THE SACRIFICE : A horror short film fund

Hi!

My name is George Morgan and I’m an artist-filmmaker looking to raise £6000 to complete my short film, ‘The Sacrifice’. The money will go towards production fees that are all vital for making this film. When the film is completed, I intend to take the leap of faith and pursue my dream of working full-time in film, TV and Artist’s moving image.

‘The Sacrifice’ is a new short horror film that I've written and intend to direct next year, the story explores issues surrounding men’s mental health, fatherhood and forgiveness.

I’m inviting you to help me tell this story by donating what you can. Everyone who gives will be thanked with a small token of gratitude once the project has been filmed in February 2024.

Logline

Following the death of his son, Father Stephen has been forbidden by his parish to perform unauthorised exorcisms, but when a demon possesses his dying father, he soon realises that he must now take matters into his own hands.

The Story

The narrative follows a Priest, Father Stephen Kamara, who has already lost his son to a demon that is hell-bent on killing the men in his family.

A few days later, when a nurse calls in the middle of the night about his estranged dad, Father Stephen soon realises he must confront the evil before it’s too late.

Trailer

I self-raised some money and was lucky to collaborate with a talented group of artists (for 1 day) who helped create a short trailer, that shows you what you’re investing in.

The confirmed cast and crew:

Wayne Rollins - Father Stephen Kamara

Roy Jerome - Marcus Kamara

Bethany O’Halloran - Mary O’Dowd

Dauda Ladejobi - Michael Kamara

George Morgan - Writer, Director, Producer

Henry Keep - DOP

Jamie Pascoe - AD

Gareth Morgan - 2nd AD / Runner

Lewis Newman - AC

Maximilian Newcombe - Gaffer

Ben Dixon - Boom & Sound designer

Rachel Dingle - Set and Costume designer

Emily Rayner-Airey - Hair, Make up & SFX artist

Emily Boddy - Composer

Jamie Weston - Exec-producer

Alfie Winters - On-set photographer

Many of my collaborators are doing this for free due to the passion they have for the project, it would mean the world to us if you could support this venture!

Look & Feel

I would like to approach the aesthetic of my film from an emotive and hyper-naturalistic perspective, especially to differentiate location and time period.

Screengrabs from 'The Sacrifice' test footage day.

Who am I?

My name is George Morgan and I’m a secondary school teacher looking to transition and become a full-time artist-filmmaker, producer (EVA productions), and workshop facilitator.

I’ve worked hard in between my day job and been fortunate enough to be commissioned by BBC Arts, ScreenSouth, and RADA.

I gravitate towards horror and stories that unapologetically explore the intersectionality of the Black British experience through historical and contemporary narratives.

Why this film?

There are two really good reasons!!

‘The Sacrifice’ is, at its core, a film about paternal love and men within complex family dynamics. The film is loosely inspired by sensitive events in my own life around faith and family but the idea of using horror to elevate the character’s desire, stakes and ultimately the message, will hopefully help resonate with a larger audience.

Secondly, there is a need for more Black British horror films to grace our screens. The excitement around knowing that this short film will be exploring under-represented territory within Black British horror informs me of the longevity that these characters have in long-form storytelling.

Inspiration

There are a few films that have inspired me as a filmmaker as well as the tone of ‘The Sacrifice’. The films include (in no particular order) Saint Maud, The Exorcist, Relic, Censor and Suspiria.

The look and feel in each of the films will be ingrained in the DNA of ‘The Sacrifice’. I’m an emerging yet ambitious filmmaker who is finding their voice in the genre, but my love for 70’s horror lighting fused with a microscopic focus on character behaviour will unravel throughout the film.

How will the money be used?

My vision is to ensure that ALL funds will go towards making the BEST short film possible, it will include

Many of my collaborators are doing this for free due to the passion they have for the project, it would mean the world to us if you could support this venture!

Impact on Essex

The film will take place entirely in Essex (Southend) and showcase homegrown talent as well as provide opportunities for emerging talent to learn and up-skill.

If you can’t donate.. Please do take the time to share on your social media or get in contact if you know a VFX designer, graphic designer or a production runner who would like to gain some valuable insight.