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My name's Daniel Maslen and I'm a graduated student from Glasgow Clyde College, currently studying Digital Film Production at Ravensbourne University, London.
Directing and Producing films has been my ambition since starting college four years ago. Making films has been a passion of mine since I held a camera as a child, but the fantasy genre has inspired me for as long as I can remember.
Scotland has always been a focal point for the arts, with a long tradition of literature, theatre and independent film. Teaming up with colleagues from Glasgow Clyde who share my passion for the fantasy genre, we've launched a project that's come to accommodate students, freelancers and talent from all over the UK, to complete the production of The Appetite: A concept three years in the making.
OUR AMBITION
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The production is headed by two Producers, Daniel Maslen and James Penders. Our ambition is to create a short film shot in some of Scotland's most beautiful locations and use it as a catalyst; a product that can be placed into festival circuits, commissioned into a feature-length project and used as a springboard for launching the film's governing body, Magnox Productions.
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Magnox is one of several production banners that will be using The Appetite's distribution as a means of promotion and opportunity to garner further funding and support for future projects. These projects will subsequently help provide a cash flow into the Scottish and UK independent film industry.
OUR PLAN
With The Appetite already partially complete, we're in need of your support to help us through the remainder of shooting. The final shooting will take place between September and February 2019. The film will then go into post production from March onwards, with a first draft expected to be ready for 2019's Autumn festival submission period.
Festivals we hope to screen at include:
- Edinburgh International Film Festival
- Berlin International Film Festival
- London Lift-Off
- Toronto International Film Festival
- Toronto After Dark
- Scottish BAFTA
Festival submissions will be handled through online agencies like Film Freeway and Withoutabox. As our profile builds and The Appetite reaches the end of its festival life cycle, we'll host the final product via video-on-demand services, such as Amazon Prime. Magnox Productions is intended to become a limited company, which will act as a platform for building The Appetite into a feature production, using the success of the short as an example to attract further investment.
MEET OUR CAST
The Appetite has brought together a range of incredible talent, who've collectively featured in films and TV shows such as Under the Skin, Still Game and Monarch of the Glen.
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Starring Robbie Heath as 'Simon'.
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Co-Starring Candace Nicholson as 'Esther'.
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Hayley Bristow as 'Nina'.
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Lee Fanning as 'Luther'.
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And Tom Russell as 'Eddie'.
WHAT WE NEED
WE"RE ALMOST THERE!!!
Our production has been managed by a large group of talented students and up and coming talent, numbering some forty creatives! Last year, we received £5000 from a generous donor to launch the production and now we need your help to see it through completion!
Your contributions will be invested into three main areas:
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PAYMENTS
As part of the next stage for our film, we would want to put the majority of our budget towards providing payment for the incredible cast and crew who've believed in our vision. As a production, The Appetite has been an intense and rewarding experience. Our aim is to provide a comfortable environment for our talent to work in.
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LOCATIONS AND LOGISTICS
So far, The Appetite has hugely benefited from generous charities and owners who've let us film in their properties, parks and forests. Any contributions made will go towards paying these locations and providing transportation, catering and accommodation, so that we can continue to film in some of the most beautiful areas of the country.
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ART AND PROSTHETICS
Making any form of fantasy film requires a lot of world-building; from creatures, to castles! With the help of Gibbet FX, we've constructed several pieces of photo-realistic monster costume and practical effects. The remainder of our budget will be put into the art department to oversee the last pieces of latex and prosthetic, so we can provide the most immersive experience possible.
Even half of the intended budget to be raised will see us through all the expenses required to create a feature-quality film for our audience, and your contributions will have a huge impact, helping us create paid work opportunities for the amazing talent who've made this journey with us.
So that just begs the question...
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
Simple answer: A LOT!!
Everyone involved with The Appetite means the world to us, and so do you!! Anyone contributing to our campaign will have a plethora of perks to choose from!
These perks include:
- Social media shout-outs,
- A copy of the film pre-release,
- Dinner with the Producers,
- VIP invites to the official screening,
- Executive Producer credits and more!
Look to the sidebar to see a full list of options and feel free to give us a message for more details.
THE IMPACT
Our project is comprised of creatives from all disciplines of the industry; from marketing to production, to graphic design and The Appetite's management team have produced dozens of short films collectively. Thanks to a staggered shooting system and a production strategy which has been in place since 2016, we're ready to provide a standard of film that will help raise the value of the independent film community.
WHY THE APPETITE?
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The Appetite is our first contribution to the fantasy genre and we've been excited to pay homage to the dark tones of Scottish folklore, whilst also taking a new direction from your standard 'epic adventure' narrative.
Our film is rooted as a drama, inspired by horror and fantasy films such as Pans Labyrinth and The Babadook. We present our antagonist as a creative device; a catalyst who shows us the worst in our characters; their flaws and ultimately, how they overcome them.
Traditional fantasy films have commonly followed a protagonist on their path to defeat an antagonist, who is often portrayed as a 'dark lord' figure. We wanted to take The Appetite in the direction of more modern fantasy approaches, exploring the grey area of morality as a dark 'coming of age' story. By focusing on the drama elements of our narrative and the tensions between our characters, we are allowed to introduce the fantasy influences slowly. Using the classic 'you must pay for your sins' story device, coupled with intense character-driven conflict and the vast, beautiful landscapes of the Scottish countryside, we will bring our audience into another world of Ghouls and Demons, all whilst keeping our story grounded and human.
Combining all these elements, The Appetite brings a creatively diverse take to both the fantasy and drama genres, providing our audience with a compelling and original experience as we ask ourselves who the real monsters are...
