Hi Everyone, we are Tess Annan and Joe Madden and we're the Writer-Directors of 'Travel Socks'.
'Travel Socks' tells the story of a young Northern Irish woman who makes the journey over to England to have an abortion. A traumatic experience at the best of times, the world has gone into international lockdown due to the spread of COVID19. With transport restricted, accommodation closed, and human interaction limited, Orla undergoes her journey alone. 1 in 3 women in the UK have an abortion. Covid-19 has shone a brighter spotlight on the lack of resource and inadequate support for women, particularly in Northern Ireland. We want to provide our audience with a frank representation of what the procedure is like, empowering those who feel the unnecessary shame attached to the experience and to hopefully help bring the conversation to the table.
'Travel Socks' is based on a true account of a mutual friend. We really feel this story needs to be told, as for too long women’s needs have been pushed to the side and the experience our protagonist goes through.
With your help we hope our story can provide women who might be in similar situation, to realise that what they are going though is completely normal and that they should seek help and advice, and not to suffer through it alone.
What We Need & What You Get
For 'Travel Socks' to be produced, at the level the story deserves, demands a larger budget than the average short film. We are seeking £16,000 for a one month preproduction and 3 day production shoot.
This amount will cover the fundamentals of making a short Film: our cast and crew, a cinematic camera and lighting package from Panavision, locations, food, travel, accommodation and a festival package once the film is complete.
Short films tend to be an altruistic endeavour. Our contributors will do so out of good will and the love of cinema. Our hope is that if you share our views and beliefs, then your contributions go towards something that is more than your standard short film project as they will aid the important campaign for 'Pro-choice' across the globe.
The Impact
With the recent legalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland and the lack of support that women had, especially during the first lockdown, makes this story relevant. We’ve all experienced the effects of COVID19 and with the number of abortions growing, this is an important message to convey. In light of recent turning over of Roe vs Wade, barriers are still being put up to control women and their choices. In helping us make travel socks we hope to bring awareness to those who feel like they can't be heard.