Blaedud is the story of an Iron-Age prince who is torn between his family and an obsessive desire to fly; an atmospheric and wordless glimpse into the life of the mythical founder of Bath.

Bath is famous for its history, particularly the hot springs apparently first utilized by the Romans. But there is a little-known origin story that goes back even further - of Blaedud, the tenth ruler of Britain. This film takes a fictional ‘day in the life’ approach, using aspects of the legend to build an emotional family drama. Blaedud has a loving relationship with his son, but frequently deserts his family and community to practice necromancy and bathe in the healing, potentially magical, hot muddy springs. He is also secretly building himself wings. Will he eventually put his wings to the test and take that leap of faith (literally), risking death and abandoning his family?

The aim of this film is to create an atmospheric, muddy, realistic period drama, set long before Bath became what it is now best known for (including glossy Regency period dramas). We are also excited to create a world in which humans are yet to significantly encroach upon the natural world. Sounds of nature; birdsong, wind, water, etc will feature heavily. This is a world without electricity, tarmac, engines, planes, and industrial-scale farming. So in that respect, we aim to create a brief meditative respite from the modern world - something we think people will really appreciate at the current time.

Check out our Mood Reel above, which gives a sense of the style of our finished film.

CAST AND CREW:

I’m Jamie - writer and director and resident of Bath. In my day job I’m a musician; violinist, singer/songwriter and teacher - often performing in venues around Bath such as the Pump Room and Roman Baths and teaching in local schools. I've lived in Bath for 15 years and it truly holds a place in my heart as ‘home’. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. My other passion is film. I’ve always loved films and as a member of the Little Theatre cinema, often sneak off to catch a low-budget horror film or re-release of an old classic like The Wicker Man. Being someone who thrives on creativity, I have written and directed a number of short films over the past decade, some of which have screened at big international film festivals. Seeing my own film on the big screen in a great cinema has been one of the highlights of my life. You can see some of my previous work here: vimeo.com/jamiehughes

We already have a number of amazing people on board for this film: Blaedud will be played by the fantastic Sam Wall, who I knew was right for the part as soon as I saw his picture. He’s strong, hairy and intense - just what I had in mind when I wrote the script!

Our Director of Photography is Sam Ebdon, who understood the visual style as soon as we started talking about it. He is a total pro, and knows exactly what cameras, lenses and lights to use to get the right style - using mainly handheld cameras in order to give the realistic impression we want.

The Composer is Christopher Gough, one of the UK’s leading Horn players, who also studied composition at Berklee College of Music Valencia. Having asked him if it would be possible to use ancient Carynx instruments on the soundtrack, he managed to sample these amazing instruments and use it to build a fantastic sound-world for the film.

THE BUDGET:

To make this film in the way we imagine it, we need some help. Iron-Age settlements and twenty extras in costume don’t come cheap! So most of the funds we are seeking to raise will go on hiring Butser Ancient Farm and paying extras. This will give the film the truly authentic feel we think the story deserves - to actually see an Iron-Age prince living amongst his family and community. We will see Blaedud practicing necromancy (speaking to the dead) in his roundhouse and gradually building a huge pair of wings that he will eventually put to use. We also have a key scene at night; dancing around a bonfire, during which Blaedud ultimately decides to abandon his family and literally ‘take flight’.

So if you’d like to see a story never told before, at a time and place never seen on screen before, please help make it happen! Any amount, large or small, will go towards creating something really special. So please just give whatever you’re happy to give - but remember, those who give £100 or more will receive a private link to the film as soon as it’s finished, so you’ll get exclusive access to the film before its official release. We have lots of other great perks to choose from, or you also have the option of choosing exactly how much you’d like to give.

THANK YOU!