The Story
We first meet June on a crisp November evening in a family home; a shadow of her former self, whose only companion are the birds. With the arrival of Jim, June is transported to their first meeting – when she calls the shots and goes in for the kiss. ‘Home’ captures the part of June that still dances to Patti Smith, whistles with two fingers in her mouth and dares to jump into a freezing cold lake. It questions what memory means to identity and to those caring for dementia sufferers.
The script was born out of the frustration of seeing tired stereotypes of ageing in the media. Inspired by Celeste’s own grandmother who is in the early stages of dementia; it tells the story of a real woman, wild and difficult at times, who is still fleshed out with the rich colour of a life well lived.
Often in care homes rather than in plain sight, there are currently 850,000 people in the UK with dementia – a number set to rise to over 1 million by 2025 and 2 million by 2051. Each of these is a person struggling to hold on to their own, nuanced story. HOME gives us June and Jim – whose tale is not only of first but of lasting love, in spite of dementia’s best attempts to destroy them.
featuring:
PAUL COPLEY as JIM
Paul is a long-established British actor, probably best known for his iconic roles in ZULU DAWN, THE REMAINS OF THE DAY, TRUST ME and LIFE ON MARS. He played Mr Mason for four seasons of DOWNTON ABBEY, Harry in LAST TANGO IN HALIFAX and won an Olivier award for his performance in FOR KING AND COUNTRY.
FRANCES JEATER as JUNE
Frances is a national treasure of British film and television. Screen appearances include BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON; Lone Sherfig’s THEIR FINEST; BBC’s THE OUTCAST; BAD GIRLS; SOLDIER SOLDIER and SILENT WITNESS. She is a familiar voice on the radio, and has had an illustrious theatrical career. She first worked with Paul as one half of the well-loved ‘Keelans’ on BBC’s HOLBY CITY.
BELLATRIX – the music
BellaTrix is world champion beatboxer and incredible double base player. Her unique sounds will match the film’s themes and imagery. ‘BellaTrix has a sound you will never forget’ – THE405
What is dementia?
The word ‘dementia’ is used to describe the symptoms of damage to the brain caused by diseases such as Alzheimer’s or a stroke. It usually describes a set of devastating symptoms including memory loss, hallucinations and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving and language. These symptoms vary from patient to patient.
Everyone of us has heard a story about someone, close or not, that has dementia. The aim of ‘Home’ is to voice these stories as well as visit the patients’ memories that they might have lost, to remind us who they were and who they still try to be.
Why does this affect me?
By 2066 a quarter of the UK population will be aged 65 or over. With the average cost of residential care currently sitting at £1000 per week – a figure which is rising at double the rate of inflation – Houston, we have a problem. HOME shows us a woman, who could be any one of us, suffering from age related symptoms and the impact that this has on those around her. With HOME we intend to bring a snapshot of a vital part of our society to film festivals across the country – reminding us of the crucial need for care at a time when the future of healthcare funding hangs in the balance.
So Why Kickstarter?
We have been overwhelmed by the response to the script – each fantastic member of our team has a wealth of experience but has, madly but kindly, agreed to work on this project for a fraction of their usual fee. But we need your help to push us across the finish line, to ensure that each of our team members is remunerated fairly for their time; to get us into the edit suite and help us get the film out to festivals.
So where is my money going?
We have borrowed as much as we can but now we need your help to pay for the cast, the crew, the music and the edit. In order to reduce costs as much as possible, we will be doing most of the grade, the edit and the initial script is free. You’re money will go towards our talented cast, the sick score and the edit. Here is a break down of where your money will go.
Who are we?
Celeste Harper Davis – Writer & Director
Paris Ashworth – Production Designer
Sasha Imani – Loader
Axel Gillot & Pete Hodges on camera, Corin Davis will provide lighting and Barry Read will be our grip.
The short script allows us to shoot the film within one day, which reduces the cost significantly. It will mean however the day will be busy with no breaks. To ensure we get all the shots to create the story, we have created a timed schedule, incorporating the shots with the actors in first. Any extra shots that don’t include the actors will be shot on a different day.