Forging stories from the landscape of the North East
We are a collective of North East-based filmmakers and artists, building on the success of our award-winning short film Sea Coal. Our work explores the deep connections between people, history, and the landscapes of our region.
Our collaborative process allows each artist to shine and build on what is there, creating works that are both authentic and profound.
Since 1996, his writing has engaged communities and earned recognition, receiving Lottery funding for film and winning the Adjudicator's Special Prize for theatre. In Darlington, he served as a borough councillor while continuing his craft. A prolific collaborator, he partnered on the book Fell and the poetry-film Sea Coal.
An artist and photographer whose work explores the landscape and the complex relationship between humanity and the land. Deeply inspired by location and history, he is a master technician and printmaker. His film Sea Coal was selected for multiple international festivals.
A dedicated and sought-after character actor, renowned for his ability to immerse himself in diverse roles, boasting a powerful voice and impeccable comedic timing. A cornerstone of The Castle Players, his passion for storytelling now extends to short films and exploring local folk tales.
A neurodivergent multidisciplinary artist, musician, and producer based in Gateshead. Their work is an exploration of place and identity, creating immersive, collaborative soundscapes through a process of "modern myth-making," fusing field recordings, traditional instrumentation, and analogue synthesis.
A new 15-minute short film shot on 16mm black & white film, telling the forgotten story of the common man who built our world.
The film opens on the brutal, rain-lashed construction of the world’s first railway. Robert Metcalfe and his fellow navvies are spectral figures in the mud and gloom of the cuttings between Shildon and Heighington. We witness Robert’s near-fatal accident, a slide of earth that breaks his body but not his spirit. He is an anonymous part of a vast machine, building a future that will not bear his name.
The completed stretch of track now holds a cold, inert iron beast: the first locomotive. To Robert, it is a giant without a soul. He names it ‘Jimmy Ockam’. When the official method to ignite its fire fails, Robert steps forward. Using his pipe glass, he focuses a single beam of sunlight onto the kindling in the firebox. He gives the monster its heart—a moment of sublime connection between man, nature, and machine.
Decades later, the aged Robert Metcalfe is a relic in a world transformed by the revolution he started. The memory of his pivotal act has faded into obscurity. The film culminates in his quiet, desperate act of writing. Each word scratched onto the page is an attempt to relight that first fire, a plea for someone to see the light he once made and to remember the common man who lit the way.
This project is made possible through a community-focused grant and the in-kind contributions of our dedicated team. The budget is allocated solely to tangible production costs.
| Item | Cost (£) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Film Stock (10 rolls) | 350.00 | £35/roll est. |
| Shipping & Import from US | 45.00 | Conservative estimate |
| Lab Processing & 2K Scan | 275.00 | £27.50/roll est. |
| Return Shipping | 10.00 | |
| Subtotal | 680.00 | |
| CONTINGENCY | 70.00 | For unexpected costs |
| TOTAL | 750.00 | On budget. |