EYES, FRONT.

Aim: Set in 2007, army recruit Lewis Bailey battles with his conscience as a female peer is harassed by an idolised young man in their section.

Set in 2007, Lewis Bailey is a reserved yet impressionable young recruit, undergoing basic training in the British Army. Already struggling to compete with his male peers, Lewis witnesses Joanna, a female friend being sexually assaulted by Adam, the ‘leader’ and most popular recruit in their section. Feeling the pressure to fit in, but the only witness to the crime, Lewis must choose whether to act in her defence or indulge his own ambition - to become initiated into a ‘brotherhood’ of morally questionable men.  

Eyes, Front is grounded in the real world, naturally lending itself to a social realist aesthetic. The story reveals a hidden vulnerability underneath the tough exterior of the army and its various institutions. Aiming to evoke a naturalistic yet rigid and tense ambience, the confinement of an army barrack presents a space for heightened emotions to be exposed. 

The visual style will utilise organic lighting and camerawork to reflect the protagonists state of mind and authenticity in the narrative. We experience this story introspectively through Lewis, a self-conscious young man. Every breath, every noise, and every move is raw and perceptible, while the men around him are clouded in their own strange kind of camaraderie, he struggles to fully commit to. 

Building this world of the characters and social context comes with a range of creative and logistical challenges for all departments, take a look at our concept visuals and mood boards to see how we aim to pull it off!

Impressionable minds are easily influenced by the environments and people that surround them. This story demonstrates the ability of collective attitudes to plague a naïve mind. The British Armed Forces continues to navigate a traditional culture that promotes ‘manliness’, perpetuating domination and aggression. Based on real stories and experiences of the writer and director’s family; personal experiences, and years of news articles, this story aims to shed light on the enablement of these attitudes, chronicling a young mind and its descent into this very belief.

Challenging the small-minded ‘laddish’ behaviour, we explore the more morally conflicting environment that can be created within the forces and the repercussions of this community mindset on the enlisted. We are not motivated to tell this story through an accusatory lens; but encourage a wider audience of people both inside and out of the system to consider their role - in recognising past failures, and ways  forward. No action is ever insignificant, and no action at all speaks even louder.

We're sure you're curious as to where exactly your money is going... Have a look at this pie chart that tells you exactly that! This is a rough breakdown of our costs and how the budget will be divided among each department. Rest assured, this ensures that your hard-earned cash will be put to good use, making every penny count.

Photos: @ethanbparker & @lolatylerphotography

Have a look at what you could get your hands on with our rewards! More mock-ups on the way soon, with a range of visual styles :)

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