Overview
Ten with a Flag is a dystopian story about individual rights in a centralised society based on the short story of the same name by American author Joseph Paul Haines. This 15 minutes short film is set to be shot in mid November 2021 in and around Edinburgh, Scotland. This project is part of the MA Film programme at Edinburgh Napier University and Screen Academy Scotland.
Instagram: @tenwithaflag.film
Plot Summary
In a society governed by a numbered ranking system, Gemma and Jack are informed by the state that their yet-to-be-born baby is rated a perfect '10', and, as such, will be a prodigious asset to society.
However, the system also uncovers a red flag – a rare pairing - which indicates that the parents will have to make a sacrifice to raise the child. Concerned, the couple are told that the flag provides them with an ‘option’ to terminate the pregnancy if they decide that the risk is too great.
As the prospective parents of a '10', the state upgrades the couple's social rating from a '6' to an '8', and they are offered a new house to raise the baby in the best conditions.
Unsure how to proceed, the couple acclimatise to their new lifestyle at different rates. For Gemma, who’s ambition has always been to seek security at the top of the social ladder, the change offers a glimpse into a luxurious and stable future. For Jack, the shift only acts to distract from his concerns about the flag.
Moodboard, Style & Film References
Director's Note
While science fiction lovers dreamed of instant communications and a world of knowledge at our fingertips, the future has now indeed cashed in on the present.
However, if we want to use science to conquer nature, we need to be cautious in how we go about it. Progress for the sake of progress is not always a positive thing.
Ten With a Flag' touches this matter, triggering a discussion of whether human rights such as individual freedom should give place to IT development and medical advances, including future health prediction.
We believe that ‘Ten With a Flag’ will resonate with audiences and provide topic for discussion and reflection long after the film’s release.
Director Vasco Alexandre's multi-award winning short film of 2020
Why We Need Your Help
To be able to execute this film at its greatest potential we need your help. We want to be able to invest in this project properly and to compensate each actor fairly, to source locations that complements the story we so much believe in and to have the right gear to enhance the storytelling.
This project will move forward no matter the amount acquired through funding of our own. However, every contribution makes the difference. Nevertheless, investing in our project does not come without benefits. We offer rewards for your contribution, which can be found in the "perk" section.
Risks & Challenges
There is always risk in film making and this project is not excluded from that. We will however make this film no matter the outcome of this crowdfunding campaign as this film is part of our MA Film programme at Edinburgh Napier University. This means that your contribution will be utilised at its fullest towards the completion of this project. This is the third film we are making this year, so we are versed in the film making process. However, this is a volatile business and there are without question going to be bumps on our road to finalising this project.
Meet the Team
Are you with us?
Any donation makes the difference!
You probably have some questions. What if we don’t reach our goal? How do we support inclusion and diversity? You can find the answers to many questions in our FAQ. If you have more questions, do not hesitate to contact us.