Always on
This project successfully funded on 27th April 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
(This Is My) Family - (Short Film)
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
Aim
The aim of this project is to raise enough money to bring to life a short film that will be screened at the BFI in London.
Who Are We and Why Should You Care?
Hello there. My name is Tyler Browne and I’m a third year University student studying film and television production (as you can see, I did not want to go get a real job.) The goal of this Crowdfunder is to raise enough funds for the budget of my first ever 10 minute short film, written, produced and directed by me. I am working with a talented crew of fellow third years to bring this film to life.
But why should you care? Well you don't have to, but it would be nice if you did. I think If I came across a Crowdfunder for a short film by some guy in his 20s, I would say “go get a job and make your own money, ya fool” BUT I am a mean man, and I hope the nice people out there say “good on him for chasing his dreams” and then proceed to donate ridiculous amounts of money. That would be great but I know you fine upstanding people are not gonna throw your money away, so let me sell you on this project.
The Story
“(This Is My) Family” follows a dysfunctional family who are forced together for a family event that ends in expected catastrophe. Clare (the overbearing wife), Shaun (the weak husband), Elizabeth (the narcissistic mother) and Marie (the rebellious daughter) will all try to make it through this painful occasion but there's only so much they can all take.
Shaun and Clare (husband and wife) attempt to host a family dinner. Clare is a dominating perfectionist and Shaun is a roll over husband. It is not a perfect mix. Upon the arrival of Elizabeth and Marie (mother and daughter) the tensions immediately start to show between all four of them. Few bottles of wine later and the topic of work is brought up. Marie is at a point in her life where work is not steady, and this is mocked by the pretentious Clare, and completely spat on by her mother Elizabeth. They are going tit for tat all night. Shaun gets involved in the conversation, only to be shut down by his own wife. Clare completely emasculates Shaun in front of his family as she shouts him down.
As the sunset hits and Marie is facedown on the table due to how drunk she is. So Shaun has no back up against his wife and mother. Elizabeth begins her classic guilt tripping and his wife piles on. Shaun is near his breaking point and the alcohol is not helping him keep his thoughts to himself.
Tensions are at a high and now whiskey is introduced. Clare and Elizabeth are for a moment out of the picture, Marie is back to consciousness. Shaun has his hands on whiskey and now chaos is on it’s way. The family are all back around the table and an intense game of scrabble seems to be the final needle prick this family needs to go insane. Shaun's drunkenness has gotten to Clare. Slighted by his freedom, she attempts to once again embarrass him. For the first time, Shaun fights for himself. Clare boils over with rage and this perfectionist causes the own downfall to her dinner. She throws her drink on Shaun and leaps on him. Marie and Elizabeth take this chance to explode all their anger on each other. The worst imaginable outcome for a family dinner has now taken place and in this family, it’s no surprise.
Why Am I Telling This Story?
This film WILL NOT change the world but I want to make it anyway. I have no big emotional story to tell you in order to guilt trip you into parting with your cash and I have no big meaning behind this film that will hold cultural significance. To me I wanted to tell a story that is very much me and my style. Right now that style is low stakes dark comedy. I will talk more about my inspirations right below this but I have always connected to street level storytelling. I write from what I know. Many aspects of this story come from my life and family dynamics I have experienced. In fact I am sure members of my family are reading this, so hello.
Inspiration
We will be shooting this film all in one static shot. Think of “Here” (Robert Zemeckis, 2024) as a visual inspiration. If you Google that film, you’ll see quite poor reviews but that is just because it was an interesting idea done very meh, very meh indeed. We hope to get just above the meh mark.
This one static shot is of the family sitting together in the garden (tantalizing stuff) and we watch on as the events of the film play out. I love the idea of one static shot as it gives the film the electricity of live performance. It feels like watching theatre play out in front of you. With these characters it just adds an extra element of unpredictability and as an audience member it’ll give that film the element of watching a car crash, you want to look away but can't.
As a screenwriter I have always been inspired by the works of Martin Mcdonough who has written/directed such films as “In Bruges”, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and “The Banshees of Inoshrian.” His use of dark humor and character dynamics that usually involve two completely different types of people coming together, or falling apart has been a dynamic that is fascinating to me. That element of dysfunction plays a big role in my film. I am big fan of cringe comedy. The Office (UK) was the king of this. I love their use of uncomfortable pauses and just making you really sit in embarrassing moments and not letting you escape them by cutting away. (This Is My) Family will be full of that. There is a long list of inspirations, but I do not want to make you read for any longer than you already have. If you have made it this far, you are a trooper.
Where The Money Goes
I have made a fancy little pie chart below (keep in mind I failed GCSE maths)
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made