Story
“After receiving a mysterious video showing a deadly talk show, paranormal investigator, Chris Lynch, sets out to discover the truth behind it. In doing so he gets trapped in the show and has his psyche pushed to the limits. His only hope being his connection to his business partner Sarah.”
Themes
The Last Show is a surreal horror film that uses its premise and genre to explore the effects of mental health, a subject that is very important to us as a crew.
Chris’ journey, while it might seem otherworldly on the surface, is one that many can relate to. His decent into the world of The Last Show metaphorically shows what it is like to live with poor mental health, like he does. Each element of the film is designed to represent part of this struggle, grounding the horror elements in a reality familiar to lots.
His business partner Sarah, who Chris has a complex relationship with, is his much-needed link to the outside world. Her journey shows not only how mental health affects people around you, but her dedication to helping Chris despite that, shows just how important those human connections are.
Plot
Sat alone in his messy office, Chris Lynch, a paranormal investigator, intensely watches a video. His business partner, Sarah Summers enters and notices the telltale signs of his poor mental health appearing again.
Chris shows her the video; it is of a man on a creepy talk show being degraded by the Host. The Host presents him with all his failures and convinces him to take his own life.
Sarah and Chris argue whether to pursue the lead. Chris wants to but Sarah is worried for his mental state, worrying this will do more harm. Unable to convince him otherwise, she leaves him to his own devices.
Investigating the video, Chris is led to a forest where he finds the body of the man from the talk show. He is mysteriously transported into the very same show and becomes its next guest. The Host starts asking difficult question after question, pushing him to the very edge.
Sarah decides to go back and help Chris but finds his office now empty. Following the same clues that led him there earlier, she finds Chris in the same forest, his body floating in place, his mind still trapped in the show.
Will Sarah be able to free Chris him from the grip of the show in time or will he become its next victim?
Style and Influences
For this film we have drawn influences from a wide variety of sources. The main reference point however, are the works of David Lynch (Twin Peaks, Eraserhead). The way he juxtaposes dark themes with offbeat performances to create something that feels truly strange and dreamlike is the type of atmosphere we want to recreate for The Last Show.
Visually, we will be shooting on wide lenses with careful use of fisheye lenses as well. This will create an otherworldly atmosphere. This, along with the detailed sets, will truly immerse the audience within the strange journey of our main character, Chris.
For our soundscape, we will be transforming familiar everyday sounds into creepy and unnatural versions of themselves. This combined with an unnatural score will further strengthen the atmosphere and compliment our visual choices.
Meet the Team
Hello, my name is Regan, and I am the director of The Last Show. I have been passionate about storytelling and the arts for as long as I can remember, and throughout the last couple of years, I've had the privilege of working on a variety of creative projects. Over these few years, I have built my skills in directing, producing, and collaborating with talented crews to bring unique visions to life.
The Last Show is a deeply personal project that explores mental health in a horrific and psychological way. This project is incredibly important to me, and I believe it has the potential to resonate with audiences in many ways. With your support, we can make this vision a reality and create something truly special.
Over the last few years I have gained a huge passion for screenwriting and sharing my own experiences through film. The Last Show is a culmination of all the skills I have gained from previous projects and is a story that I know will speak to a lot of people due to its themes of mental health, that feel more important than ever.
I have had the privilege to be the writer on many other projects before this that cover many different genres. I have written comedy shorts, one of which (30 Minutes) I even directed myself, giving me valuable set experience I will use to support this project with. I have also written horror films before. One of which was Beyond, which was created for a Halloween event, as well as many more in the pipeline to come.
As the Director of Photography, I will guide the Camera Department in crafting a surreal genre film, utilising a variety of camera techniques and lenses to produce dynamic and captivating visuals. For this project, we will be shooting with the Arri Alexa Mini LF, an industry standard camera. This is a camera we've thoroughly practiced with, ensuring the entire camera department is highly proficient and confident in its use.
I have taken on the role of DoP for several other projects at University and also collaborating with the Imperial War Museum & HMS Belfast (Backstage Bandits, Wrens, The Words of Charles Simpson). These experiences have provided me with a solid understanding of how to lead a camera department effectively.
I’m Diana Franco, a film production student with a strong focus on camera work. I began my journey in film at West Suffolk College and continued my studies at Anglia Ruskin University where I’ve shot my own short films and collaborated in the camera department with peers on various projects.
Throughout this time, I’ve had the opportunity to work on films for institutions like the Imperial War Museum and the Fitzwilliam Museum contributing to the camera and lighting department. I’ve gained valuable hands-on experience working alongside professional gaffers and DoPs, further developing my skills and knowledge behind the camera. I also have a range of experience shooting with different cameras, giving me a strong understanding of various filming techniques and equipment.
As the Art Director for The Last Show, I will oversee the visual development and execution of the movie’s aesthetic. Collaborating closely with the director and production team, I will craft eerie, dreamlike environments and unsettling details that enhanced the psychological tension. From conceptualizing the nightmarish set designs to selecting symbolic props and creating a cohesive color palette, I will ensure every element contributes to the film’s haunting and surreal atmosphere.
As the 1st Assistant Director for The Last Show, I am responsible for coordinating various aspects of the production to ensure everything runs seamlessly. My experience spans producing, camera work, and directing, providing me with a comprehensive understanding of filmmaking and the ability to contribute to a streamlined production process.
Working within the directorial department has honed my adaptability, precision, and strategic planning skills. Each film presents unique challenges, and I have learned to approach them creatively while maintaining a clear focus on efficient problem-solving.
I’m a 3rd-year Audio and Music Technology student interested in sound design and audio production. I’m excited to work with Film and TV Production students on their upcoming movie, The Last Show, contributing to its sound design. With skills in audio editing, mixing, and foley, I strive to bring stories to life through the power of sound. I’m grateful for this opportunity and hope to deliver my best, even though I’m still gaining experience in immersive audio.
I am an avid fan of horror films. Spending so much of my time watching them, I found the editing and post production stage is crucial to developing the tension and building the suspense. It will be my responsibility to create and refine these in the edit, as well as helping the director piece together this film in a well-paced manner. Additionally to this I will ensure the film's underlying themes of men’s mental health is also communicated well.
I have been editing since the age of 16 and over the years my skills have developed and grown a lot, working on a numerous number of projects of all different scales.
I am very excited to be working on The Last Show and I hope to bring you all to the edge of your seats with this nail-biting short horror.
Where Your Contribution Goes
We want to make sure all the budget goes to good use. The main areas it will be used in are:
Actors
Hiring quality actors will be the main expense as we want to get the best people possible to bring these characters to life. This figure is based on the recommended £105 per day for all main actors.
Art Department
The design of the locations is very important to this film, with each one having its own distinct look and feel. To make this happen we will be using part of the money for props, costumes and set-dressings to make them interesting and memorable.
Production
Production necessities such as transport, locations and catering will also be a significant part of the budget. They are all necessary parts of bringing a film of this scale to life.
Key Dates
Pre-Production:
6th January: Crowdfunder goes live
3rd February: Finalise casting
Production
24th February: Begin shooting week
28th February: Shooting week ends
Post-Production
24th March: Fine cut screening
31st March: Picture Lock screening
7th April: Final crit screening
9th April: Final deadline
Why Support The Last Show
We are so passionate about this project and feel that the themes presented are more relevant that ever. Through this film we can share our personal experiences with an issue that still needs to be spotlighted, while also creating an exciting and dynamic horror film that defines its own identity within the genre.
As it is the largest and most ambitious project we have undertaken to date, we need your support to help us bring it to life. We would be more than grateful for any donation and we know that, as a team, we have the skills to put it to great use.
Risks and Challenges
Like any film, there are challenges with this project. One major challenge will be tackling this topic with the right amount of sensitivity. To make sure of this, we are pulling from our own experiences heavily to make it as authentic a portrayal as possible. As well as this we are constantly refining the script to find the perfect balance between portraying the themes and keeping the film as an exciting genre piece.
Another challenge we face in the film is the use of visual effects. While most will be in camera effects, there will be some digital effects too. To make sure we are as prepared at possible, we will be undertaking extensive testing in pre-production to make it as streamlined a process as possible when it comes to shooting and compositing the shots.
Contact Us
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @thelastshowmovie
Tik-Tok: @thelastshowmovie1
Facebook: @thelastshowmovie
Thanks
A big thank you to:
- Karina Bhojwani
- Sam Fowler
- Tawan Kaenphakdee
- Victor Verdu Bernal
- James Hartley
You all helped make this Crowdfunder possible.