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This project successfully funded on 2nd April 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
The Party No One Wanted - Short Film
Staines, Surrey, United Kingdom
Aim
Hi Everyone! Help us make The Party No One Wanted a dark comedy about the reality of grief, the tears, fights and everything inbetween.
SYNOPSIS
Opening shot of an empty graveyard at dawn.
One year after the death of Meredith her family and friends come together for a supposed small memorial. Instead her son Robbie enters the pub to find an over the top celebration with balloons, a DJ and even a Karaoke singer, turning grief into chaos. The event was meticulously planned by Robbie’s half-sister Lisa who needs to make the day ‘special’.
As Robbie navigates awkward hellos, drunken relatives and his own grief he heads outside to catch up with his sister Mary. She too is annoyed by the extravagant celebration, the siblings bond through sarcasm, humour and a shared disbelief. They laugh at the ridiculousness of the event but eventually head inside.
As they walk in a song has started, Mary turns to Robbie devastated, Lisa is singing their mum and dad's wedding song. They take a moment before Natalie (a close family friend) joins them to have a quick check in. She joins in on the laughter about how crazy the event is before leaving with Bill (her husband).
Mary is called over by their Dad, Robbie follows he says its best they head inside. When they do Lisa says a lovely speech winning over the siblings. Some time passes and everyone but Lisa is sat down. The DJ plays the last song and Lisa comes over holding a cake. She announces she's pregnant and her idiot boyfriend pops a balloon getting confetti everywhere.
The whole table is in shock except Mary who jumps up immediately having a go at Lisa. She shoves the cake into Lisa who quips back, Robbie intervenes getting protective over Mary. While all this happens their Dad is sat getting very upset so Natalie deescalates the situation. A brief pause and Robbie references how their mum probably would have laughed. Bill (the most drunk there) congratulates Lisa on the baby being a boy.
DIRECTORS STATEMENT
The Party No One Wanted came from my want to reflect on my experience of grief as a teenager. As an adult looking back the strangest part was that although I was immensely sad while grieving I still went to school, to parties and generally did all those fun teenage experiences. It also changed my perspective on family dynamics as we all had to relearn what our relationships were without that person.
The script was developed to show that bereavement albeit inherently sad, there are still moments of joy and anger even laughter. The characters are all very based on my own friends and family members while still pushing the absurdity because if there’s one thing about grief it’s consuming and over the top.
I was inspired by shows like Afterlife and Fleabag which personally resonated with my experience with grief. Within the film I’m hoping to create two worlds inside the pub and outside the pub. The inside will reflect the performative side of grief doing what's expected of you / what you think people ‘want’ to see. It will be warm, busy and fast paced. Versus the outside where Robbie and Mary have more breathing room and can sit in their sadness without judgement. It will be cold, static and much slower.
MEET THE CREW
I Hope your as Excited as our AMAZING CREW!!!!
WHAT THE DONATIONS ARE FOR
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made