates relevant social issues and themes which deserve some contemplation. That’s what I find so captivating - a genuine and relatable story that’s thought-provoking and challenges perceptions. I think the authentic writing of this script paired with some distinctive, interesting imagery will make this film a stimulating watch. 

Super excited to get things rolling!"

Previous DP credits include: “Flesh of My Flesh” (Best Horror at the New York Cinema Independent Awards, Nashville Film Festival Official Selection), “Cynthia & Dolly”, “Lost Connection”. Camera trainee credits include: ‘Indiana Jones 5’ (Disney/Lucasfilm) as well as Netflix’s ‘The Witcher Season 2’ (second unit).

GRACE OLUSOLA - 1st AD

Grace is our talented Assistant Director. 

She recently graduated from the University of Oxford with a BA in History and English, where she was elected as a member of the University Drama Society's Student Committee, and was awarded the 2022 Juliet Bernard Memorial Prize for Most Promising Women and Non-Binary Actors. 

Grace is an accomplished director and playwright. She founded her own theatre production company, DAWN PRODUCTIONS, which is committed to accessibility in the arts and fostering new voices, and has done dramaturgy work with Offbeat Festival. 

"I am beyond excited to be part of the 'Area Boys' team, especially one which upholds such key values (diversity, accessibility, telling courageous stories) that the industry really need right now. 

What strikes me about this film most is its intentionality. It really is a story made for the screen. With Bruno's wonderful direction, I know that this will be a film where every moment, every frame, will have something to say. It's an honour to be a part of it!

Directing and Assistant Director credits include: THE SPELLING MISTAKE (Online Audio Drama for OUDS 2021), BLACK LIVES PLAYLIST: TRACK 2 (Strike Back Productions), INTIMACIES (Paper Moon Productions). She was awarded 'Best New Writing' at the Oxford New Writing Festival Awards, and her first original play 'CUT, PASTE, ENTER' debuted at Modern Art Oxford. Her latest play, titled 'VESSEL,' was recently performed at Oxford's Old Fire Station Theatre. 

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT - RIT ANAND

The wonderful Rit is our Production Assistant.

An accomplished filmmaker in her own right, Rit has worked variously as a Runner, Camera Assistant, and Script Supervisor, as well as writing and directing her own short films. Her original screenplay, CLEARLAKE, was shortlisted for the Oxford University Screenwriting Competition, and her short film, AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE OF SOLITUDE, was highly commended. 

"Growing up in an area much like the one Toye so perfectly captures in the script, when I read 'Area Boys' I recognised the sound and feel of the working class, black and brown London that I know so well. The script swings between heavy and light- hearted, intense and absurd, reflecting the strangeness of these pockets of London where violence rumbles under the surface."

Credits include: I NEED YOU (Music Video), and the short films NEAR (Watersmeet Productions), AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE OF SOLITUDE, and MAUDE. She is also due to write and direct an original short in association with the Oxford University's Filmmaking Foundation in Autumn. 

You can donate!

From kit hire and insurance to food and transport, making films is costly. With your kind help and donations we will be able to cover these costs, as well as others including paying for locations, Editing (including colour grading and sound mixing), Music Rights, and Production Design (help us build our bridge!)

This funding will also ensure that we can meet all necessary access requirements for Cast and Crew, and maintain high levels of health and safety precautions on set. 

It all adds up, and a small contribution of just £10 could mean the difference between us reaching our target or not. Please pledge what you can and help us reach our target and deliver this film!

No money? No problem! You can also help us immensely by... 

Sharing our Campaign!

Aside from backing the campaign, here are some non-monetary ways you can support us:

- Share our campaign: with friends, family, other creatives, on your social media channels, and in your day-to-day conversations!
- Follow us on Instagram for updates

Feel free to reach out to us on social media or email us at areaboys.shortfilm@gmail.com if you have any questions, want a social media kit to help share the campaign, or know someone who'd like to invest privately!

We've planned a 3 day shoot, all of which will be in our gorgeuos exterior location in Deptford's Brookmill Park, which runs across the length of the river Quaggy in South East London. 

Pre-production: August - September '22

Production: mid-October '22

Post-Production: November '22 - February '23

Screening: Early 2023 in London, exact date TBC

Thank you so much for making it this far, for all the support, and for your trust in our team to tell this story. We'll see you on the other side...! :)

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Choose your Perk

The Backer

The Backer

Currency Conversion $6 USD
£5 GBP
Every penny really does count. In addition to our gratitude you will also receive a newsletter subscription for regular updates on the project and behind the scenes photos!
Included Items
  • Newsletter Subscription
  • Behind the Scenes Photos
Estimated Shipping
March 2023
3 claimed
The Film Lover

The Film Lover

Currency Conversion $13 USD
£10 GBP
Love film? By choosing this perk, not only will you help us along to reaching our target, but you'll also receive a digital downloadable copy of the Area Boys short film for you to enjoy when and where you please!
Included Items
  • A Digital Copy of the Film
Estimated Shipping
March 2023
4 claimed
The Fanatic

The Fanatic

Currency Conversion $19 USD
£15 GBP
So you can enjoy the film you've just backed with the people who made it, we'll invite you to the official Area Boys Premiere screening. Don't forget your popcorn!
Included Items
  • An Invitation to the Premiere
Estimated Shipping
March 2023
21 out of 100 of claimed
The Poster

The Poster

Currency Conversion $38 USD
£30 GBP
This donation will make a huge difference to the project, and with it you'll receive an original Area Boys film poster!
Included Items
  • An Official Area Boys Poster
Estimated Shipping
March 2023
5 claimed
Ships to United Kingdom
The Toye Fan

The Toye Fan

Currency Conversion $63 USD
£50 GBP
Are you a fan of the brilliant Toye Oladinni? Show him some love with this perk, and you'll receive a bound and signed copy of the original ‘Area Boys’ short story and a personalised foreword by our one of a kind writer.
Included Items
  • The Paperback Short Story
  • A Foreword from the Writer
Estimated Shipping
March 2023
6 out of 30 of claimed
Ships to United Kingdom
The Full Package

The Full Package

Currency Conversion $190 USD
£150 GBP
Thank you so much for your donation! In return for your generosity, you will receive the Area Boys full package: a digital copy of the film, an invitation to the premiere, a copy of the short story, and much more!
Included Items
  • Newsletter Subscription
  • Behind the Scenes Photos
  • A Digital Copy of the Film
  • An Invitation to the Premiere
  • An Official Area Boys Poster
  • The Paperback Short Story
  • A Foreword from the Writer
Estimated Shipping
March 2023
4 out of 20 of claimed
Ships to United Kingdom
The Patron

The Patron

Currency Conversion $632 USD
£500 GBP
Want to really get the ball rolling? With this an unreal donation we will credit you in the film and on IMDB as an associate producer,
Included Items
  • An Associate Producer Credit
Estimated Shipping
March 2023
0 claimed
The G.O.A.T

The G.O.A.T

Currency Conversion $1,264 USD
£1,000 GBP
This amazingly generous donation will fast track us to reaching our financial goal for this project. It means so much to receive this level of support, and to say thank you, you will receive an executive producer credit on the film and on IMDB.
Included Items
  • An Executive Producer Credit
Estimated Shipping
March 2023
0 claimed
The Bridge Wrecker

The Bridge Wrecker

Currency Conversion $3,793 USD
£3,000 GBP
With the highest perk comes the greatest prize: an on-set visit and a swing at the bridge with the same sledgehammer used to destroy it by Chris and Tobi!
Included Items
  • A Swing at the Bridge
Estimated Shipping
March 2023
0 out of 2 of claimed
The Filmmaker
sold out

The Filmmaker

Currency Conversion $316 USD
£250 GBP
Estimated Shipping
March 2023
3 out of 3 of claimed

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