In 2014, Remain Humane started out as an experimental idea by Director Sheridan Sinclair for a short film, which was meant to be an episode in a 13 Part Web-Series entitled Fatal Fables. Three episodes were actually filmed that year, but one starring Lily Chilvers is proving difficult to edit due to a lack of coverage.
However, the Director is hopeful of finding a way to complete this in the future.
The other two were released on YouTube:
The Bully (2015)
You Won't See Me Cry (2016)
For Remain Humane, a rough premise & character profiles were the only things written down; the dialogue was to be totally improvised.
Each actor was given a sealed envelope with their character description within; only moments before they first entered the story.
The four main actors rose to the challenge so brilliantly, it would have been impossible to edit down to a 15 minute short.
However, there wasn't enough material for a full length feature & so 2 extra days of filming were planned & filmed.
With the exception of a couple of lines suggested by the Director to close up some loose ends, these shoots were improvised too.
Sadly, in 2015 one of the main cast, Lily Chilvers was diagnosed with terminal cancer before a rough cut was completed.
At the time, Sheridan had recently enrolled on a Master's Degree in Film with Raindance & Staffordshire University; being accepted through life experience rather than previous academic qualifications.
Due to this, the rough cut took nearly 2 years to complete, but was then once again shelved.
After graduating in 2017, the Director revisited the edit with fresh eyes & realised there was not enough usable footage to make a quality full length feature.
In August 2017, Sheridan completed writing some additional scenes designed to tighten up & improve the context of the story.
Note: These will be the only scripted scenes in the film.
He had hoped to shoot these before moving house in November 2017, but due to unforeseen circumstances was unable to do so.
Sadly, in August 2017 we were informed of the tragic death of our original sound engineer & a good friend, Stu Bird.
The film when completed will also be dedicated to his memory.
Sheridan spent most of 2018 applying for permanent job vacancies so as to be able to put a budget together for these additional scenes to be shot professionally, but only managed to gain employment as an entertainer on a seasonal zero hour contract in 2019.
However, thanks to the generosity of Screamfest, most of the additional scenes were shot in the May, with the rest scheduled to be filmed in November.
Unfortunately, one of the cast was unavailable & so the scenes were postponed with a plan of filming in the spring of 2020.
Well, we all know what happened in 2020, so that was another year lost.
With only 2 key scenes left to be filmed, it is hoped that the project will be wrapped in June 2021 if a location can be secured in time.
At the time or writing (May 2021), we are about to launch a crowdfunding campaign (link to follow shortly).
With zero budget, the Director has relied on the good will of cast, crew & some businesses to get this far.
We have a page where we will list all our supporters to say Thank you.
It is hoped to have the film finished & ready for either distribution or festival release in late 2021 or early 2022.
However, the Director is hopeful of finding a way to complete this in the future.
The other two were released on YouTube:
The Bully (2015)
You Won't See Me Cry (2016)
For Remain Humane, a rough premise & character profiles were the only things written down; the dialogue was to be totally improvised.
Each actor was given a sealed envelope with their character description within; only moments before they first entered the story.
The four main actors rose to the challenge so brilliantly, it would have been impossible to edit down to a 15 minute short.
However, there wasn't enough material for a full length feature & so 2 extra days of filming were planned & filmed.
With the exception of a couple of lines suggested by the Director to close up some loose ends, these shoots were improvised too.
Sadly, in 2015 one of the main cast, Lily Chilvers was diagnosed with terminal cancer before a rough cut was completed.
At the time, Sheridan had recently enrolled on a Master's Degree in Film with Raindance & Staffordshire University; being accepted through life experience rather than previous academic qualifications.
Due to this, the rough cut took nearly 2 years to complete, but was then once again shelved.
After graduating in 2017, the Director revisited the edit with fresh eyes & realised there was not enough usable footage to make a quality full length feature.
In August 2017, Sheridan completed writing some additional scenes designed to tighten up & improve the context of the story.
Note: These will be the only scripted scenes in the film.
He had hoped to shoot these before moving house in November 2017, but due to unforeseen circumstances was unable to do so.
Sadly, in August 2017 we were informed of the tragic death of our original sound engineer & a good friend, Stu Bird.
The film when completed will also be dedicated to his memory.
Sheridan spent most of 2018 applying for permanent job vacancies so as to be able to put a budget together for these additional scenes to be shot professionally, but only managed to gain employment as an entertainer on a seasonal zero hour contract in 2019.
However, thanks to the generosity of Screamfest, most of the additional scenes were shot in the May, with the rest scheduled to be filmed in November.
Unfortunately, one of the cast was unavailable & so the scenes were postponed with a plan of filming in the spring of 2020.
Well, we all know what happened in 2020, so that was another year lost.
With only 2 key scenes left to be filmed, it is hoped that the project will be wrapped in June 2021 if a location can be secured in time.
At the time or writing (May 2021), we are about to launch a crowdfunding campaign (link to follow shortly).
With zero budget, the Director has relied on the good will of cast, crew & some businesses to get this far.
We have a page where we will list all our supporters to say Thank you.
It is hoped to have the film finished & ready for either distribution or festival release in late 2021 or early 2022.