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The Farmhand

“The Farmhand” takes place during the height of Prohibition in South Carolina where lawlessness prevailed. Hired assassin Grayson Livingston is on a mission by a kingpin bootlegger to execute Sheriff Henry Lloyd, a small town sheriff who makes alcohol shipments moving through his county difficult. In his attempt, Grayson makes a grave mistake in judgment. Now an outlaw on the run, Grayson finds shelter on a farm where he is discovered by the owner, Everett James (EJ) Sawyer. Hired as a farmhand, Grayson crosses paths with EJ’s wife, Constance (Connie) Rose Martine-Sawyer, who quickly takes a liking to him. A relationship blossoms but it soon leads them both into danger. As Sheriff Lloyd relentlessly hunts Grayson, no one is safe.

  • Michelle Elise Harding
    Director
  • Shari Harding
    Director
  • Shari Harding
    Writer
  • Michelle Elise Harding
    Producer
    Among the Stars; Spark; Crossing Lethe; Black Horse Alley; Y2K; Boot Camp; Show Crush
  • Shari Harding
    Producer
  • Russell Shealy
    Producer
  • Michele Milone
    Producer
  • Russell Shealy
    Key Cast
    "Grayson Livingston (Aubrey Burke)"
    Among the Stars; Americana; Phenobarbital
  • Carrie Anne Hunt
    Key Cast
    "Constance (Connie) Rose Martine-Sawyer"
    Sleepy Hollow; The Beach House; Living the Dream; Magic Mike XXL; Drop Dead Diva
  • Spenser Gerard
    Key Cast
    "Everett James (EJ) Sawyer"
    Intruders; Off Course
  • Stephen Royal Phillips
    Key Cast
    "Sheriff Henry Lloyd"
    Among the Stars; Fatal Attraction; Sleepy Hollow
  • Michelle Elise Harding
    Director of Photography
    Among the Stars; Spark; Under the Killing Moon; Black Horse Alley; Y2K; Boot Camp; Show Crush
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Romance, Drama, Period Piece, Suspense
  • Runtime:
    42 minutes 12 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    4,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Michelle Elise Harding, Shari Harding

Michelle Elise Harding is an award-winning cinematographer, film editor, producer, and director. Born and raised in New Jersey, Harding fell in love with the film and television industries at an early age. She has an array of work, spanning from narrative filmmaking (short and feature), performance videos, music videos, commercials, live sports, and live broadcasting/television.

Prior to moving to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2016, Harding was the director of photography, executive producer, and film editor on award-winning short film, “Spark.” She has continued to pursue filmmaking by creating short films “Among the Stars” and her latest film “The Farmhand” in South Carolina, as well as working on several others.

Collaboration is key for Harding. The possibilities are endless through the power of community, which is why Harding founded the Myrtle Beach Film Community and co-founded MESH Films, LLC with her mother, Shari Harding.

Harding has since re-located back to the tri-state area, where she plans to continue working with others that have the same drive for creating and bringing words to life through film.

Cinematography, editing, and producing are Harding’s true passions, and she is grateful to be able to implement them every day in her work.

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As a seasoned educator in New Jersey, Shari Harding’s aspirations for screenwriting hadn’t come to fruition until she moved to South Carolina in 2016. Her love for film, art and theater has always been with her.

Harding was an associate producer and played a supporting role in the short film "Spark" prior to moving to South Carolina. The following year, she was an associate producer for the short film "Among the Stars". This later inspired her to write her first screenplay, "The Farmhand", which she also co-directed and co-produced.

Harding is the owner and co-founder of MESH Films, LLC with her daughter Michelle Elise Harding. She plans on continuing her love of writing dramas and romance for the screen.

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Director Statement

The idea of “The Farmhand” originated from a dream. The story travels back in time over 90 years to a South Carolina farm in the height of the Prohibition Era. It felt like a journey that had to be told, and we were somehow chosen to do it. After countless hours, the story was put into words so the world can see it the same way we had dreamed it.

The further along in the process the script was, the more complicated it seemed to film. Since this story is a period piece, it required antique props, sets, and wardrobe. We didn’t believe there was a chance of filming "The Farmhand" with our own money. However, with the support from our incredible cast and crew, we overcame every obstacle and started principal photography on the film in August 2018 -- one year after its conception.

The American South in 1927 came to life for us in the summer of 2018. The cast has breathed life and deep emotion in the parts they took on which will resonate with us forever. We will never forget how dedicated everyone was to bringing the story of "The Farmhand" to the screen. We hope audiences will experience a trip back in time to a beautiful place and feel the journeys of the lives of these characters.