PLEASE DONATE TO OUR CURRENT PROJECT
MAN AT ARMS
![]()
IN A FIELD OF MUD AND BONE
We are Waistcoat Production, a student-led production company based in MediaCityUK at the University of Salford. Each member of our team is highly skilled, some even award nominated, in their given skillset.
Story
In a Field of Mud and Bone is the story of three very different men, brought together through patriotic duty, who find themselves very quickly becoming brothers. The concept is derived from other stories that were successful in their emotional impact, the likes of Last Flag Flying and The Pacific, stories which demonstrate the sheer strength in the bond formed by men pushed together on a battlefield in order to fight for what they love. In a Field of Mud and Bone creates a platform for people to recognise, and to no longer take for granted, what it is we individually live for.
Who we are
This project is being produced by James Knowles, who's short film 'Write Away' was recently nominated for The Hollywood Verge Film Festival's Best Short film. And directed, and written by Jack Caswell, whose imagination and drive inspires those around him to work hard to fulfil has superb creative vision. Supporting these two is an incredible crew comprised of some of Salford Universities finest.
Our campaign and why it is important to us
This campaign is important to us. As previously mentioned the story is heartfelt and raw. War is a concept which is fairly abstract in modern society due to the current wars happening oversees and the youth of today are more used to terrorist attacks rather than trench or battlefield warfare. It is because of this we are aiming to portray the fear of that kind of warfare as well as create emotional connections and investment in our three characters.
What we can achieve with your contributions
In order for our very talented crew to bring our ambitious vision to life we need funding! And that is where you all come in. The sooner we reach our target goal, or at least get near it, the better our final product will be. This funding will aid on logistics cost (transport), the payment of professional actors, costumes, props and of course practical effects.
All support, in either moral or monetary form, will be greatly appreciated and we will be indebted to you! It is us who will be filming the film, but truly you the donors who are making it happen.
What We Need & What You Get
So - here is a breakdown of what we need but most importantly what you get:
- DONATIONS! These donations are vital to the success of our film, the breakdown of what these donations can be broken down into two main categories;
- Transport - Transport will cost around £200 due to our locations being peppered across the North of England. We are doing our best to achieve the period style of 1940's Britain in order to deliver the most historically accurate film we can for you the audience.
- Costume, Props & Makeup - Costume, Props & Makeup will account for a huge bulk of our spending and cost around £800. This is due to us wanting to be as historically accurate as possible and of course respectful to the historical events which are alluded too.
Production design (Costume, props & makeup) is an enormous part of our film. Good production design can be the difference between an 'alright' looking short and a truly breathtaking cinematic experience that you would be proud to be a part of.
Now comes the EXCITING part our perks! We are offering some fantastic and unique perks that you will receive in return for your donation. You could be given something as simple as a name in the credits, a signed copy of the script by all cast and crew, or something as large as an on-set visit.
If we do not reach our goal these funds will be used to cover as much of the production design costs as possible. However if we exceed our goal all profits will be donated to the ABF The Soldier Charity which helps retired soldiers
The Impact
The impact of this film will allow audiences to identify with the story of strangers brought together by war becoming brothers. This hard hitting deep theme is inspired by Fury and is reflected in the narrative. The banter between the three soldiers in the trench as they recount their stories of home and who they are fighting for, bonding and growing to respect one another more and more as the film progresses. We are wanting to create a real sense of unity and promote this within the real world, people uniting together against all odds.
Risks & Challenges
The crew involved in this project are very accomplished. With over a dozen films under their belt they are well versed in dealing with production issues and overcoming them ensuring that a quality product is delivered. We are perfectionists but also completionists, yet to have a project that we have been unable to finish. But it is not just our determination which enables us to overcome the risks and challenges that could potentially occur, it is our eagerness to learn and ability to think ahead and prepare.
Some risks and challenges we must overcome mostly stem from funding. If we are unable to meet our goal or cover the costs of the production the final product may suffer be it from budget cuts to props or the overall story being changed to accommodate for the lower budget. Other challenges we may face are from the environment. We are filing outdoors so bad weather would put a halt on production, however we are able to overcome this by scheduling more shoot days.
Other Ways You Can Help
Do not fear if you cannot donate! You can still help us by sharing our campaign and promoting our social medias on your social medias! Any and all help would be phenomenal and oh so appreciated!
