Introduction:
A despondent soul arrives in a strange place where he must confront his (mostly) inner demons. My film, Soul Trader, is a dark comedy, fantasy short that explores the themes of toxic relationships, men’s mental health and redemption. It was funded by the Reel Brum Open Door Film Fund.
Inspiration:
I wrote the original screenplay in 2016 after being inspired by an art installation: ‘The Deluge’ (by Toin Adams) inside Zellig at the Custard Factory complex in Birmingham. When it came to producing the film, I wanted to draw on influences from Wes Anderson and Sam Raimi, experimenting with blending genres and exploring practical and visual effects to create a film that visually pops and is undeniably ‘something quirky’.
The Process:
As we received funding from Reel Brum, it felt fitting to ensure that we had an entirely Birmingham-born or based cast and crew for this project. We shot at multiple locations over two weekends and painted two rooms and a hall in our home entirely pink! A tight funding deadline, very little budget, and a tiny crew very much kept the pressure on, but our incredible team of creatives worked effortlessly (in multiple roles!) to create a film that we are all very proud of.
What It Means to Be a Finalist:
Being selected as a finalist at Worcester Film Festival has been incredibly validating. Receiving industry recognition is really encouraging for our filmmaking journey and gives us the confidence to continue pursuing creative and imaginative storytelling. It’s been really rewarding to see audiences engage with our film, and we’re excited for Soul Trader to reach even more people at Worcester Film Festival.
Where to Watch/Follow:
Soul Trader is currently on the festival circuit until early 2027. Still, you can follow our production company on Instagram @something.quirky for updates and to find out more about our upcoming short: Holy Sh*t.
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