Unseen

Aim

To finish a short documentary about a young woman who battles with Lyme disease, while raising awareness about this tick-borne infection.

FILM LOGLINE

In a rural Scottish community, a young woman’s life has been turned upside down by Lyme disease. Incapacitated and derailed, she begins to re-imagine her future and uses what little energy she has to raise awareness. This is a tender story of unwavering maternal love and a young woman’s bold determination to change the future for others.

BACKGROUND

Having been bitten by ticks throughout her childhood, Morven had no idea of the risks. She had never heard of Lyme disease, which, if treated early, can be cured. Enraged at having lost her youth to a preventable disease, Morven vows to prevent others from the same fate by arming them with knowledge about ticks and the diseases they carry. The number of ticks in the UK is on the rise and ticks are now more commonly found in parks and back gardens. The risk of getting Lyme disease is higher than ever before. 

This film supports Morven’s campaign to fight for better public awareness, whilst revealing the personal toll on Morven and her family.

HOW DID WE MEET?

Morven reached out to the Scottish Documentary Institute in 2016 looking for a filmmaker who would document her story and raise awareness. I had just finished an MA in Film Directing and while I had heard of Lyme disease, I knew relatively little about it and was curious to find out more about Morven's experience. When I met Morven and heard her story, I was bowled over by the extraordinary path she had been on, misdiagnosed, untreated and told it was largely in her head. Her resilience, courage and determination convinced me that she had a story that needed sharing. We met just outside London, where she was receiving treatment for Lyme disease and have filmed together ever since. The filming itself is now complete. It is time to bring the story together!

FUNDING:

With your help, I will be able to work with a professional editor and sound designer to bring the film together. 

The target of £8000, will be spent on post-production and distribution. Sound design is an integral element of the film. In collaboration with a sound designer, I am hoping sound can be used as a creative tool for sharing Morven's internal world - and the suffering she experiences as a result of Lyme disease symptoms. I have put together a rough cut of the film, but it needs a seasoned editor to really polish it. Once the edit and sound design have come together, the film will be colour graded and submitted to film festivals.

BUDGET BREAKDOWN

The breakdown is as follows:

Editor: £3600
Colour grade:£500
Sound Design and composition: £2100
Film Festivals: £500
Producer: £500

10 % Contingency

FILM'S IMPACT:

The completed film will be sent to Film Festivals both in the UK and further afield. 

If we manage to exceed our campaign target, funds will be put towards an impact campaign to engage with the general public, policy makers and medical professionals. Morven and I are planning to do a tour of the Scottish Highlands and Islands , screening the film in community venues, followed by a Q&A session. We are aiming to raise awareness as well as have open dialogue with communities across Scotland about their experience of Lyme disease and ticks.

I am hopeful for a dialogue with medical professionals to see if responses to Lyme symptoms can become more consistent across GP surgeries. Part of the discussion would be around the patient impact of feeling unseen and unheard, specifically in response to the often diffuse and generalised symptoms that Lyme disease presents.

THE TEAM:

Sarah Fairbrother is an independent filmmaker based in Scotland. She is drawn to character-led stories that are often on the periphery of our day-to-day lives. 

Her films serve as bridges of awareness into other people's experiences of the world, drawing on personal stories and raw storytelling to build empathy and connection.

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Even if you can't contribute financially, helping us amplify the story makes a real impact.

• Share the campaign with friends, family, people who spend time outdoors and anyone who may feel connected to this story.
• Connect with us on Instagram @unseen.ashortfilm and let us know how this film story resonates.
• Host a screening Partner with us to host a community screening once the film is completed.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made