We are the Canon.
‘If you want to get rich, start a religion.’ – L Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology.
A psychological drama about the leader of a mysterious cult who finds himself trapped within his own web of lies with two of his most devoted followers.
Do you feel left behind? Like you’ve fallen through the cracks? Alone, without a community?
It doesn’t have to be that way.
We have another way.
The Way of the Canon.
May the light guide us all and give us the strength that we might do our duty.
The wheels are finally in motion and preparations have been made. Now is the time to celebrate. Look at all that we have done, all that we will do and all that will come after.
God, who writes this shit?
Joseph Layton is a liar, a con-man, and a coward. That’s bad enough, but he’s also the prophet of The Canon – a cult that claims to offer a better path for the lost.
A better path involving a mass suicide, which really sucks for those who are lost.
It’s a lie, of course. With Layton’s two most devoted followers still awaiting instructions on the eve of Judgement Day they follow him to church and catch him mid-escape.
He didn’t foresee that coming.
The Mire is the new feature film coming from the minds of Apple Park Films and Familiar Stranger Films - two South England production companies ready to make an impact on the UK Film Landscape.
Director Adam Nelson is the creative mind behind award winning short film Emotional Motor Unit, and the National Film Award nominated feature film Little Pieces. Following on from the themes of family, belonging, and society found in Nelson’s other work, The Mire examines the dangers of what can happen when those looking for a family and belonging are seduced by charismatic lies, and what happens when their reality curdles.
With the support of our contributors and backers we will be able to put this gripping and intense story of Joseph, Marshall, and Hannah on film. The story of three lost people trapped in a web of their own creation and racing towards the deadliest of conclusions.
Scriptwriter Chris Watt had this to say about his awakening to the story of The Mire:
"I wrote The Mire with the intention of creating a small exploitation horror. What emerged in the end was something far closer to a thriller, a tight, time-is-running-out piece that feels far more immediate and relevant, a film about the phenomenon of cults and the impact it can have on a group of characters. I’ve always been interested in exploring the nature of greed and belief in the 21st Century and the thin line between faith and obsession, particularly the nature of manipulation against the vulnerable and easily influenced, and so the three main characters represent many of these things, and in the character of Joseph Layton, the leader of the fictional cult known as The Canon, lies the moral precipice, a man of lies, whose deception finally catches up with him. 100 pages of screenplay later, this is a story that will lead you down a dark path that you never expected."
Join Us.
With a brilliant cast and experienced crew, The Mire is set to be an important and contemporary exploration of how beliefs can be weaponised. The stars are aligning for this film, but we're not there yet.
Through extensive budgeting and scheduling, we’ve managed to reduce the ‘hard costs’ to shoot The Mire down to £4,000. By design, it's an intimate and contained production but there are still costs to be met. As we explore other funding options, we've set up this campaign to jump-start the production process.
It's not just salvation we offer in return for your donations - we've developed a range of incentivising perks to commemorate your involvement in the film. From a digital download of the soundtrack composed by Imraan Husain to a chance to appear in the film, there are plenty of options to best fit your enlightenment.
What Price can you put on the Truth?
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The largest expense is for our location. The Mire is a contained, claustrophobic and intense film, set within the walls of the church of the Canon. This cost allows us to hire the perfect venue for this dark story, with room to dress it with the cult's symbols and livery.
Any additional support we receive will go a long way towards making the shoot that little bit more comfortable for the cast and crew. In the current climate and shooting around COVID, the more comfortable we can make the cast and crew, the better.
If we don’t reach our entire goal we will use any funds raised to cover the location costs and any costs that prioritise cast and crew safety as this will take priority during a COVID safe shoot.
A Better World Awaits.
In supporting The Mire you are supporting the growth of the UK independent film sector outside of its usual home of London. Many great independent films are made in the capital each year, but there are stories to be told in locations around the country, especially along the south coast. Supporting The Mire supports an already burgeoning film community in Portsmouth and allows the local creative community to grow, telling more interesting and unique stories.
After the success of the short film REANIMATED, an electrifying adaptation of the Re-Animator short story which premiered at the 2020 H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival, Familiar Stranger Films is commencing production of its first feature film in collaboration with Apple Park Films.
Apple Park Films have a successful history of producing quality work. Short film Emotional Motor Unit received critical acclaim, played in international film festivals and scooped awards at many of them. They also produced feature film Little Pieces, which was nominated for a 2016 National Film Award alongside films such as Macbeth (the Fassbender one), The Danish Girl, and Youth. Their latest short film was a part of the I Am An Addict horror anthology, due for release in the near future.
The Mire marks Apple Park Films’ second foray into the world of feature films and aims to fulfil our corporate mandate of localised filmmaking, boosting the indie film scene in our home city of Portsmouth.
Reckonings, Risks & Challenges
In the current, uncertain times, the risks and challenge facing filmmakers are greater than ever. COVID is a very real and present threat for any film shoot, especially a contained thriller such as The Mire.
We’ve given ourselves extended pre-production time in order to meticulously plan the shooting schedules, ensuring we complete principal photography as quickly and safely as we possibly can. Two members of the production crew have completed the Screenskills Covid production training and will be employing this to ensure safety protocols are followed and that our cast and crew are kept as safe as possible at all times.
While filmmaking can be an unpredictable process, the experienced crew will put in the work to ensure the shoot and post production process moves as efficiently as possible.
We also face the risk of further lockdown restrictions resulting in a delay to our shoot. If this happens we will work closely with our location partners and cast in order to ensure we can get the shoot up and running again as soon as it is safe to do so.
Share the Gospel
Even if you are unable to support us financially, spreading the word about The Mire and helping us generate buzz will help to no end. Word of mouth is so important for independent films such as our, so sharing our project and talking about it on social media will help us build our profile for The Mire.
Bless you for reading, and may the Canon guide you forwards.
