Short Summary

Otello Calvert was born and raised in Scotland and has always been surrounded by traditional and historic culture, from being a folk musician to playing in the castles that his father managed growing up. This film voices Otello's vision of what Scotland is to him, traditionally, historically, and fantastically.

The Inspiration

There is a vast amount of Scottish stories, mythological and factual, not available online and tucked away in old volumes and in the minds of the Highland folk. They have so much to teach, and the potential for truly entertaining, dramatic, and emotional films. Passed down through the centuries, they have adapted and changed for the times they were told. Now, it's time for their next chapter; the screen.

The incredible thing about filmmaking is that it can include every single artistic and creative discipline there is, it just depends on the script and budget. Otello has gathered a community of talent to be a part of this film, wanting to provide them with a project that they can excel in with their field and broaden their audiences.

By contributing to this film, you'd be helping support all of these talents who are in return giving you something. We believe in physically delivering you their work that they have poured their hearts and souls into. Plus, there's nothing like receiving a parcel full of goodies and knowing it's for a good cause!

Who We Are 

Introducing our crew (so far!)

Otello Calvert

Writer, Director and Producer

This is Otello's first narrative production after graduating from Falmouth University's CILECT Film School. He was a second rounder at Austin Film Festival and described as a writer with strong voice and heart, writing compelling characters and original concepts. He's a romantic at heart and rooted in the culture of Scotlands communities, music, and their lessons of life in stories. He writes to remind humanity that there can always be a bit more of it and looks for the fantasies in everyday life.

Olivia Reitala

1st Assistant Director

Olivia started out in her hometown Helsinki working as a runner on indie shorts and as a floor runner for the Finnish Broadcasting Company. In Glasgow, she specialised in production, AD and continuity departments alongside her university studies. She’s worked on all sorts of things from short films, commercials and music videos to news and current affairs programming. She recently co-produced and 1st ADd the viral online short “Time for Love”, 1st ADd the Screen Academy Scotland graduation film “Ailean’s Number” and produced the silent romantic comedy “Fertility Daze”.

Nicolo Biarese

Cinematographer

Sicilian born and Rome raised, Nico graduated in Philosophy with a dissertation on the moving image based on French philosopher Gilles Deleuze’s studies on cinema. He then moved to Scotland where he studied cinematography and obtained a master's degree in Film at Screen Academy Scotland. He works as a camera assistant on professional productions, music videos, commercials, and indie films. 

Akvilė Dir

Production Designer

Akvile studied film and television in Glasgow, and later model and props making. After gaining some experience and knowledge of the industry, she realised her passion and goal was to specialise in the art department. Since then she has been involved in many short film projects, where she was mainly responsible for production design, from making fake food, weaponry, to set dressing, prop sourcing and much more. For her, set design is another way to tell the story through colours and objects. Recent films include Scottish film noir "Blood's a Rover" and silent short comedy "Fertility Daze".

What We Need 

We need £8000 in order to make this film, deliver on our perk promises to you, and to take this film to festivals.

We are all about giving you stuff, there's no better way to support an artist by giving it to you to frame, to listen to, to appreciate. And we have perks that will only be available here, created for this project. 

We also want this film to be seen, and properly distributed to festivals and competitions. With Linzi's specialist knowledge and the crew and artists talent, we know we can aspire to take this film to festivals such as Cannes, Sundance, Raindance, BFI London, Edinburgh International, and other reputable competitions that support new talent, directors, and story.

Our contingency prepares for costs that can only be estimated at this point, such as the premiere, medical supplies for the medic, actors fees, and any unexpected contingencies such as locations or actors falling through, additional travel, food and production costs, and for the perks. 

Our Artists

We're so grateful to have to be working with the following artists and have their support for this project. They're providing us with some incredible and EXCLUSIVE perks that you can only get here!

Sylwia Holmes

An illustrator and artist from Spain, studying in Bath, and the talent behind the incredible poster and artwork used to advertise the film. Her poster and other artwork are available on every single perk, and you can't get it anywhere else but here. 

Fraser Robertson

Our storyboard artist and an illustrator student at Dundee University. He's creating our storyboard book which will be available for digital download, and there will also be a paperback printed version available on the more exclusive perks.

Maeve Brayne

Our composer Maebh's (musical alias) music has been described as “haunting” and “gorgeous” (Alan Raw, BBC Introducing West Yorkshire). Maebh draws inspiration from her natural surroundings, the changing sky and falling light, as well as from the people around her and the stories they tell. Her original score will only be available for download as a perk here!

Our Partnerships

We wanted to work with people that believed in us as much as we believed in them and find a way that we could support one another. So, we made three distinct partnerships and voices of Scotland that we are helping us by sharing our film with their audiences, and we are helping them by sharing their stories, music, and products as part of our perks!

Inyal

A Scottish band made up of five musicians from all corners of Scotland, their music influenced by the traditional scene here in Scotland and the LA Beat Scene, intricately combining fiddle, pipes, and chanting with twisting electronic beats and rhythm. Their album is available on the majority of perks listed. 

A new independent blended whisky company from Edinburgh, made up of delicately smoked and peated Islay whiskies with a sweet and smooth body and delicate chocolate finish. Peatreekers were the illicit distillers that challenged the 18th Century tax on malting whiskies. By purchasing the perk you will receive a code that will discount the miniature on the Peatreekers website. You MUST be 18 to enter the site to be able to claim this perk. 

PLEASE NOTE: We cannot ship the whisky abroad to the USA. If you purchase a perk with the whisky option, please notify us so we can find you an alternate item!

If We Don't Make It?

If we don't make our goal we will look at alternative locations and more conservative ways to shoot around our film. 

We will still deliver on our perk promises and deliver the artists work, but it might mean we take a little longer to make the film whilst we find alternative locations, equipment, and different ways to source funding. But this is what indie filmmaking is about, adapting, overcoming, collaborating and supporting one another to realise the same goal. 

The Impact

The 'Man-Box'

As well as helping support emerging artists, this film is about a real issue which TED talked Tony Porter calls the 'Man-Box', the difficulty that men have about expressing emotions, and the illusions and guidelines that men have to follow in order to be a man. The rules of the 'Man-Box' leads to the mistreatment of men with one another, and the way men treat and perceive women with objectiveness and violence. 

What this film does is it starts to break that down those illusions, a father and son overcoming those barriers with one another to truly express how they feel about one another to prevent a lifetime of guilt and regret when Malcolm has to leave. Our main character Peter already knows this from when his wife left and he didn't say how he felt, and a broken man.

Otello believes that communication is everything, finding the strength to go against the 'rules' of what society expects men to be, and to communicate emotions properly, especially to those who matter most to us.

Risks & Challenges

Working in Scotland in October, we could have any variation of weather that confronts us. Three out of four of our locations are exterior. We need to consider contingency costs if the weather becomes unsafe to shoot, especially when we have actors in the water on the coast. This would include additional accommodation costs, food, and resources for equipment such as waterproofing and batteries. 

Whilst we have a qualified lifeguard, medic, and first-aid crew member, we need to be able to supply him with the materials he needs in order to carry out his duties if an issue arises, so to keep both cast and crew safe. 

The talent and experience of the crew with both the industry and indie productions means we have the skillset to overcome such obstacles as these. We understand our limitations, and our capabilities to do the best we can to stay within our budget and keep everyone safe, and maintaining a professional production. 

Other Ways You Can Help

We understand that not everyone can contribute, but you can still help us by sharing, talking about us, reach out to us if you like too! If there's a way that you think you can help, let us know. 

If you know of a coffee shop, art shop, indie-cinema, or anywhere that's a creative hub and supporter of artists, let us know and we can send out a poster and cards to place there with their permission.