Hi adventurers, I'm Chris.

I'm a filmmaker, and I really want you all to be a part of my next project. Your donations will allow us to hire the right crew, rent the perfect location, and make a film that you will be proud of!

STARBOARD - PITCH DECK (click to see it in full)

Starboard is a film about masculinity and anger, about feeling life slip though your fingers, and not being able to do anything about it.

I spent much of my twenties in a panicked frenzy, trying to prove to the world that I belonged, that I was worth something. As a 20-year-old Italian immigrant, my hunger was as figurative as it was literal, and pursuing my filmmaking dream often clashed with the harsh realities of paying rent and putting food on the table, without any family support to rely on.

As the years went by, I grew increasingly jaded and angry at the world, and the chip on my shoulder reached embarrassingly large proportions. It is still there in many ways, but I like to think that it doesn’t weigh me down quite as much now. I owe that to the people who taught me to look outward, to trust more, and to swim freely in this great sea rather than drown in its depths.

It is through the kindness of those people that I am trying to become a better man, and that is the impetus behind Starboard.

The main characters, Nico and Anton, embody two sides of human nature. One is the burning desire to do great things, to be seen and appreciated. The other is the world-weariness that comes with experience, with having weathered life’s many storms. Their story shows how both attitudes can lead to a cycle of hubris, arrogance and pain, if all we can see is our own secret wounds.

At a time when masculinity is in deep crisis and the toxic discourse around it threatens the future of many young men, Starboard asks us to shed the armour we carry, to open up and breathe deeply, to look each other in the eye and say “Come, let’s swim together”.

FILM SYNOPSIS

Anton is a celebrated genius. But he’s also an unapologetically grumpy bastard. He owns a small cottage on the coast, miles away from civilisation, nosy neighbours and nagging family members. This is where he is working on his secretive magnum opus, a painting nobody is allowed to see.

Anton’s only concession to luxury is having a private chef, a young man called Nico, who cooks all his meals and lives in a small single bedroom at the cottage. Nico takes huge pride in his dishes, and looks at them as pieces of art, but Anton doesn’t seem to appreciate the effort that goes into each breakfast, lunch and dinner. Quite the opposite, he grows increasingly antagonistic towards the young chef.

The harder Nico tries, the more Anton seems to hate him for it, until the tension between them erupts into a violent confrontation, and their relationship seems to shatter. In the turbulent aftermath, they discover the roots of each other’s frustration, and tentatively seek to reforge their bond through unexpected acts of kindness.

TONE AND STYLE

Starboard is inspired by quietly brooding films like Ammonite, The Power of The Dog and The Banshees of Inisherin.

It is a tale of isolation and meaningful silences, where the remote landscape reflects the characters’ inner turmoil, but it is ultimately a story about the power of connection and companionship.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

A widescreen aspect ratio will emphasise the physical and emotional gap between Anton and Nico, giving shape to their miscommunication, framing them against an environment that seems to further alienate them from one another and from the rest of the world. The palette of the film is all earth tones, from warm reds and mustard yellows in the interiors to muted teals and deep greens on the seafront.

SOUNDSCAPE

A dreamy, surreal tapestry of synth strings, gently ebbing in and out, like a tide punctuating the rising tension between Anton and Nico.

The sound of the sea itself becomes a droning texture, ever-present in the background of the story. Think of the music of Sigur Ros, or the soundtrack to The Outrun or All of Us Strangers.

THE CHARACTERS

ANTON: A celebrated artist now in his twilight years. Anton is mercurial, stubborn and broody, unlikely to change his mind about the world. Underneath his inscrutable exterior, he hides a paralysing fear of his own mortality, a sense of impending doom that sends him down a spiral of anger and frustration. Anton sees in Nico all the pride and beauty of youth, and he resents him for it. Yet through their relationship, Anton will learn to feel alive again.

NICO: A young and talented private chef working for Anton. Nico initially idolises the ageing artist, trying his best to please and impress him with beautiful culinary creations. Nico grows insecure and frustrated as Anton takes every opportunity to mock or criticise him, until he finally bites back during a bitter argument. In the fallout, Nico discovers Anton’s hidden vulnerability, and in the process regains faith in himself.

THE CREATIVE TEAM

CHRISTIAN DAMETTO - WRITER AND DIRECTOR

Christian (he/him) is a creative powerhouse with 6 years of experience in broadcasting, from high-end factual television to global smash hit podcast series.

He was part of the production team behind the multi-Emmy Award-winning Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy, and has developed hit audio series for BBC Sounds and Audible. He produced the short film ‘Here’ which was selected as part of the ‘Best of Fest’ programme at the BFI Flare Film Festival 2025.

THE CAST

MARK BURNS - Anton

Mark discovered a passion for acting by chance 14 years ago after taking his Son to be an SA on a movie and being told by the Casting Agent he had an "interesting look".

Some 14 Years later, Mark has worked hard to learn his craft and has been lucky enough to be on set with some of the greats in the industry, including Guillermo Del Toro, Ken Loach and Danny Boyle, observing and learning along the way, seeing this as a real privilege.

Mark remains involved with grassroots local film making in Newcastle, working alongside the next generation of writers/directors and producers. Recently he has branched out into theatre and has written his first play. He does not know where this path may lead, he is enjoying every second of the journey.

GIL SIDAWAY - Nico

Gil is an actor of British and Portuguese descent. He grew up in the countryside not far from Lisbon, performing in theatre and film. He moved to the UK to train as an actor, and since graduating from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire he has worked on stage, screen and in audio.

He's currently busy shooting a number of film projects and you can hear his voice on a recent audio drama episode of Doctor Who, as well as in a number of audiobook titles available on Audible.

The stunning imagery conjured in Starboard is close to his experience growing up - the remote landscapes, earthy tones, the closeness to the sea and the passion for cooking and food.