'Evocate'

Hello, and welcome to our crowdfunding page for our exciting new project 'Evocate'. Thank you so much for taking the time to read our page. We’re hoping to raise funds to bring this neo-noir sci-fi thriller to life! 

So, what is 'Evocate' about?

WHAT?

'Evocate' tells the tale of a mother who is pushed down the path of addiction by the grief of losing her only son. In a last desperate grasp for closure, she becomes a guinea pig in an experimental trial, sending her spiralling into her memories and away from reality.

The story focuses on our protagonist Lilith, a troubled woman who we follow on her journey with grief, addiction and survival. One day, she is introduced to a new experimental drug that allows her to relive a memory from the past. However, there is a catch and things take a turn for the worse. 

We don't want to give too much away but we can assure you that this film will take you on an emotional journey with the characters, through the use of visual effects, sound design and meticulous cinematography. 

WHO?

We have an incredibly talented crew lined up! 

First off, we have Zéna Labaki who will be directing this project. Zéna first found her love of filmmaking through her passion for performing arts. After realising she preferred being behind the camera rather than in front she went on to study A-level Film Studies where she found her niche. Zéna has been creating short films and creative content for 5 years now and is delighted to be directing her longest and biggest project yet!

Next, we have Jemima Oakshott who will be our producer! Jemima has the important role of running the show, she will ensure we are working safely, especially with the likes of Covid-19. Jemima has been involved in productions for the last 4 years and is looking forward to collaborating with the director to ensure smooth pre-production and filming schedules. 

Our cinematographer and director of photography will be Theodore Ryan. Having worked as a camera assistant for the past few years Theo has developed a wealth of experience on set shooting music videos, commercials and narrative pieces. In his last year of university, he aims to harness this knowledge, creating a stylish final piece inspired by the visual tropes of modern neo-noir dramas. This will be an opportunity not only to collate his experiences but also an exciting moment to define his own aesthetic sensibilities.

The brilliant Andrew White will be our production designer. His previous experience with art and photography will aid him through the visual design of the production. He aims to create a dystopian landscape to juxtapose that of the protagonists fall from her prosperous past to her current state of mind. He will be designing the sets, costumes and props for the production.

Last but certainly not least, we have the excellent Johnny Koukouvanis as our editor and camera assistant! Johnny has created and contributed to the production of multiple short films and music videos in both Greece and the UK.  Through this film, he wants to be challenged to learn new techniques and apply them successfully. He wants to work with all our team members, exchange creative ideas and get inspired. 

WHY?

In order to create a 15-minute film with a small crew and cast, our producer and director have worked out how much each element will cost. We aim to submit our final piece into film festivals to help us gain recognition and hopefully some awards. Due to the added pressures of Covid- 19, we want to guarantee the complete safety of our cast and crew and therefore require extra funding for personal protective equipment such as masks and antibacterial wipes. This also means that we are relying on more funding than we would have in previous years.

Our goal is to raise £1600. Here is a breakdown of the budget:

VISUAL STYLE

We're aiming to create a neo-noir sci-fi film. If you've seen films like 'Blade Runner' (Ridley Scott, 1982) and 'Drive' (Nicolas Winding Refn, 2011) then you will be familiar with the neo-noir style and look. If not, then here are some stills of films we're inspired by:

THANK YOU!

Lastly, we want to say a massive thank you for taking the time to learn more about our new film and any contributions big or small. We really hope you will consider helping us on this journey.