Private Project

The Greenhouse Next Door

Daisy, an 11-year-old girl with a passion for adventure, sneaks into her neighbour’s greenhouse and steals a beautiful flower as a birthday present for her mum. However, once home, she soon realises she has accidentally stolen something (or someone) else too – her neighbour, Fred! The only problem is that, thanks to some magic experiments, he’s managed to turn himself into a caterpillar! Daisy must embark on a journey across her neighbour’s fantastical garden once again in order to return Fred the Caterpillar safely back to where he belongs, facing a few of her fears along the way…

  • Lottie Bowden
    Director
  • Sophie Robertson
    Writer
  • James Hollinworth
    Producer
  • Jake Kettyles
    Director of Photography
  • Tim Fearon
    Key Cast
    "Fred the Caterpillar"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Fantasy, Adventure, Children's, Puppet
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 8 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    8,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Arts University Bournemouth / Bournemouth Film School
Director - Lottie Bowden
Director Statement

Hi! I’m Lottie, the director for ‘The Greenhouse Next Door’.

Being chosen to bring this story to the screen has been such a special honour for me, as I feel very closely connected with its themes and the main character. I was raised surrounded by nature, having the New Forest right on our doorstep as well as a blossoming back garden at home that has been tended to religiously by my mother over the years. The ethereal magic and wonder that comes with the bright colours, creatures and plants of wildlife allows for the imagination to run wild, and I for one spent my childhood ‘away with the fairies’ (as my family say) and constantly dreaming up grand adventures and stories all from the safety of my back garden.

This film showcases the importance of creativity within childhood, and how nature plays a huge part in that. Not all our audience will have immediate access to a flourishing garden or communal green space, and so we’re bringing a little slice of adventure to them instead with this film and its whimsical characters. I intend to show people of all ages the magic of the everyday with this film, and how much fun there is to be had in seeing things a little differently and using your imagination!