“Boo” By Tammes Bernstein
Synopsis
Charlie is confronted with death for the first time when her grandfather dies. As her family grieves, Charlie copes by wearing her Halloween costume. Her parents now have to deal with both the grief and their daughter dressed as a ghost.
Directors statement
I wanted to make a film about a small family impacted by the death of a grandfather. Death is a bit of a taboo and I think most people are not very good at talking about it or dealing with it. I liked setting the story around Halloween because it’s the one time of year when we actively focus on death and the supernatural.
I felt it was important for the story that this was the first encounter with death for the main character. The casting director, Nicola Chisholm, did an amazing job at finding the perfect candidate to play the nine-year-old lead in the film. When I first met Nina Beagley, who plays the girl, there was no doubt she would be great for the part. It was a joy working with her and I think she did an absolutely fantastic job.
Leffe, the dog in the film, is actually mine and my partner’s. It mostly listens to my girlfriend, so I asked her if she could teach Leffe to play dead in time for the shoot. She ended up spending two months trying to get Leffe to do it. It was a bit nerve-racking on the day (I think my girlfriend felt a lot of pressure), but Leffe delivered above all expectations. The secret was lots of training and really delicious chicken treats.
Credits
Starring:
Nina Beagley, Gruffudd Glyn, Judith Roddy, Chris Bearne & Leffe
Director: Tammes Bernstein
Producer: James Bowsher
Writer: Nathan Hardistry
Story by: Tammes Bernstein & Nathan Hardistry
Director of Photography: Adam Singodia
Editor: Amy Pettipher
Composer: Sarah Boughton
Sound Design: Ed Rousseau
Sound Recordist: Angus Puczyniec
Colorist: Andrea Lo Priore
PM: Amy Vearncombe
PM - Beatriz Honório
Casting: Nicky Jane Chisholm
1st AD: Ellie Muscutt
2nd AD: Rosie Collins
3rd AD: Helen Wilson
Script Supervisor: Rebecca King
Boom Op: Alexander Preddy
Dubbing Mixer: Ross Wilkes-Houghton
Art Director: Oliver Williams
Costume: Joshua Hext
Hair and Makeup: Nicola Sacks
National Film and Television School
“Boo” was submitted to us by Tammes Bernstein. Have a film of your own you’d like us to check out? Click here!