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TRUST - Short Film

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“Trust” is a short fiction film thriller advocating for the humane right to safe, legal and local abortion care.

Maria, unable to legally access abortion at home, is forced to travel overseas. When she runs into difficulties, she has no choice but to trust a helpful stranger…

We are currently raising our post-production finishing fund. We’re need your help - support us in finishing our film.

Please donate whatever amount feels comfortable OR help by sharing this link on all your social networks. 

In many countries due to their domestic laws, vulnerable women and pregnant people do not have access to safe, legal and local abortion care. Infringing upon this can often mean incrimination - resulting in prison sentencing. This limits their ability to seek medical care, often placing them in desperate situations, which further undermines their health and well-being. 
 
We are making this film to highlight this issue.

Why we’re raising funds - Post Production Finishing Fund
After our successfully completing the first round funding in mid 2019, we raised enough funds to complete filming in late December 2019.

We’re now at the editing stage, and in the second round of funding: the post-production. All donations will go towards the post-production cost for studio time, sound mixing and grading (colour grading, tone and look of the film), marketing and film festival submissions.

Although the post-production process uses expensive equipment and facilities, we endeavour to do our utmost to source the most competitive or reduce rates. We’re all tremendously grateful to the talented artist/crew that collaborated and donated their personal time to make this project possible - but we still have some way to go.  Please donate whatever amount feels comfortable - for more details on our thanks for your donations, please see below under REWARDS. 

MORE ABOUT THE FILM
https://www.trustfilmlondon.com


READ OUR BLOG
https://www.trustfilmlondon.com/blog
 


REWARDS
For your donation you will receive:

£5 or more:
Active Ally
Thank you so much! You will receive a thank you and shout out on social media.*

£10 or more:
Faithful Friend
All of the above PLUS a virtual personalised thank you e-card sent straight to your inbox!*

£50 or more
Sister or Brother in Arms
All of the above PLUS a digital* passworded copy of the film.

£100 or more
Trusted Comrade
All of the above* PLUS an invite to the Cast and Crew Screening!

£250 or more
Ultimate Associate
All of the above* PLUS Associate Producer Credit and should we be accepted into festivals, one ticket to one of our festival screenings.**

£500 or more
Family
All of the above* PLUS Executive Producer Credit and a signed script by the lead cast.

*Please note this can only be possible if you give us your valid contact details / social media addresses / email address. 
**Please note we cannot cover travel or accommodation expenses. 



WHAT WOULD YOUR SUPPORT MEAN TO US?
It would enable us to advance our careers as filmmakers and help give women more choice.

FINANCES
We managed to secure funding in first round crowd funding to complete the film production.

This paid for:
• Location
• Crew
• Insurance
• Accountancy
• Equipment
• Food
• Vehicles to transport the equipment
• Costume and Make-up
• Set design

WE WILL BE LOOKING TO RAISE THE FINAL £3000 FOR THE FOLLOWING:
• Post Production (grading incl:)
• Sound Edit/Mixing
• Festivals
• Marketing

ANYTHING FURTHER RAISED WILL GO TOWARDS:
Further marketing for the film so we can make adverts and make sure that people far and wide see the film!

SCHEDULE
We shot in mid December and are hoping to complete the film by May
 
FUTURE OF THE PROJECT
This is a standalone short film, which I think will have success in festivals.

WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU CANNOT SUPPORT FINANCIALLY
Please share the link to our campaign and help support the film.

 
WE WILL BE SO GRATEFUL FOR ANY SUPPORT YOU CAN GIVE US, THANK YOU!

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MELANIE LIGHT
Director

"As soon as I read ‘TRUST’ I knew I had to do everything I could to help get the film made. I have always been an advocate for the pro-choice campaign, as I believe that women should have complete ownership of their own bodies. I am a huge fan of using film as an art form to highlight important issues to get a message across. I am really looking forward to being on set with Eleanor and Maria bringing this script to screen." 
 

ANNABEL BATES
Executive Producer

"It is a difficult and sometimes painful subject for us as filmmakers to broach, but nonetheless is an important one. None of us have the answers to all the questions that exploring this subject brings up, but we hope that this film will inspire our audiences to have more conversations about the topic - particularly whether changes might be possible so that all women in the world have the similar rights when it comes to abortion."


ELEANOR CROSSWELL
Writer, Co-creator & Co-producer

"The idea for this film originally sprang from conversations in 2017 with Belfast-born friend and collaborator Maria Quinn, when I was horrified to discover that not only was abortion illegal in almost all cases in Northern Ireland (in 2018 only 12 women accessed an abortion in Northern Ireland), but Northern Irish women, despite being part of the United Kingdom, were not entitled to abortions on the NHS even if they travelled to other parts of the UK. In the process of developing this film the law regarding the NHS has changed, and now the overall situation in Northern Ireland looks more hopeful after a change in abortion laws in October 2019 – which shows, along with the successful Repeal the Eighth campaign in the Republic of Ireland, how quickly this issue is evolving.

However, as we celebrate moving forward in Northern Ireland, we must also acknowledge all the other places in the world that are either standing still, including UK territories like Gibraltar where abortion is penalised with life imprisonment, or even moving backwards, like Alabama and other US states, where abortion rights are actively being rescinded. All these laws force women into vulnerable situations by having to travel to access abortion, and ultimately deny them rights over their own bodies.

I believe women not only deserve the right to choose, but also to do so with the comfort and support of their own network of friends and family around them, to be able to do so in a country or state that is familiar to them, and to not be financially penalised by being forced to pay for travel, accommodation and potentially extra time off work.

I wanted to use the power of film to not only educate audiences on a vital issue, but to tell a story that got to the human core of this. All of these laws place women – especially working class women - in a vulnerable position, and I wanted to use the thriller genre to explore what would happen if that vulnerability was exploited and that trust was misplaced." 



MARIA QUINN
Co-creator & Co-producer

"So, I’m from Belfast in Northern Ireland. When Eleanor and I first talked about our idea for this film I was living in London and we were waiting to graduate from Drama school. I had lived in London for six years at this stage and felt very passionate about the plight of women in Ireland. I remember thinking, “God, this really doesn’t affect me at the moment – because I live in England and if I was in the awful position of needing an abortion, I can get one – but if I lived at home, I couldn’t.” This thought really sat with me. And when I moved back to Belfast last year I realised I was back in that boat, although thankfully not in that position. So when Eleanor said she had written a first draft of that original idea, I felt relieved. Relieved that through her writing and vision, we were at least doing something.

Living in London, I remember feeling that people in England didn’t quite understand or realise just how different our laws “over the water” were. Women in Northern Ireland can’t access free, safe and legal abortions - still. Gay marriage is legal in the Republic but illegal up North – still. The rest of the UK didn’t really know who the DUP were until they propped up May’s government, and yet the political backdrop in Northern Ireland has had a profound effect on the rights of vulnerable people. I feel it’s our job, through this film, to hold a mirror up and show a glimpse into the world of real people being affected by old laws and backwards politics, to say “This is not OK”, and – most importantly – to affect change."



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TEAM'S BIO
 
Melanie Light
Director

Melanie Light is an emerging British genre film maker. She lives in the vibrantly diverse and political city of Bristol. She is known for her hard hitting, fantastically designed and admirably directed short films. Her ever popular film THE HERD, was invited to over 30 film festivals worldwide including Sitges, Fantaspoa and Leeds, and won numerous awards and received press from Fangoria and heavy metal magazine Metal Hammer, which reviewed the film's notable score.
 
Melanie uses genre films to bring forth issues of animal rights, feminism, the climate crisis and patricarchy. She has worked as a Standby Art Director on films and TV dramas such as The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Cockneys vs Zombies, Sony's Phillip K Dick's Electric Dreams and HBO's brand new Gangs of London. 

Melanie's directing work includes short film, THE SKIN YOU'RE IN, an animal rights film about the fur industry; an episode of SHRINK, a London based web series which deals with mental health and depression; 5 episodes for US online horror series FEAR HAUS, an Atlanta based series showcasing new genre short films; short film ESCAPE, a rape revenge thriller filmed in the Nevada Desert; SWITCH, a short female serial killer film which premiered at Film 4 FrightFest and TURN OFF YOUR BLOODY PHONE a horrifically hilarious horror set in the beautiful Phoenix Cinema in East Finchely, London.
https://www.melanielight.co.uk/
IMDB Link: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2512799/


Eleanor Crosswell
Writer/ Co Producer / Role: 'The Stranger'

Eleanor studied English Literature at King’s College London (BA Hons 1st class) before training at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) where she played lead roles in her final year including Portia in ‘The Merchant of Venice’, and Richard in ‘Richard III’. Since graduating her acting work has included short films such as ‘Ebb and Flow’ directed by BAFTA-winning Pier Wilkie, as well as theatre work for the Nuffield Theatre Southampton, The Pleasance, The Arcola and The Bunker theatre, and radio work for BBC Radio 4.  She has worked extensively with new writing, and is often sought after by directors and writers wanting to workshop, develop and devise new work.
https://www.spotlight.com/interactive/cv/2539-3429-9476
IMBD: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7353720/
 
 
Maria Quinn
Co-Producer / Role: Maria'
Maria is a LAMDA-trained actor and deviser currently living in Belfast. Her theatre credits include Women Troubles (Pintsized Productions, Northern Irish Tour), Project A (Pleasance Theatre, London), Playboy of the Western World (London Irish Rep), An Apple a Day (London Irish Rep), I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (LAMDA), The Bright and Bold Design (LAMDA), When the Rain Stops Falling (LAMDA), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Another Way Theatre), Since You've Been Gone (Flourish DC) and Oliver! (Rainbow Factory), and her screen credits include short film Ebb and Flow (dir. Pier Wilkie).
Spotlight : https://www.spotlight.com/7017-8970-2044
IMBD: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7353720/

 
Annabel Bates 
Executive Producer / Producer

Annabel trained at Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (BA Acting). She has experience in all aspects of the industry and her credits include for TV: DOCTORS (BBC), RELLIK (BBC), GUERRILLA (Sky), LUTHER (BBC), for theatre: THE PLAY ABOUT MY DAD (Jermyn Street Theatre), HEDDA GABLER (Understudy at The National Theatre and on tour as Mrs Elvsted), MUSWELL HILL (Park Theatre), OTHELLO (Leicester Square Theatre), for film: THE CARER (Hopscotch Films, Mythberg Films, Vita Nov Films), MAKING IT (Making It Productions Ltd), WHIPPED (Koto Films), and for voice over: THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE, A WITCH IN WINTER and HOW NOT TO TRAVEL THE WORLD (Royal National Institute for the Blind) and several LYNX/AXE adverts.

As well as acting, Annabel trained with Hopscotch Films in 2010 to become a Producer. She went onto work for the BBC and BFI and Honeybee Films Ltd was set up with David Cordon in 2013 where Annabel has produced eleven short films. One of the shorts: RINK was selected as part of Eastern Edge Films and Film London's: London Calling Scheme which has subsequently been accepted into Bath, East End Film Festival and London Short Film Festival where two other shorts of hers were shown. Annabel also teaches acting to children and adults.
https://www.honeybeefilms.co.uk
IMBD: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3106044/
 
 
Karl Man
Producer

Karl started out in advertising as a creative where he developed campaigns for Hermes, Fedex, HSBC & Adidas before focusing on sports with Sky Television focusing on promos and corporate sponsorship for Ford, National Geographic, Budweiser as well as Premier League Football shows and Sky Sports News. With over twenty short films credits including the Creative England commissioned film Three Women Wait for Death written by and starring BAFTA-nominated screenwriter & actress Nat Luurtsema; and Eva's Legacy, winning the 2015 Platinum Remi 48th Annual Houston International Film Festival for Dramatic Original Short. Alongside, Karl has been involved with numerous projects selected for funding by the 'Film London: London Calling scheme'. Karl has worked extensively with Honeybee Films since 2013. Recent projects include documentaries that have been recognised in numerous International film festivals.  In his commercial work, he has shot for BBC, Asda, Honda, Bloomberg, BP, Rolls Royce and M&S.
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5127789/
 

Fundraising team (5)

Eleanor Crosswell
Organizer
Raised £10 from 1 donation
Annabel Bates
Beneficiary
Melanie Light
Team member
Raised £450 from 16 donations
Karl Man
Team member
Raised £52 from 3 donations
Maria Quinn
Team member
Raised £25 from 3 donations

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