Shadow of the Deathbird

WHAT IS 'SHADOW OF THE DEATHBIRD'?

A child filmmaker has nearly completed her 8mm opus when a strange and monstrous face appears during the film’s edit. It’s in the projection. It’s engrained in the film stock. And before long, the monster materialises in her world.

This is the general framework for Shadow of the Deathbird, a dramatic short set in 1988 rural New Zealand. Even at 9-years-old, the protagonist has had a history of filmmaking using her sibling and father’s best mate as onscreen fodder for her genre mashups. But in her latest action adventure, crippling self-doubt creeps in and manifests as a horrific creature not unlike F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu.

Additionally, Deathbird is a film within a film. At certain parts, the narrative shifts from her childhood fantasies to the real world, from Spaghetti Western to an Indiana Jones adventure to the real-life family drama unfolding in her household. These technical, visual, and narrative shifts are unique and fun, and the film overall serves as an ode to film - specifically shooting, editing, and projecting on film stock. We see the young girl return to her garage bench, sit at the editor, splice, glue, and project her projects throughout, and this sort of imagery will no doubt please cinephiles.

Originally conceived as an omnibus TV show in the vein of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone, Shadow of the Deathbird will be shot as a standalone project. Afterward, the plan is to use it as a proof of concept for an ongoing series about a fictional NZ region where weird is the norm. More on the series can be found in the press links below. Should it go forward, the plan is to shoot the series outside Aotearoa’s main film hubs, focusing on spreading production to underused places i.e. The Manawatū, Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, and more.

Deathbird, the short, has been partially funded by Palmerston North’s Creative Communities Scheme. Their $6k contribution is a start, but we need an additional $12k to greenlight the short. The 20pg, 4-day production is set for October 2024 and will be produced by writer/director Derrick Sims’ Fabled Motion Pictures.

Photography will take place in Palmerston North as well as Pahiatua, the Wairarapa, and the Tararua and Ruahine Ranges, utilising NZ locales never before seen on the cinema screen.

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WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

The $6k from PN Creative Communities covers catering, craft services, travel, power, and most art department costs. It also covers the Super 8mm film stock and development for the handful of sequences shot in that format.

Fabled Motion Pictures is donating the camera, lens, and a small grip/electric package and Foxton’s MAVTech Museum is generously donating period appropriate props and set decoration.

Funds received from Boosted will pay the five cast and six crew joining the production. We feel strongly that all artists should be paid for their work!

Another $1,000 will be used to bring additional grip gear from Wellington. If we reach our stretch goal of $18k, more talent and gear will help aid the production further.

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TAX BENEFITS

If you’re a New Zealand donor, you’re able to take 33% off of your donation. Boosted is run by The Arts Foundation, an NZ Non-profit who assists and backs artists in developing and funding their projects. In turn, you can claim 1/3 on your taxes in the 2024/2025 tax year.

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PRESS FOR SHADOW OF THE DEATHBIRD

The Post - “Small Screen Beckons Wairarapa’s Sights and Sounds”

Film Talks on Arrow FM - Interview

Manawatū People’s Radio - Interview