The Chased

When a group of friends break into a bar, the owner holds them at gunpoint. In a world where playing music is punishable by death, they find they have to play for their lives to escape capture and extermination.

  • Emily Isaacs
    Director
  • Gino Isaacs
    Director
  • Emily Isaacs
    Writer
  • Emily Isaacs
    Producer
  • Gino Isaacs
    Producer
  • Greg Draven
    Producer
  • Chris Martin
    Producer
  • Orla Phipps
    Producer
  • Steve Nicolson
    Key Cast
    "Ash"
  • Viv Berry
    Key Cast
    "Natasha"
  • Greg Draven
    Key Cast
    "Brian"
  • Calum Speed
    Key Cast
    "Luke"
  • Fenia Gianni
    Key Cast
    "Zoe"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 16, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    0 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Black Magic BRAW 4k
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.4:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Emily Isaacs, Gino Isaacs

Emily Isaacs is a writer, producer and director from Eastbourne in the UK. After a chronic illness prompted a change from being a ‘cello teacher to writing, she production-managed a micro-budget feature while completing a MA. In 2020, after three years as Head of Production at Drop Dead Films, she set up an online creative content company, Scriptworks Productions Ltd. with her husband, editor Gino Isaacs. They have two children with special needs, and Emily has two older children at university and college.

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Director Statement

I wrote the script back in August 2020, before the pandemic. It was mainly to express my fears about the creeping of totalitarianism in the UK, and around a perceived decline in public respect for diversity, the pursuit of knowledge and art. Other times and other countries have had situations similar to this one, so I wanted to present a picture of what that might look like for our country in a near future. Of course, the pandemic spread, and the playing of instruments, singing and performing were actually banned.

We decided we had to get the film made, and although it was difficult to complete within covid regulations and restrictions, we managed it with two five-hour shoots, working around the opening times of the bar and restaurant we were shooting underneath. I think we achieved a great deal with no money and little time, and everyone who worked on the project with us was amazing.

Although the banning of instruments might once again seem very unlikely, I felt it was a good analogy for how easily a government can remove people's rights, and how law-abiding people can suddenly find themselves on the wrong side of law, or displaced from their family, home and friends through no fault of their own. We hope the film is engaging, without being preachy!