A GLASGOW-BASED filmmaker has launched a crowdfunding appeal to complete a unique production in Orkney.
Tom Gentle has launched a bid to bring the sombre work of Canadian writer Alistair Macleod to life – in what would be a truly ambitious production.
His aim is to adopt a short story called In the Fall, a tale based on the trials of one poverty-stricken family as it wrestles with the decision to sell their ageing, pit-horse.
The tale is told from a young boy's perspective as he struggles with the prospect of the loyal animal being sold off to the knacker's yard.
Though the original was set in Nova Scotia, for Gentle the piece is universal and easily adapted to life for those in Scottish Highlands and islands during the 1920s.
The director told the Herald: "Alistair Macleod is of Scottish heritage and is a slightly legendary figure in Canadian literature. He did not write a lot, but the work he did do is held in very high regard.
"In the Fall is all about the oncoming of ageing and of death for the father, but also a coming of age for the boy as he grasps the difficult decisions of adulthood. It is quite a sombre tale, as is most of Macleod's work."
He added: "We are around a quarter of the way to crowdfunding it. It will be shot with an all-Scottish cast and crew, and we are speaking with some high-profile actors for the lead roles. We want the production value to be as high as possible too – we are aiming for the biggest festivals here.
"At the minute, we are scouting locations and extras will hopefully be recruited from the local area.
"One location I am keen on is up in Orkney and one of the things we'd be interested in doing is to attend the local schools to talk about a career in the film industry, in exchange for some kind of contribution to the fund.
"If we raise the money, we hope filming would begin in January – it has to be in winter as the high winds and rain is integral to the story."
Already a challenging project, the director is keen to give the film an immersive feel by shooting it in one continuous shot – or as close to such as possible.
However, Gentle appreciates the inherent complexities of doing so, especially with animals featuring at the centre of the tale.
"It is very ambitious," he added. "Birdman is a good reference for it, as is Victoria, or sequences such as those featured in Children of Men.
"It's a tremendous challenge, there is horses in it, chickens too; there is an action vehicle and stunts – not serious stuns, but we will need someone on set.
"The temptation would be to do some aerial drone shots of the landscape and the cliffs, and so on, but it's not about that – it's about the families' experience."
To contribute to the crowdfunder, visit indiegogo.com/projects/in-the-fall-short-film-canada-literature
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