Experiencing Interruptions?

To Fell a Tree

After a student-led short film goes wrong with a fake gun prop turning out to be an actual gun, four friends must decide what to do. When James, one of the four remaining students, is shot down by Emma, the three remaining girls argue over the best course of action to take with the two dead bodies on their hands. They travel back to one of their houses and deliberate over what to do. As it turns out, they had intended to shoot James the whole time, but the wrong person had ended up dead too. Eventually, they choose to frame the deaths as a murder-suicide, with Erin, their friend, being the killer of James and herself. They display their bodies together in the woods after forging a fake suicide note explaining the act. Emma goes to church in the hope of repentance.

  • Nathan Ryan
    Director
  • Ruby Griffiths
    Writer
  • Alice Winter
    Producer
  • Beth Rennie
    Key Cast
  • Gregory Foster
    Key Cast
  • Marie de Mestral
    Key Cast
  • Jennifer Fernandez
    Key Cast
  • Oceane Forster
    Key Cast
  • David Griffiths
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    27 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 10, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    450 CHF
  • Country of Origin:
    Switzerland
  • Country of Filming:
    Switzerland
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Premiere
    Lausanne
    Switzerland
    February 16, 2017
    Premiere
Director Biography - Nathan Ryan

Nathan is from Cheltenham, England, but moved to Switzerland at age 8. He currently studies photography at CEPV, CH but eventually wants to attend film school and work in the film industry.

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Director Statement

None of the crew had any training in the jobs they were given on set, none of the crew had studied film or had ever worked on a proper film in the past. The cast had never worked on a film before and all come from a theatre background. It was a lot of fun and a tremendous learning experience for everyone involved!