'No Trousers'

Dear friends, family, and film enthusiasts,

We're so excited to introduce our short film, 'No Trousers,' and invite you to be a part of its creation. This story, written and directed by Max Raphael, delves into the themes of memory, family, food and the enduring power of cherished traditions.

We've already raised some of the funds we need to complete our film, but we need your help to get us over the line and help us make 'No Trousers' the best film it can be!

What's it about?

'No Trousers' provides an intimate insight into how nourishing the body can bridge the gap between generations, as we sit in on an afternoon shared by grandson and grandparent. George, an ambitious young chef, visits his grandmother Elsbeth for their weekly catch-up. However, Elsbeth's failing memory makes it challenging to remember when she last saw her grandson, or when he's due next. George, striving to restore her memory, attempts to 'treat' her with food, recreating dishes from his childhood. Through George's efforts, we are reminded that there is no greater expression of love than providing the comfort of a good meal.

Your Support:

We genuinely believe that 'No Trousers' deserves to be made and watched by many. If you choose to support our project, we will be immensely grateful and ensure appropriate credit for your contribution. As a co-funder, you'll receive perks (including signed posters, a copy of the script, a personalised thank-you from the production team, and an exclusive invite to our premiere screening with a Q&A session and drinks reception).

If you are unable to support us financially, we completely understand, but we'd be grateful if you could help us spread the word. Together, we can reach the right people who share our passion for storytelling, and for this film.

We are super fortunate to have already received a preliminary grant to cover the cost of our 16mm film stock and development, something that was crucial to realising our vision of this film.

However, we still need your support to bring the rest of this project to life! We want to pay our dedicated cast and crew for their talent and hard work, cover costume, makeup, set, and equipment expenses. Every penny raised will go towards producing the best possible film.

Who are we?

Director/Writer: Max Raphael

Max is a writer, director and actor from London. He's been in the film industry since he was a kid - though he actually did used to be a chef! His last project, "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" had him shooting in Berlin for six months - so naturally, for this film, he wanted to return closer to home. His writing work includes the stage plays '05:59' and 'A People's Tapestry', and his film credits include Disney's 'Black Beauty' and Sony Pictures' 'Slaughterhouse Rulez'. He's beyond excited to bring 'No Trousers' to life.

Editor: Barney Pilling ACE

Barney is an editor hailing from Manchester. After growing up immersed in the northern music scene, he moved into TV, editing legendary shows like 'Spooks'. In 2014 he began a long running collaboration with Wes Anderson, editing 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' (and earning OSCAR and BAFTA nominations for Best Editing in the process). He's cut every Anderson project since, the latest of which, a series of short films based on Roald Dahl's stories, has just released on Netflix.

Director of Photography: Marti Guiver

Marti is a cinematographer based in London. Having worked his way up the ladder over a long career in film that belies his age, he's become a 16mm specialist, and has already got an impressive catalogue, shooting for companies like Dior, Coca Cola and Nike. His work encompasses features, documentaries, music videos - and of course, shorts. He's just wrapped his latest project - a film exploring Indian street magic - shot on 16mm in Mumbai and Goa.

Producers: Anya Gerasimenko, Ivo Pope

Anya is a producer from London. After training as an actress at the prestigious Sylvia Young school, she moved into theatre production whilst at university in Bristol - mounting shows there, in London and at Edinburgh Fringe to stunning success. Now back in London, she's back in film, and is ecstatic to bring 'No Trousers' to life.

Ivo is a producer, writer and comic from London. Having gone from university straight into an internship at Big Talk Productions, he comes with some impressive pedigree. His writing is equally successful, having sold out shows in London and Edinburgh, as well as being broadcast on the BBC and opening the Comedy Arena at 2023's Latitude Festival.

Composer: Jered Sorkin

Jered is a composer and musician from Yorkshire, who studied his masters in composing for film at The National Film and Television School.

His work includes music for the 2013 Oscar Nominated animation 'Head Over Heels' and the 2015 BAFTA winner and Oscar nominated 'Boogaloo and Graham'. His feature films include the thriller 'A Patch of Fog' starring Stephen Graham and Conleth Hill and 'The Gold Laden Sheep and the Sacred Mountain' - an award winning documentary, which opened at the BFI London Film Festival in 2019.

Our Timeline:

We plan to shoot 'No Trousers' over four days in mid-November this year (17th-20th) and complete post-production by Christmas. Subsequently, we aim to submit our film to numerous local and international film festivals throughout the next year, including Tribeca, Gotham, NYC Indie, BFI London, London Short, Cannes, SXSW, and more.

Why make it?

'No Trousers initially began as something very inward - I started writing it initially as a way of reckoning with my own fears about people in my life ageing and beginning to slip away - but very quickly George and Elsbeth's relationship outgrew my own perspective and became the most important thing about the film. Those characters are the heart of it, and I felt like I just had to bring them to life. Both their experiences are so universal, but I wanted to engage with what is, admittedly, already a very talked about (and written about) subject from a new perspective. This isn't a film about memory loss. It's a young person's experience of nurturing someone who has always nurtured them. These characters and their story demanded telling. It would almost be destructive not to.'

~ Max

Budget Breakdown:

So far, we've raised £2,000 out of our projected budget. This initial amount covers our film stock, camera, and processing expenses. The remaining money will cover other crucial costs, including camera/lighting/sound equipment, crew fees, hair and makeup artists, wardrobe, set decoration, and transport. A significant portion will also go towards paying our talented actors. Contributions will also aid in post-production, distribution, and festival submissions to ensure our film reaches a wide audience.

Join Us!

Let's come together to make 'No Trousers' a unique, meaningful and truly cinematic film. Your support is what will truly bring this movie to life. We're excited to have you on this journey with us.

Donate now and join our team - we promise you, it'll be well worth it.

Thank you for your consideration, and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or require additional information.

With love,

Max, Anya and Ivo

Per GoFundMe’s Ts&Cs, we are obliged to inform you that no raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made.