Small Town Witches
In Small Town Witches, Sage Forester, a disgraced witch, returns to her hometown of New Forest, England, searching for a way to restore her lost magic. She finds a coven in disarray, their powers drained and their future bound to the sacred New Forest Grimoire-a book of immense magical power-now in the clutches of the ruthless Immorti empire. To restore their magic and unity, Sage must lead a daring heist to steal their Grimoire back. As Sage reconnects with her estranged family and rallies a reluctant group of witches-including a potion master, a chaos magician, two embattled aerialist sisters, and a teenage apprentice-she must navigate mistrust and lingering resentments to unite them for the mission of a lifetime. Together, they risk everything to reclaim their power and restore their magical heritage.
-
Melissa GravesDirector
-
Melissa GravesWriter
-
Melissa GravesProducer
-
Helena ChoProducer
-
Gina KartsonisProducer
-
Leah Barbara WestKey Cast"Sage Forester"
-
Nicola WrightKey Cast"Isadora Forester"
-
Jill StanfordKey Cast"Tempest Forester"
-
Monika BrodowskaKey Cast"Lilith Wade"
-
Evie ConnollyKey Cast"Maya Wade"
-
Graham PountneyKey Cast"Reverend Immorti"
-
Charlie RichKey Cast"Bartholomew Immorti"
-
Lisa-Maria CarterKey Cast"Ailish"
-
Beike HiemstraKey Cast"Q"
-
Anna KnightKey Cast"Fiona"
-
Project Type:Short, Television
-
Genres:Heist, Fantasy, Dramedy
-
Runtime:25 minutes
-
Completion Date:October 10, 2025
-
Production Budget:37,000 GBP
-
Country of Origin:United Kingdom
-
Country of Filming:United Kingdom
-
Film Color:Color
-
First-time Filmmaker:Yes
-
Student Project:No
Melissa is the creative force behind The Last Place You Look Productions, magnifying women’s perspectives and subverting traditionally male-driven genres with emotionally resonant and irresistibly fun narratives.
Her latest project, Small Town Witches, reflects her commitment to bold, high-concept storytelling with a dynamic, playful edge.
A lifelong advocate for connecting communities through the arts,
Melissa first developed original, character-driven productions for her children’s acting program, helping young people discover their voices and collaborate creatively—and uncovered her own passion for storytelling in the process.
A busy mom of two boys, Melissa balances nonprofit arts work and social media consulting. During the pandemic, she returned to school, enrolling in UCLA’s TFT Professional Programs in Screenwriting for both comedy and drama. Later, she embraced being "the oldest kid in film school" at MetFilm School in London.
In June 2024, Melissa activated her new knowledge to film her dream project, Small Town Witches, bringing her vision of women-driven, high-concept storytelling to life.
In the stillness of the pandemic, as the world struggled with shattered connections, I realized something deeper: connection had eluded me long before the pandemic tore us away from each other.
My small town is filled with extraordinary women—gardeners, foragers, chicken-raisers, and artists—women who ground themselves in their community and the natural world. I admired them deeply, yet I felt disconnected.
As a writer, I often escaped into worlds of my own creation—a witch without a coven. This longing for connection became the heart of "Small Town Witches".
Inspired by my late neighbor Anne—a rebel artist who embodied creativity and resilience—I began to imagine her as the “high priestess” of a coven of witches inspired by the vibrant women and arts communities around me. Anne’s spirit, and the transformative power of these grassroots cultural hubs, reminded me that creativity and collaboration can rebuild what’s broken and make the impossible achievable.
As I developed the story, research led me to the New Forest Coven, whose WWII ritual to stop the Nazi invasion inspired Gerald Gardner’s "Witchcraft Today". Their courage and collective power resonated with me.
I wanted Sage Forester, my pariah witch protagonist, to aspire to something as bold and extraordinary as the tiny New Forest Coven trying to save their entire country from annihilation.
But how would I tell the story?
And then it hit me: a witch heist.
This idea consumed me for years. I dove into heist films, exploring how groups achieve impossible goals despite personal flaws and conflicts.
Because women don’t fall in line—they redraw the lines.
The heart of "Small Town Witches" became about how authentic and flawed women communicate, collaborate, and overcome their differences to achieve the extraordinary.
Weaving the strength, beauty, and skill at the heart of these small communities through my fictional coven’s witches, I hoped to honor and recognize their ability to inspire, connect, and create lasting change, even in the face of adversity.
In 2023, life brought me to the U.K., where the story took its final shape. I discovered the Isle of Wight, a place brimming with magic, through the incredible Dadina Sagger of Isle of Wight Film-Fixers. Her belief in this project, combined with the generosity of the Island’s people, turned the impossible into reality.
Welcoming a new director armed only with a dream, a shoestring budget, and an extraordinary ragtag team of talented misfits, their support inspired us to reach new heights of creativity and commitment.
Together, we pulled off the heist: a five-day shoot fueled by passion and purpose.
"Small Town Witches" is a testament to the power of connection-- it's what’s possible when people of all different backgrounds come together for a shared vision.
I believe this is the way we reach for the extraordinary and achieve the impossible.