See You In The Dark
Two girls stuck in an all-night swirl of violence are led to confront the past.
Project
See You In The Dark
Two girls stuck in an all-night swirl of violence are led to confront the past.
The Story:
Written and directed by Asena Nour, See You In The Dark is a short film providing an intimate exploration of buried sexual trauma set in multicultural and inner-city London. On the opening night of a group exhibition, Nora, a young female artist, is hacked by an ominous troll. What follows is a descent into sexual trauma, as she and her friend Kyra search for the perpetrator in a night-long odyssey.
Director's Statement:
The core of the film is the strength, resilience and healing nature of female friendships, that softens and alleviates the darker themes of the film. The necessity of community, as an all-encompassing force is what I believe to be the antidote to the narrative use of spectacle, revenge or evidence when it concerns women’s stories surrounding sexual trauma. This film is interested in the narrational power of Nora, as society is not inclined to believe victims. We are interested in her journey into the night, her journey into the original wound. I hope for it to connect with other people who have faced experiences of assault, harassment and trauma. With 'See You In The Dark' I seek to give survivors a voice.
Creative Vision:
We are interested in crafting an intimate verité style that feels observational whilst also focusing on the subject and their subjectivity, we want an empathetic and intuitive camera that follows Nora and Kyra as they navigate through the city. Featuring textured and fluid cinematography that pays attention to environments, surfaces and characters to communicate a sense of realism.
A strong focus on female friendships grounds the dark nature of the film. We’ve looked at female and youth-led films such as Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020), Divines (2016), Kids (1995), Fish Tank (2009) and Girlhood (2014), and want to create a sense of intimacy with our characters as we prioritise their emotional responses. There is also a darker undercurrent driving the narrative, their night odyssey to find the perpetrator. The night-time sequences will be visually inspired by films that deal with nocturnal dwellings such as Good Time (2017), Victoria (2015) and Naked (1993). For this, we want to create a visually chaotic and visceral feeling. We are interested in further pushing our thriller edge through an original electronic score.
Meet the Team:
Why we need your support:
As young emerging filmmakers, we have witnessed first-hand how difficult it is to get a foot in the industry, which can deter working-class filmmakers from advancing in their careers and making the films they want to make. We want the opportunity to further ourselves with the freedom of a proper budget, that will enable us to create a film of the standard that we believe this intimate story deserves. We want your support in making this community-driven film, every little donation helps and we will be forever grateful.
The money raised would cover pre-production (onset) costs of the film’s total budget, which amounts to £11.3k:
Production Timeline:
We are scheduling a 4-day shoot to commence in April, involving one night shoot.
‘See You in The Dark’ has been in development since February last year in which this project has seen so much growth, (and a hefty 23 drafts of the screenplay). We are incredibly excited to be heading into pre-production, lasting up to 12-weeks in which we’ll be devising the film’s visual language, securing location venues, authentic cast performances and the necessary logistical planning to ensure the shoot runs well.
The creative leadership behind ‘See You In the Dark’ is distinctly female, working-class and/or are from marginalised backgrounds. We want the majority of our crews to reflect the diversity we will have on screen. Currently, we have 60% of our crew confirmed with the rest to shortly follow this month. We also intend to begin casting at the end of this month.
After wrapping up on the shoot in April, we’re hoping to get started straight away with the edit for a Winter/Spring release early next year. Upon completion, the film is intended to be shown at a pre-screening event and will shortly after circuit selected independent film festivals across the UK and internationally. Our end goal is to secure the necessary funding, and hopefully with your support, materialise a film of the standard that we believe this story deserves.
- A private link to the film, as soon as the film is premiered, to be watched as many times as you want
- A chance to join us on set in the making of our film.
- Credited appearance at the end of the film.
- Receive a personalised signed copy of the screenplay and photobook from the Director, Cast and Crew.
- Receive a personalised signed copy of our limited poster print.
- Also Includes: signed screenplay, photobook and pdf of our official manifesto
A two-hour wine and script club session with Asena Nour and Emily Macrander (Writer/Director of 'Rave' and 'Without Warning'), where they will review your script, give notes, and guidance. You’ll have a chance to learn about dramatic structure, writing characters, and tips for redrafting your screenplay.
- Become an Associate Producer, with your own IMDb profile and credit
- Associate Producer credit in the final film
- Chance for your business to feature in the film
- Also includes: invite to our secret pre-screening in Winter 2022