WHO WE ARE

My name is Ema Čulík and I'm an MA student of Film Directing at Edinburgh College of Art.  I am currently preparing my diploma film, The Golden Chain, which will be a short drama. I'm working together with a crew made of up other students from ECA, the Screen Academy and Edinburgh University.  We are an international group of creative, hard working young people. We are all passionate about film and keen to make a picture which is really beautiful and moving.

THE FILM

The Golden Chain is a film about the spaces between words and the electricity between people. It is about hesitation, obligation and ambition. The main character is trying to speak her heart but can't make herself heard over the din of meaningless talk . 
It's set in a theatre and tells the story of Masha, the set designer. She has just got engaged but she is full of doubt and at the film's opening she is watching rehearsals, deep in thought, always fidgeting with her engagement ring. 

THE CHARACTERS:
Masha is 26 years old, she is a little shy but when she feels energetic she can keep up with
the chatter and gossip that swirls around her in the theatre. She is creative and thoughtful.
She has been working in the theatre for a year and a half, she studied fine art but somehow never managed to get exhibited and now is working as a set designer. The work is interesting and she does it quite well, but it's not quite what her heart longs for.  About a year ago, Fergus asked her out on a date and she said yes, without being particularly besotted with him.. Perhaps because he was the director, so charming, and everyone around her said, “Oh he's so amazing, you have to say yes!” Now he has proposed and she sees herself on the edge of a cliff, below her lies a life of
dinner parties and theatre shmoozing and not the pure love that she has always wanted.
She would rather be alone than have to act the pretty wife.

Fergus is 28, he has recently been given plays to direct by the theatre. He is definitely bright and he's very keen to be successful as a director, both to make interesting work but also to receive recognition. He is obviously very busy and most of his thoughts are occupied by his work. He goes to various theatre events to try and get himself noticed.  He and Masha have been together for about a year. He does love her, in his own way. He thinks she is very beautiful and he sees her as the perfect addition to the life he wants to construct for himself. He is somewhat egotistical and so doesn't always hear her, rather projecting his own idea of love onto her.
His powerful desire for perfection often leads him to push things too hard and sometimes
he ends up ruining his own chances.

Alex is 27, thoughtful, creative, quiet. He is the sound technician in the theatre and makes his own music that he never plays to anyone. He is quiet but though his words are scarce, they are seldom spent in vain. He is somewhat allergic to all the gossip and scandal in the theatre, he never acts out against it, but just keeps himself at a certain distance. He likes Masha a lot and tries to be there for her but he is not very forthcoming.

WHAT WE NEED

Since this is a student film production,  we have the pressure of having no budget to speak of.  While we are able to use college equipment – camera, lighting, sound – there are loads of other costs that come into making a film. We will not be taking any money ourselves, but will pour everything into the absolute essentials for this film, and that means location, props, and feeding the crew. 
We are budgeting around £400 for the rental of a theatre space, £200 for costumes and props, and  £200 for food and drink on set. If we're not able to pay the crew and actors, at least we can keep them fed!

PERKS

All those who donate will be credited in the film! You can know that you were a part of making something really beautiful!

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP

If you're not able to donate yourself, please pass this page on to as many people as possible so that we might be able to raise the money to make this film!