Writer/Director Mary Davis’s fundraiser for short film “A Mother’s Sacrifice” is greenlit. |

Making movies isn’t easy, sure its easier if you are a major studio or a millionaire but in the world of the independent filmmaker, it isn’t easy getting a film made. Which is why we are seeing more filmmakers turning to crowdfunding to raise the budgets to bring their stories to live, which in turn entertains film fans like me when we get to see those completed stories on our screen. Whilst perhaps not everyone is in a position to donate money to a filmmakers campaign, everyone is in a position to share that campaign across their social media timelines and doing that, will help spread the word of filmmakers, their films and their campaigns to raise a budget, across the world. Earlier today I saw the crowdfunding campaign of ‘A Mothers Sacrifice’ a short film written and to be directed by Mary Davis (who is a fantastic photographer too- I’ve linked her photography website at the bottom of this article and Mary’s photography Facebook page can be found here ) In the YouTube video below, you can see the video pitch which will tell you a little bit more about the film. I loved this pitch film, even though its a 3 minute pitch video, it has so much charm and creativity in it. Put a smile on my face!

“A Mother’s Sacrifice” written and directed by Mary Davis takes place in the sweeping plains of mid west America back in the 1700s. Branwen, the head priestess of a witch’s coven is feeling her power fading and relies on Maeve, her daughter to help her. But how can the head witch fight a battle that is near unwinnable, the fight against mortality. Branwen suggests to her daughter the idea of a dark spell that will allow the mothers life force to transfer to that of her daughter, however Maeve isn’t too sure of this that this is the right path.

Some casting news has now been announced with Katelin Dirr ( Deep Fake, Invisible Touch) playing the role of Maeve, Denise Smolarek (Exile, Controllo) as Branwen and Izabella Wolfe (Attack of The Corn Zombies, Mutual Friends) as Younger Branwen

‘A Mothers Sacrifice is well into its pre-production stages with Mary and her team hard at work with the storyboards, costume designing, and of course the auditioning of the cast. All those wonderful ingredients that help make up a film. Filming is scheduled to begin May or June 2024 and will take place in Illinois over four or five days. This is where YOU come in. Anyone who has made a film before knows that they do cost money, actors need paying, food needs buying, costumes need creating, and whilst we would love films to be cheap, they aren’t. Mary and her team had a crowdfunding campaign which was running on Seed and Spark and aimed to raise a total of $10,000 by the 26th of April 2024 and did raise the total of $8105 which still means the project hit the ‘greenlit’ status and Mary will get funding for the film, which is great news!