Hello and Welcome to Shells and Strings!
Our Story
In 1992, Yuogoslavia collapsed and Sarajevo, once considered the heart of Europe, endured the longest and most devastating siege on a capital city in modern warfare. The city, rich with cultural and religious diversity, was forever marked by falling shells and its inhabitants had to endure the horrific sensation of never knowing when a sniper, hidden in the green hills, would decide to take their lives.
Originally inspired by the true story of Vedran Smajlović - known as the "Cellist of Sarajevo" - a musician from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who regularly played his cello in ruined buildings during the siege of Sarajevo, Shells and Strings tells the story of Emila, a former piano teacher at the local school in Sarajevo, whose life is disrupted by the outbreak of the Bosnian War. In contrast to her young son Alen, and her father-in-law, Emila has a harder time facing the challenge of carrying on daily life in a war-stricken city. Music will come to serve as a source of inspiration for the protagonist whose life has been confined to the walls of her home.
Where we are now...
Shells and Strings is a short film project by LFS student Stephanie Trainer and a true labour of love. Together with producer Eloise Eriksson and writer Nemanja Antanaskovic, she has been working on this project for over a year. Since the early beginnings many more talented and wonderful people have joined our team and have invested an incredible amount of hard work and long days and nights to get this project off the ground.
Equipped with a budget allocated by the LFS and supported by family and friends, we managed to shoot the film this October on location in Sarajevo with a superb cast and an immensely talented crew. It was an incredible experience that we will never forget!
Why we ask you for help...
From the very beginning we have set out to make the best film that we possibly can. In order to do so, we turn to you for help. We are about to enter the final stage of our project and in order to continue with our work we are asking for your support.
Shells and Strings is a story we strongly believe in and that we feel needs to be told. But not only that, it needs to be heard and seen as well. Film is a collective experience and in order to reach as many people as possible and to give the story the representation it deserves, we turn to you.
Where the money goes...
We are asking for your support in reaching our goal of $1500 in order to complete the film that is so close to our hearts and to organise an unforgettable Premiere Screening Night.
The money we raise will go towards: Editing, Colour Grading, Sound Mixing, Music, Festival Submissions, Screenings and Packaging the film.
All the money we raise will help us produce and promote the highest quality, most compelling, and honest film that we can make, thanks to you!
We sincerely hope that this story will inspire you as much as it has inspired us and that you find it worthy of any financial consideration that you may be able to offer. Any help and support that you can provide will go a long way in making this vision become reality.
THANK YOU!!!