A group of young independent film makers from Stevenage have chosen the topical issue of the Syrian crisis as the subject of their first movie together.
Laura Saxon, a 22-year-old trained actress and scriptwriter who has teamed up with Gabby Cruse to direct the film, together with producer Mike Brzezinski, have launched the project on crowdfunding website Indiegogo to try to drum up the cash which will make their cinema dream possible.
Based on fictional characters, the movie – Year In Captivity – aims to bring to life the story of seven foreign aid workers kidnapped in Syria by ISIS terrorists.
Laura said: “The film opens at a foreign aid camp in Syria, with the seven main characters working in their roles as aid workers.
“The camp is overrun by terrorists, including the leader Imam, who kidnaps the seven aid workers while killing many others.
“After the kidnapping event, our main characters all explore, experience and evolve in the intense situation of kidnap.
“They all face daily ordeals that include torture, starvation and psychological torments and all begin to open up about their situations back home.”
Asked why the team chose the thorny issue of the war in Syria for the piece, Laura said: “In today’s world, terrorism is a harsh reality that has affected so many lives.
“Our film will help to give people a more profound understanding of the issue through a deep, character driven plot that focuses on the life of a captive through their own eyes.
“Our hope is that by putting this realistic story, based on true facts, on the big screen it will have a massive emotional effect on the audience. It will show the people suffering around the world that they are not alone.”
Perks for supporting the project include acting as an adviser for the project to photos signed by the cast, and will cover costs including wages for the crews and actors, professional props and sets, film equipment and post production costs.
The team needs to secure $450,000 – to donate and to watch a trailer visit www.indiegogo.com and search for Year In Captivity.
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