Blackthorn - A Short Documentary

by Maddy Walters in Hereford, Herefordshire, United Kingdom

Total raised £150

£1,500 target 42 days left
10% 4 supporters
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 5th March 2025 at 11:22pm

A short, poetic documentary that celebrates Blackthorn Ritualistic Group as they blend Hereford folklore with a contemporary outlook.

by Maddy Walters in Hereford, Herefordshire, United Kingdom

Blackthorn is a 10-minute poetic documentary exploring Herefordshire’s Blackthorn Ritualistic Folk group as they reimagine ancient pagan traditions for a modern, inclusive audience. Against a backdrop of misty landscapes and centuries-old rituals, 'Blackthorn' blends stories of folk heritage with progressive ideals, bringing together diverse voices in a powerful, community centered revival of the Wassail.

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About us:

Maddy (Producer)

Wilfy (Co-Director)

Will (Co-Director)

Linah (Editor)

Our team is committed to bringing the story of Blackthorn to life through innovative visual techniques, including cyanotype animation (example below) and other forms of mixed media. With members from across the UK, we are excited to explore the profound history of Herefordshire folklore and the individuals who embody it in 2025.

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The image above was created by artist and photographer Edd Carr, a great influence on our mixed media choices. (Edd Carr, 2023)

Where will your money go?

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As London-based students, the core expenses for our documentary project lie in travel to and around Herefordshire, ensuring we can authentically capture the community and its story. 

Securing reliable industry standard equipment is essential to capturing the best possible footage, while food and drink are fundamental for sustaining our crew during production.

Additional costs include processing and printing our cyanotype materials, as well as distributing the finished film to festivals. Our goal is to showcase the Herefordshire community to the widest audience possible!

Thank you so much for any donations!

Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£50 or more

0 of 20 claimed

Exclusive Cyanotype Prints

Get your very own cyanotype print, shot and developed by our directors. They may be of the Wassail, the Blackthorn group itself or of Herefordshire's flora and fauna - yours to keep forever.

£10 or more

Early Access

Get to see our documentary before it's out with an exclusive vimeo link, hot off the press.

£30 or more

Credits Mention

Get a 'Special Thanks' credit at the end of our film for all you've done to help us!

£100 or more

1 of 2 claimed

Blackthorn Gifts

Get a gift basket of Blackthorn goodies such as cider from the local area, cyanotype prints and wearable merchandise as well as Early Access and a Special Thanks in our credits.

£200 or more

Executive Producer Credit

Get up close and personal with the team with our most exclusive reward. By becoming an exec producer, you will not only be in our credits but also have the opportunity to see behind the scenes content and chat with our producer about how everything is going! You will also get our earlier rewards such as Early Access and some Blackthorn goodies.

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