Creative Scotland Crowdmatch has provided £1,815 of match funding
"Send Me A Sign" Short Film
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Aim
We are making a film that helps us explore grief after suicide, human connection and how we influence each other. We'd love your support.
About the Project
Send Me A Sign is a cinematic short film that explores confronting grief, finding meaning in life and personal growth. Completely filmed in Scotland with Scottish talent, this film also has universal appeal.
Director's Statement:
My experience in delivering this short film project is shaped by both a personally lived experience after losing a close friend to suicide and, as an established director, actress and award-winning writer, I am committed to authentic storytelling. I have developed the script and project with a clear creative vision supported by research to ensure the story is handled with sensitivity. Understanding the technical requirements of producing a short film, I will work closely with the crew to deliver the project to a professional standard. Creating the story has been a truly cathartic experience for me and I hope that we can share that same insight with our audiences. - Pamela Ryder
Film logline: Haunted by his best friend’s suicide, a young man searches for meaning and closure for the grief that refuses to leave him.
Story overview: Since losing his best friend, Paul, to suicide, Ray’s mental health is slipping toward a dangerous edge. Caught in a suffocating rut, he is unable to move on without the reassurance Paul gives him in his dreams.
About the lead character, Ray: Ray struggles with understanding the meaning of his life and lacks the power and life experience to propel himself forward. Keeping his feelings quiet only makes each agonizing day worse as he misses Paul's cheerful banter. The power of dream and open dialogue with Paul and his mother allows Ray to work out for himself that grief is not bound by time, nor is it a test with right or wrong answers that he is failing to finish. Rather, it is an emotional state that can be made less painful and less debilitating by accepting loss as a natural and necessary part of life.
What: A visually rich, emotionally raw Narrative Short Film
Where: Scotland, U.K. Set within Edinburgh's beautiful city and landscape
When: Production August, 2026 | Festival Run 2027 and U.K. Cinema Screenings
Budget Goal: £4587
Genre: Drama
Audience: Festival audiences; people affected by mental health issues, those with a lived experience of depression, loss, grief and reinvention; Fans of character-led British drama, lovers of Independent Cinema and online viewers.
Themes: Grief, Suicide, Reinvention, Mental Health, Identity, Performance vs Reality, Friendship, Family, Soul Searching, Reclaiming one's own self.
Rewards: Exclusive Film Merchandise, Film Preview Link, Spanish Holiday Apartment Stays, Business Sponsorship Offers, Executive Producer Credit
Environmental Sustainability: A small cast and crew means that travelling together expediently between locations in Edinburgh, saving both fuel and time. From experience, I have learned keeping a tight-knit crew also encourages better teamwork and communication.
Follow the journey from development through festival release and help us bring this story to screen!
UPDATES! We now have use of the Coldplay song, "Fix You" as recorded by Red Hot Chilli Pipers! Writer Sam Clegg has given us permission to use his song, "Send Me A Sign".
Support: Andys Man Club (Mental Health Support Charity), Corstorphine Cougars Rugby Team, Captains Bar Edinburgh, Woodrow's Whisky, Belhaven Brewery.
Introducing our Cast:
Christopher Scanlon, "Ray" - Christopher is a Scottish actor based in Glasgow and represented by Mrs Jordan's Associates. He has portrayed lead characters in the independent short films Last Torment, Lea-ve and Bus Journey, with many of his roles exploring themes of mental health and personal struggle. Christopher approaches these characters with empathy, compassion and a commitment to portraying their experiences honestly and respectfully. Passionate about authentic storytelling, he enjoys collaborating with filmmakers and continues to develop his craft. Outside of acting, he enjoys strength training and maintaining an active lifestyle.
Allan Munro, "Paul" - Allan is a Scottish actor based in Edinburgh with experience across film, television and stage, represented by Independant Creative Management. He appeared in the BBC drama Night Sleeper and has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, demonstrating versatility in both screen and live performance.
Passionate about grounded, character-driven storytelling, Allan is drawn to dramatic, psychological and emotionally complex roles, while also enjoying work with humour and warmth. He continues to develop his craft through independent films, self-produced performance work and professional screen projects.
With a strong on-screen presence and a commitment to authentic performances, Allan is building a diverse body of work across the UK film and television industry.
Jamie Stewart, "Work Coach" - Jamie is a very credible and current actor and voice over artist with many credits to his name, including Antigone (Stage, 2025), The Hiding Place (Stage, 2025), Outlander (TV series), Succession (2018) and Rise of The Clans, BBC Scotland (2018). He has a degree in Acting for Stage and Broadcast at Birmingham School of Acting and is a BBC Radio Drama Dept award winner (2006).
Angela Edgar, "Mum" - Angela T. Edgar is a Scottish actress and published author. She trained with and continues to attend the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland studying Acting for Camera - Professional Practice. Stage acting experience as Cottiers in “Suicide and Other Acts of Selfishness” and Theatre 118 in “Morning Star”. She played Cheryl with Imaginative Minds Films in “The Living Years” and with L&D Productions in the short film “Rooster.” Outside of acting and writing, Angela is a keen gardener and keeps honey bees.
Albie Irvine, "Boy" - Albie is an 8-yr old Scottish actor with growing experience across film and stage. He is proud to be part of a story that thoughtfully explores how people process grief after someone they love dies by suicide. Albie's screen appearances include "Frankenstein" for Netflix, directed by Guillermo del Toro and "Dept.Q" Season 2 for Netflix. He trains with Stagecoach Edinburgh and will soon play a voiceover role in a sold out theatre tour with Headless Ating. He is pasionate about learning from every project and his whole family feel privileged that he has this experience in such a meaningful film as this.
Our Crew:
Ali Farahani, Director of Photography - Known for his work on films and television. He has worked extensively with the BBC and independent production companies since 2012. Ali was the Oscar-winning cinematographer for the Academy Award winning "The Silent Child" (2017). His visual style is often described as cinematic, story-driven and technically meticulous, with a strong emphasis on lighting and composition.
Pamela Ryder, Director & Writer - Known for working across film, television and music videos as well as writing and producing multiple international award-winning independent short films The Root of All Evil, Holyhead Santa: A True Story and feature screenplays, The Lamplighter (also a novel), the Lamplighter II and No Spring Till Now. Having an acting career spanning more than 35 years, she received her Director Certificate from Raindance in 2023. Film credits include The People v Larry Flint, Trainspotting II, Adam Joan, Outlander and BBC Scotland's River City.
She is a highly creative writer with a track record whose work focuses on mood, composition, and emotional texture. Pamela has worked as a film festival judge for 3 years at BIFA qualifying Mansfield Town Film Festival and is a current member of Raindance, London.
"As her agent and friend I am proud to have played a part in Pamela's burgeoning career and very glad to see her creative talent building a bridge between acting and writing...This wonderful person knows no bounds!"
~ David Bell
"I've known Pamela for a few years now and have had the pleasure of acting with her in the world of short films. She is an extremely positive person, who is fully committed to every project she undertakes. I truly believe that supporting her...will be well worth the effort!"
~ William Samson, Director, Writer, Actor
Logan Eason, Sound Recordist & Designer - Based in Fife, Logan graduated from the MA Film course at Screen Academy Scotland, and has since worked on a wide range of shorts, including ‘Before You Leave’, ‘Reconnection’, ‘Beautiful Birds’ and ‘Hot Young Geek Seeks Bloodsucking Freak'. He has also worked in HETV and film as a sound trainee, on shows such as ‘Half Man’ and ‘Shetland’.
Film's Visual Style: Vibrant, cool-tones lighting to highlight mood while reflecting emotional depth, extreme backlighting exposure to enhance the afterlife dreamscapes. Capturing emotional weight and vulnerability with silent close-ups and small gestures carry the narrative forward.
Visual Mood Board
Budget
Film production is an expensive process, with most of our budget going toward production itself—covering everything from equipment and securing locations to cast, crew, design departments and catering.
Pre-production also requires funding. These stages focus on planning, permits, insurance, and hiring key creatives.
Post-production is another major cost, involving essentials like editing, sound design, and colour grade. While distribution includes creating our deliverables like our DCP, designing a poster and submitting to film festivals.
Altogether, these costs can quickly add up, which is why we’re seeking your support. Your help will enable a team of ambitious Scottish storytellers to share an honest, universal human story about navigating grief and reclamation.
NB: Should we make beyond our target, we'll be able to dedicate more resources to more marketing via social media rescources and streaming platforms, print and originally composed music to elevate the overall project.
How Your Support Helps
The money raised through this Crowdfunder will allow us to create a cinematic and professional independent film to the standard it deserves. Your support will help ensure that cast and crew are paid fairly for their work, while also covering essential production costs such as locations, equipment, production design, sound, post-production, and other key filmmaking requirements. This funding is vital in allowing the project to be made responsibly, collaboratively, and with genuine care for everyone involved.
All locations are fully secured for a 3 day shoot. With cast and crew in place, the team is prepared and excited to bring the film to life.
Thank You
Thank you so much for donating and supporting this project. Your contribution directly helps bring this story to life and supports independent filmmaking, creative collaboration and Scottish talent. We are incredibly grateful to have you as part of this journey.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 20th September 2026 at 5:00pm