Neo-noir short film / mystery • Bewdley • 3 weeks
Pre-production
1 week
Production
1 week
Post-production
1 week
Published
End of Week 3
This project is a 10-12 minute neo-noir short film shot entirely in Bewdley, using the town's unique geography and landmarks as central characters. The story follows a washed-up detective who must return to his hometown when a local shopkeeper vanishes after the River Severn floods. The mystery leads him through Bewdley's iconic landmarks—the ancient bridge, the historic Dog Lane, the riverside gardens—as he uncovers a secret society using the flood tunnels beneath the town. The script weaves in local folklore about the river's 'hungry' nature, creating an atmospheric thriller that feels both deeply rooted in Bewdley and universally compelling. What makes this project unique is its use of real flood mapping and CCTV footage from the town's flood defenses to ground the fantasy in reality. The team will work with the Bewdley Museum and local historians to ensure accuracy. The visual style will be a moody, desaturated palette with occasional bursts of amber light (from street lamps, phone screens), contrasting the wet, dark textures of the town at night. The score will feature a solo cello and field recordings of water flows, creating an immersive soundscape. This is a portfolio-worthy piece that demonstrates location storytelling, genre filmmaking, and collaborative problem-solving (using actual flood challenges as plot points). It taps into the trend of 'place-based thrillers' seen in works like *The Third Day* and *Folklore*. The project is achievable for a small team, with most locations accessible without permits (public rights of way) and a compact shooting schedule.
This project is a 10-12 minute neo-noir short film shot entirely in Bewdley, using the town's unique geography and landmarks as central characters. The story follows a washed-up detective who must return to his hometown when a local shopkeeper vanishes after the River Severn floods. The mystery leads him through Bewdley's iconic landmarks—the ancient bridge, the historic Dog Lane, the riverside gardens—as he uncovers a secret society using the flood tunnels beneath the town. The script weaves in local folklore about the river's 'hungry' nature, creating an atmospheric thriller that feels both deeply rooted in Bewdley and universally compelling. What makes this project unique is its use of real flood mapping and CCTV footage from the town's flood defenses to ground the fantasy in reality. The team will work with the Bewdley Museum and local historians to ensure accuracy. The visual style will be a moody, desaturated palette with occasional bursts of amber light (from street lamps, phone screens), contrasting the wet, dark textures of the town at night. The score will feature a solo cello and field recordings of water flows, creating an immersive soundscape. This is a portfolio-worthy piece that demonstrates location storytelling, genre filmmaking, and collaborative problem-solving (using actual flood challenges as plot points). It taps into the trend of 'place-based thrillers' seen in works like *The Third Day* and *Folklore*. The project is achievable for a small team, with most locations accessible without permits (public rights of way) and a compact shooting schedule.
5 roles still open