Private Project

The Silence of the Druids

Alfie White plays the disgruntled local disc-jockey "Alden" in this charming and off-kilter conversation piece from writer-director Charlie Oliver Ashton which anticipates the coming impact of A.I. on the creative industries and even human relationships.

Alden has a habit of going off-brief at gigs and expressing himself at the cost of giving clubgoers what they came for. When his Mother demands he perform a set for his estranged sister Kaydence's birthday, he has great trouble in figuring out what to play for her as he himself no longer seems to know who she really is. This leads him to consult Teri, a production assist so efficient there's something almost machine-like about him... Alden will discover, however, that getting to the essence of a person will be nigh-on impossible through purely rational means.

This film was made on location in Leeds for the director's postgraduate dissertation project. The film's title refers to the foreword provided by composer Charles Ives to his musical piece "The Unanswered Question" (1908), a topic which was explored further in the accompanying essay.

  • Charlie Oliver Ashton
    Writer
  • Charlie Oliver Ashton
    Director
  • Charlie Oliver Ashton
    Editors
  • Alfie White
    Key Cast
    "Alden"
  • Abigail Cooper
    Key Cast
    "Kaydence"
  • Janet Griffiths
    Key Cast
    "Mother"
  • Sam Devereaux
    Key Cast
    "Teri"
  • Cai Revell
    Sound Recordist
  • Finlay Dyer
    Drivers
  • Morgan L. Gunn
    Drivers
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Drama
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 8, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    500 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Leeds
Director - Charlie Oliver Ashton