Arts University Bournemouth has provided £900 of match funding
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Bournemouth, Dorset, United Kingdom
Aim: A sailor has been forced into retirement after a terminal diagnosis. Now housebound, his daughter moves back in to care for him.
Andrew, a sailor, has been forced into retirement after a terminal diagnosis. He spends his days reminiscing about his return to the sea. Now housebound, his estranged daughter, Jamie, feels obligated to move back in and care for him, but is overwhelmed by her newfound responsibilities.
As both characters avoid confronting this unforeseen loss, the once comforting family home begins to turn hostile, forcing them to help each other face their grief.
Illness is a personal but common struggle. We grow up around constant diagnoses, constant fear hanging in the air, and watching how quickly your body can turn against itself. And I personally have felt a lot of things, all confusing. I have felt sadness and fear, but I have also felt anger and guilt.
I know now I am not alone in feeling this way, but at the beginning, I felt I was. I was ashamed and scared of my emotions, of how I coped or how I didn't. I needed someone to let me know that there is no right or wrong way to feel when faced with loss, whatever that loss may be.
This film is for anyone who has felt some form of loss, for anyone who is losing anything, and to let them know that their grief is their own and they should never feel ashamed or alone in how they feel in the face of it.
- A message from the director (Maya)
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP?
Our project may be 15 minutes long but with our ambitious concepts, we need as much help as we can get to fully actualise the script!
Budgeting is extremely important in not just our crowdfunder process but in filmmaking overall too. This is why it's so important for us to work out the correct amount of money each area needs in order to succeed. To help everyone who contributes to this page and the making of this film, it's important to know where exactly your money is going! This precisely planned pie chart should give you some idea:
Due to the professional nature of our film, much of the money raised will go towards paying the correct equity rates to actors as well as the construction of a set build for our technical and intricate visual effects!
Any donation, large or small, is a massive help and is greatly appreciated by our entire crew. That being said, we understand that not everyone will be able to donate, but you can still support us by following, sharing, and liking our Instagram, Facebook, website, and Crowdfunder as well as getting consistent updates on our progress behind-the-scenes and how our project is growing!
Here are some of the amazing people helping bring this film to life!
THE DIRECTOR.
MAYA EL SAYED.
With a background in cinematography, Maya decided to dip into the world of writing and directing with Fair Winds and Following Seas. Working extensively as a cinematographer on multiple projects has given her the opportunity to meet like-minded talented people on the course and the knowledge to create a film of her own.
'I've worked previously with the majority of the crew, all very talented people who can not only bring this project to reality but also transform it from my story into a full-fledged film with a piece of themselves in every aspect of it. I was inspired to write the story by my entire family and our experiences, as well as my upbringing by the water and my uncle's stories as a sailor.'
PRODUCER.
MABEL BAILEY.
As a producer, Mabel has been part of many exciting and successful projects, working hard to create the best possible films in both a practical and reliable way.
'Reuniting with many members of the crew, including the talented director Maya El Sayed, I am extremely enthusiastic about launching this project and have the highest hopes for a remarkable outcome. Upon first reading the script, it became evident that this film presented an extraordinary opportunity, and I am eager to bring its exceptional story to life on screen.'
PRE-PRODUCTION CO-PRODUCER.
MORGAN CASEMORE.
Morgan has been involved in the production of a large variety of films including fiction and documentary. This film provides her with an exciting opportunity to work with the skills and knowledge she has acquired over her time at AUB in a new experimental setting.
'I look forward to the new challenge of an experimental film; turning creative ideas into structured, effective productions is one of the aspects I love about producing. I’m thrilled to be working on this project alongside such a talented crew. It is clear to see the pure passion everyone has for this film and I hope that with your help we can make our dreams a reality!'
1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
TEMPLAR BURROWS.
Templar's interest in being a first AD stems from his passion for creating a space for others to be able to tell the stories that they want to tell. A first AD's position allows the filmmaker the comfort to make their story a reality without having to worry about getting it all done in time - they stress so the director doesn't have to - and Templar both understands this and finds fulfilment in the job
'My interest in Fair Winds and Following Seas came immediately upon reading the emotional and highly vulnerable script - finding the way Maya implemented elemental forces, such as wind and water, as forces of emotion very touching. I felt that this was a film that needed to get made, and I wanted to play a part in making this vision come alive in any way I could.'
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY.
LOTTIE LUNN.
As a Director of Photography, Lottie likes to spark emotion through symbolic imagery in her work, as well as letting us learn about characters and their relationships with her vision and style.
'As soon as Maya pitched this story, I was immediately captured by it. With my already growing love for experimental filmmaking, I’m excited to bring this story to life. My passion stems from the ability to create a sense of intimacy between the characters and the audience through carefully crafted shots. I like to place my watcher as close to the action as possible, in the hopes of immersing them in the story as much as possible. The themes of this script combined with the elements of avant-garde give me an eclectic mix of tools to work with and I couldn’t be more excited!'
GAFFER.
ALVIN JAI ALIAS.
Having received a Diploma in Filmmaking in Singapore, Alvin worked for a few years in the Ad and TV space there before dipping back into academics. He believes that lighting has as much importance in a film as performances as it is capable of establishing a mood and emotion in the film without even a word being uttered.
'I decided to work on Fair Winds & Following Seas because I think the story provides a lot of room to experiment with cinematography. Especially the surreal portions where the viewers are given an insight into the mind of the troubled father.’
THE TEAM.
CAMERA OPERATOR. ZHI YAN KEE. 1ST AC. LOUISE DORMAN
Introducing the lovely Camera Team, working alongside our Director of Photography to create the most pristine and stunning images to compliment the deeply interesting story!
CO-PRODUCTION DESIGNER.
HANNAH HIGGINSON.
In her time at AUB Hannah has worked on several projects doing Production Design and Art Directing, she has gathered a well-rounded skill set and enjoyed each and every opportunity to gain new experience.
'I am so pleased to be working on this film and designing alongside Mason and the rest of our talented crew. Maya's script is beautiful and I'm excited to be able to bring this world to life and create a multi-layered setting for these complex characters to inhabit.'
CO-PRODUCTION DESIGNER.
MASON HUNNISETT.
As a member of the production design team, Mason has worked as a production designer and art director on many different sets ranging from dressing room set builds to exterior locations, gathering a wide bank of experience and knowledge throughout.
'Having worked with Maya in the past it is a pleasure to be a member of her crew, working alongside Hannah, it is our goal to bring Maya's incredible script to life and create a rich and detailed world for the characters to inhabit'
SOUND MIXER.
OLLIE QUINN.
Hailing from coastal Kent, the backdrop of a moody and untamed sea has been a factor that has informed his practice as a filmmaker and creative. Using his comprehensive background in post-production coupled with his deep respect for the elements that make up the setting of this film, Ollie is determined to use sound to tell the story of Andrew and Jamie by harnessing a sonic scape familiar to him.
‘I’m excited to be a part of a project where sound editing proves to be so pivotal, and I can’t wait to give the audience a feel for the scope of this incredible script through my medium of choice.'
EDITOR.
KITTY BRANAGH.
Having previously worked on both documentaries and fiction films, Kitty has had experience piecing together emotional and touching stories of both real and fictional people. Having this as her background will allow her to create an immersive environment and tell the story through the edit.
'When I first heard of the project and its experimental elements, I was excited to get involved and push myself and my skills further. I grew up metres from the sea and the themes of grief and the familial pressure to look after the vulnerable/elderly are ones that are very personal and really struck a chord when reading the script.'
CO-COSTUME DESIGNER.
GEMMA HALFACREE.
Gemma is a costume designer who has worked in many theatre productions, creating complex and experimental designs, and is now bringing her skills into costume design for films!
'As a co-costume designer, I’m really excited to bring Maya’s vision to life alongside the other co-designer Megan. I was immediately drawn to the amazing script and knew I wanted to work on this film and make these characters come to life through costume.'
CO-COSTUME DESIGNER.
MEGAN WATKINS.
As a costume designer, Megan has made characters that feel authentic and relatable by adding small but effective details that will allow the viewer to really understand the characters' personalities, how they develop as a person and the individual journeys they go on throughout the film.
'I am so excited to work with Gemma, Maya, and the crew to bring these complex and heartbreaking characters to life through their costumes.'
MAKE-UP ARTIST.
KATIE BUCK.
Having studied fine art, Katie began studying makeup with a focus on film, casualty makeup and prosthetics. After working on theatre productions, she looks forward to embracing the subtleties of this film’s makeup and hopes to bring a realistic depiction of terminal illness to the character.
“I think the emphasis on terminal illness in the film will impact how I work. I hope to honour the subject matter whilst also showing the true physical impact illness can have on people.”
THANK YOU FOR YOU HELP!
Poster Arts/Illustration by Misha Behrendt.
Crew Headshots by Sapphire Cheal.
Prize Draw Terms & Conditions
Entries are not to be sold to or by anyone under 18 years of age.
£3 per entry.
Late entries will not be counted in the prize draw but money will still go towards crowdfunder.
Free entries can be posted to Arts University Bournemouth, 7 Fern Barrow, Wallisdown, Poole, Dorset, BH12 5HH.
Winners will be notified by post or email within two weeks of the draw date and will be announced at https://www.instagram.com/fwafsbfs/ or https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552103443518
Images for illustration purposes only, models may vary from those shown.
The promoter reserves the right to use winner's names for promotional purposes. These will only be used in summary e.g. Mrs Smith from Surrey.
The promoter reserves the right to withdraw the prize draw / individual prizes.
Offline close date: 7th December 2023. Online close date: 7th December 2023.
Winners will be contacted and announced after the draw and means of claiming prizes will be arranged.
Promoter is Arts University Bournemouth & Bournemouth Film School. Nature of Business: 85421 - First-degree level higher education. Company type: Private Limited Company by guarantee without share capital use of 'Limited' exemption. Incorporated on 16 February 2005.