I Need a Battle

I NEED A BATTLE

I Need A Battle is an immersive visual album, accompanying Neil MacLeod's upcoming album of the same name. It explores the core themes and narratives of Neil's record in a deeply moving chronicle of fear, self-destruction, and eventual regrowth. This is the co-directorial debut from acclaimed artists Oscar Keys and Neil MacLeod, a debut that the two have been dreaming up over almost 4 years of collaboration. We believe wholeheartedly in this story, and the importance of telling it. Whilst deeply personal - at its core, the film harbors a story of existential trials familiar to us all as we move through (and dust off) the webs of our increasingly complex lives.

Our team is finally ready to bring this ambitious dream out into the light, but first - we need your help! We're asking for $10,000 to help make this film a reality.

Over $20,000 of private funding has already been secured for this production, (including a sizable contribution from the artist). However, a further $10,000 is needed to ensure that everyone involved is paid fairly for their time. Something that is forgotten about far too often.

"We hope you'll consider contributing towards this exciting new project - no cent will go wasted, and your generous donation will go directly towards supporting our team in creating a world-class film. We ask only for as much as you can give, every cent means a lot to us. Plus - if you live here in Aotearoa, then you can claim back 33% of your donation in your annual tax return. Yay! If you’d like to know more about the film and its themes, feel free to check out our treatment document 

Lastly, there are other really helpful ways to support this project if you're a bit tight for cash. Sharing this campaign on your social media or with your close friends and family helps a lot and would mean the world to us. Thank you for taking the time to check out our project. I promise we won't disappoint."

- Neil MacLeod

MEET THE TEAM

Oscar Keys | Writer/Director/Editor Oscar is an established music video and narrative director based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Oscar has directed for renowned musicians both nationally and internationally such as BROODS, Kirin J. Callinan, Nadia Reid, and Church & AP. Alongside Ezra Simons (Earth Tongue, Soft Bait), Oscar is one half of SUNBED, a new director duo acclaimed for analogue, concept-led, unorthodox music videos and commercial projects. Oscar also serves as co-creator and showrunner of DEADBEAT, a drama/comedy series chronicling the plights of two young jobseekers, as they struggle to find cash and purpose in life. DEADBEAT is currently in development with NZ On Air. You can check out some of Oscar’s projects here.

Neil MacLeod | Writer/Director/Lead Neil MacLeod is a prolific artist, producer and mix engineer based in Aotearoa, New Zealand. He has worked as a producer & mixer for an extensive range of local artists, such as Drax Project, AACACIA, Nouri, TOI & 2XM just to name a few. His artist project has served as an outlet for uncompromised expression - creating unique productions that have earned him the reputation of being one of New Zealand’s most cutting-edge artists. His latest effort ‘I Need a Battle’ is set for release in 2024, and will see Neil step into new roles in the film world as both a co-director and lead actor for the accompanying short film of the same name.

Caleb Corlett | Director of Photography Caleb is a cinematographer and filmmaker hailing from Aotearoa. His work encompasses a wide spectrum, ranging from music videos to commercials to short films. He’s collaborated with artists such as Benee, Bret Mckenzie and Melodownz, and had short films play in festivals around the world, “The Girl the Lamb and the Man” (SWIFF) and “Cetology” (NZIFF). He gained industry experience crewing on large-scale blockbusters, such as the Avatar sequels, the Lord of the Rings series and numerous independent New Zealand feature films.