Experiencing Interruptions?

Murmur


A young woman makes a dawn escape from a commune she has grown to distrust.

  • Aurora Fearnley
    Director
    Pulsar
  • Simon Cookson
    Writer
    The Light
  • Jude Goldrei
    Producer
    Street Spirit
  • Maria Forsstrom
    Producer
    Law and Disorder
  • Sophie Reynolds
    Producer
  • Lucy Russell
    Key Cast
    Angel
  • Olivia Morgan
    Key Cast
    Outlander
  • Andrew Squires
    Key Cast
    Heretic
  • Phil Wood
    Cinematographer
    The Voorman Problem
  • Oliver Cronk
    Costume Design
    Where the Land Meets the Sea
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Thriller
  • Runtime:
    8 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Alexa XT
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:35
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Aurora Fearnley

Aurora is an award winning writer/director with ten years professional experience. A visual storyteller inspired by science, myths and psychology. She graduated with a First BA Degree from The Northern Film School. In Leeds she started company LITTLE NORTHERN LIGHT and co-founded Production Company LEFT EYE BLIND, through which she directed a number of promos and commercials and in 2009 they signed to ACADEMY FILMS. Here Aurora won the EPIC and co-directed short film "Life on the Line".

Aurora recently won £25,000 through The Pitch at Pinewood to maker her sci-fi short film “Pulsar”. The film stars David Gyasi (Interstellar) and is currently in post production with Reel Issue Films. She was also funded by the UK Film Council and Vision + Media to direct her short "Shades of Living". The film screened at film festivals internationally; including Sarasota, The Smalls and Toronto and was subsequently signed by Shorts International. As a winner of the Nokia Shorts competition, her Sci-fi short film "Daniel" premièred at Edinburgh IFF.

Franc Roddam mentored Aurora through the Women in Film and TV’s 2014 scheme. She is currently developing sic-fi feature “Tipping Point” through schemes including Birds Eye View’s FILMONOMICS, 104 Film’s Digital Revolutionaries, Screen Yorkshire’s Triangle and Elevator.

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Director Statement

Murmur was made through the Challenge ALEXA competition. Directors UK partnered with ARRI to offer members the chance to win free 2 day ALEXA shooting package with the groundbreaking Master Anamorphic lenses.

The appeal of the ALEXA challenge was the opportunity to create something of exceptional quality in a short time frame. It is very rare for Directors to have this creative opportunity. Having the support of Directors UK and ARRI for the film helped a lot with the small production budget.

I intended to shoot the film in one shot on one day. Our two lead actors would need some special qualities to handle the demands of a continuous six minute shot with actions and focus marks. Lucy Russell and Olivia Morgan were extraordinary overcoming the days challenges.

However, On the day we were met by weather obstacles and wet ground, making a one shot impossible. Luckily it was something we'd planned for and if visited the location numerous times in preparation. The positive outcome was the film could make full use of the Anamorphic lens package.

I decided to film in the Surrey Hills to make the best use of shooting with Anamorphic lenses on the ALEXA. I wanted the beautiful scenery to be in direct contrast to the chilling story unfolding.

The concept was taken from a short play by Simon Cookson. I love Simon's writing, his dialogue is ambiguous and subtle and always contains double meaning and visual fables. Having wanted to work with Simon for the past 5 years, we were both delighted to finally collaborate.

Making Murmur was also a chance to work with producers Jude Goldrei and Maria Forsstrom, both of whom I met years earlier at Screen Yorkshire's Triangle. So I'm really pleased that I took up the challenge to make new work and build on old relationships.

Murmur is a film about how we perceive events differently based on our past experiences. Comfort and security to one person is a confined prison to another.