Birdcage - A UWE Graduation Student Film Production

Hi there!

We are Alicia Okubadejo and Jacob Harrow, two final year students studying a BA Filmmaking Degree at the University of the West of England, and the Director and Producer of our exciting graduation short ‘Birdcage’.

We are really thrilled to announce that we are beginning to raise funds for ‘Birdcage’ - an important story and cautionary tale tackling colorism and systemic racism within modern technology.

With Artificial Intelligence constantly growing and developing, we think it’s essential to tell Birdcage’s story now.

We are hoping to raise £2000 to help support the funding towards the production process

'Birdcage' is a coming of age and soft Sci-fi production.

Set in 2099, Britain, devastated by a viral outbreak over a decade before, it follows the plight of Moses and Zeke, two brothers in the cyber war. Moses, Zeke's older brother takes him to the sea for the first time but they encouter a new world threat on the coast.

Tone: INTIMATE, ORGANIC, BLEAK, CHARACTER-DRIVEN.

Story: Set in 2099, Britain, ‘Birdcage’ is a tale of brotherhood following two dark-skinned brothers, Zeke and Moses, on their journey to see the sea for the first time. Backdropped against a bleak dystopian world, in which the last remaining dark-skinned humans - measured from a Band-11 through to 19 - are targeted by failed AI creatures, called ‘Sweeps’, and forced to live in military-controlled safe zones.

Characters: ZEKE is Birdcage’s protagonist. He’s grown up in the cyber war and knows nothing of life outside of it. At 13 years of age, Zeke is curious, intelligent, and stubborn. He’s a dreamer and idealist, constantly yearning for new experiences outside of the safe zone where he lives.

MOSES, a soldier in his early 20s, is Zeke’s older brother. Playful, charismatic and a little impetuous, Moses was once as positive as Zeke, but his cheerful attitude is now a front. His experience of working as a soldier on the frontline has enlightened him to the injustices all dark-skinned soldiers face in the cyber war.

Director’s Statement:

Hi everyone, my name is Alicia - the Creator and Director of ‘Birdcage’.

Growing up as a Black woman from a seaside city, I never saw my own experiences represented on screen throughout my adolescence. As an emerging filmmaker now, I’m deeply passionate about championing voices in stories centered around youth – particularly from Black and Brown perspectives. I wrote Birdcage as a project that tackles the representation of dark-skinned characters in its core story, to provide its cast with opportunities and roles that genuinely align with their own identities.

Furthermore, as a black filmmaker, I think it’s critical we begin to see more stories addressing more nuanced forms of racism that we don’t see everyday.

Colorism - a discrimination favoring lighter skin tones, is the main form of prejudice explored in ‘Birdcage’.

Our Team:

Director, Co-Writer - Alicia Okubadejo

Co-Writer - Nick Curtis-Purnell

Producer - Jacob Harrow

Cinematographer - Amelia Eaton

Camera Operator - Leo Whitecross

Gaffer - Luke Mercurio

VFX Artist - Gideon Davies

Editor - Luke Hay

Sound - Hani Monawar, Jaiden McAuley

Production Manager – Alex Mitchell

Production Designer – Charlie Smith

Assistant Production Designer – Pearl Ukairo-Morris

Location Scout - Kieran Moses