The Story :
Social worker Norah struggles to balance her demanding workload with caring for her elderly father Horace, an ex-POW who has dementia. On a particularly bad day, as Horace is sinking into a distressing episode, his daycare centre unexpectedly calls to say they are closed and Norah is forced to leave him home alone. In his delusional state, Horace mistakes his kind neighbour Mr. Wong for a Japanese camp guard. As the horrors of his past resurface to haunt his present. Norah's precariously balanced house of cards starts to collapse.
About Us
Rookie Films is a female led production company founded by Anni Swinburn and Clare Langford.
Anni is a social worker turned writer based in Sheffield. Her stage plays have been produced at theatre festivals in established London venues, and her short story, Bard of Steel City, is being adapted for film by a final year film director at Manchester Film School.
Clare is an award winning writer, actress and director from Limerick. Since graduating from The Drama Centre (Central St Martins) she has produced for arts festivals in London, Dublin and Toronto. Her first co-writing venture was published by Routledge in 2019.
We are honoured to have as our patron Steve Hawley, Emeritus Professor of Manchester Metropolitan University. Steve describes Mr Wong’s Lullaby as :
"a quirky and moving film that at heart is about remembrance and reconciliation; a serious film that wears itself lightly."
The Vision :
In Mr Wong's Lullaby, Anni draws on her professional background to paint a very real picture of the life of a social worker, while Clare’s experience as a dementia carer gives her an understanding of the fragile mental state of the sufferer, as well as the pressures on the caregiver. We both feel strongly about telling the stories of everyday heroes and showing how reliant we all are on empathy, kindness and humour.
We plan to take this short film onto the UK & international film festival circuit. As well as being a stand alone piece in it's own right, the film is also a taster for a feature film which tackles the subject matter in more depth.
What we need
We are partly self funding the film, but we need to raise at least another £14,000 to cover all of the costs. This will help us with :
This film is about the power of kindness - your contribution is an act of kindness in itself!
What you get
We have some really unique perks on offer for you guys in return for your acts of kindness! These include bespoke merchandise, brilliant online workshops, advance access to the film and the original soundtrack, exclusive invitations to our premiere, and many more!
Plus, local Sheffield business Our Cow Molly has kindly said that they will donate a 120 ml tub of ice cream to everyone who donates (based in Sheffield only!)
The Impact
By being a part of this project, you are not merely helping to make a short film. You are a patron of the arts; without you, independent film hasn't got a chance. You are helping to keep the world of indie film alive.
Not only that, but we have also partnered with the charity TIDE (Together In Dementia Everyday) - https://www.tide.uk.net. If we surpass our target, we have pledged to donate 50% of the excess towards their cause.
Our Ambassadors
We are so lucky to have a brilliant team of ambassadors who have gotten behind this film, and supported the process from the very beginning. Thank you!
Risks & Challenges
We started writing Mr. Wong’s Lullaby in 2019 and now, with the help of a brilliant crew and our covid safety officer, we are excited to start filming in April 2021. However, these are uncertain times. Our primary responsibility is the safety of our cast and crew, as well as adhering to government guidance. If we feel that it is necessary to postpone filming, we will do so.
Other Ways You Can Help
We realise that it has been a difficult year for many people, and you may not be in a position to contribute financially. Don’t worry! The smallest donation is hugely valued, but if you can’t donate, we would love it if you would spread the word about the film, the crowdfunding campaign and the work that TIDE does to support dementia carers.
Check us out on IMDb : https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14028028/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt