We're All Black Down Here

A visually stunning film about the experiences of Caribbean miners in 1950s Britain, exploring the harsh realities of racism and segregation within the coal mining industry.

Inspired by the personal history of co-producer and writer Milly James, whose father was a coal miner and part of the Windrush generation.

Jack
Delaney
£3,326.00
raised of £6,000.00 goal
Funded
48 Backers
Genre
Drama
Scope
Short
Seeking funding for
Production
Campaign type
Flexible Funding
Support project
    Project

    We're All Black Down Here

    Jack
    Delaney
    Genre
    Drama
    Seeking funding for
    Production
    Scope
    Short
    Campaign type
    Flexible Funding
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    We are seeking completion funding for We’re All Black Down Here, a narrative short film set in Britain that explores themes of race, identity, acceptance, and multiculturalism.


    Morris is from the Caribbean and works in a coal mine in Nottingham. The mine is such a dangerous place, Morris and his fellow workers must look out for one another and put differences aside. Yet above ground, out of the showers when the coal dust is washed off his skin, Morris is considered an outsider by the white miners.
Prejudice creates division and miscommunication in the mine, which leads to tragedy.

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    We’re All Black Down Here tells a universal story that transcends its historical setting.
The film has an allegorical quality, ostensibly simple but conveying a hidden depth and meaning about racial tensions that exist in modern society. The story places Caribbean men in an industry of which there is little documentation, and without stories like this one, the contribution made by black men working in British pits is in danger of being deleted from historical accounts.


    The film pays homage to classic British social realist cinema, drawing inspiration from directors like Andrea Arnold and Shane Meadows. It also has a lyrical quality reminiscent of Lynne Ramsay or Steve McQueen.
The film’s aesthetic will immerse audiences in the coal mine's claustrophobic yet beautiful environment. Employing abstract composition and imagery influenced more by photography than film, it will visually narrate Morris’ journey for acceptance.

The scarce lighting in the mines, portrayed through shallow depth of field and close ups, conveys the miners’ visual impairment, offering the audience a visceral experience of the setting.

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    The film was shot over 4 days underground at the Wakefield National Coal Mining Museum. We are now seeking funds for post production costs; including an editor, colourist, sound designer and composer. We are also looking for funding to support the promotion and marketing of the film and the cost of festival submissions.

    The film is set in Nottingham and the majority of our cast and crew live and work in the city, it was also produced by Simply Thrilled a Nottingham production company.

    This was an intimate project that was mostly shot underground in confined, cold spaces. The crew are a tight knit group who went out of their way to create the beautiful and detailed imagery that will make this film have a lasting impact on it's audience.

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    Some of the creative team behind We're All Black Down Here.

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    JAMES MELLORS

    As a visual storyteller, James is dedicated to finding the nuance of parenthood and human connection on screen, he has directed two short films to date that were both on 16mm film, Coffin 2014, and Nez 2018. James is currently in development on a feature about three brothers escaping the 1981 Hyson Green riots.

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    MILLY JAMES

    Milly is a vocalist/ songwriter, actor and writer.
    Having written, directed and produced her own shorts,
    Milly was also a co producer on Anika Films' award winning short, Limbo.
    As a writer Milly’s short script Müggelsee won best screenplay at WOFF23.
    Her drama pilot Ruining Alice Marlow was a winner in the 7 Black Women Script Window 2022 leading to industry meetings.
    Milly wrote We’re All Black Down Here after reading her father’s accounts of his life as a miner in Nottinghamshire in the 1950s.

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    DERRY SHILLITTO

    Derry is a director and producer whose recent work includes the film Hollow and the BFI film Harm. He has produced several music videos for artists such as Sleaford Mods, Matt Maltese and Jake Bugg. In 2025 the feature film The Correction Unit will be released worldwide which is Derry's feature debut as producer/director.

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    JACK DELANEY

    Jack is the Creative Director of Nottingham-based Simply Thrilled, a film production company and creative agency.
    Jack has created commercial films for household brands like BBC, Universal, The Guardian and The NHS.
    His work has been broadcast on BBC, ITV, Channels 4 and 5.
    Creatively Simply Thrilled worked in partnership with Foyle River Films to co- produce BFI NETWORK funded short film Harm.

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    JERMAINE EDWARDS

    Jermaine is an experienced cinematographer with an MA in Cinematography from The National Film and Television School.
    His career spans the last decade with work including TV Series Three Little Birds, Without Sin, and movies People We Hate at The Wedding and Matilda The Musical. As well as London Film Festival screened BFI Network short film, The Walk.
     

    A Few Of Our Amazing Crew

     

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    Our crew comprised of Nottingham's finest, varying in age, gender and experience. From our youngest Skye MacDonald a talented Make Up artist, to our oldest, Production Designer Stuart Hudson who has over 30 years experience in film, TV and music promos.

    We have Production Assistant Georgie Levers who is also a Writer/Director. Her most recent credits include Harm, a BFI-funded short film. Albert Natan, Camera Assistant whose credits include feature film The Correction Unit, and short film Care. Aaron Champion, Camera Assistant, who has worked on movies Deadpool and Wolverine as well as Apple TV series Slow Horses. Gaffer Liv Kininmonth, also worked on The Correction Unit as well as 2023 shorts Pizza For Bobby and Glasshouses. Rufus Wilson is an experienced Gaffer, freelance director and DP. His debut documentary short Escape had an exciting festival run. Cristina Cretu is a talented Camera Assistant who has AC'd for the likes of Yorgos Lanthimos. The Art Department was manned by Andy Grayson who is also a veteran working across film, TV and theatre. Script Supervisor Merryn Rae Peachy has worked on notable BBC TV dramas Doctors, Father Brown and Shakespeare And Hathaway. East Midlands based Sound Recordist Alex Stroud has over fifty short films and nine features under his belt. On Stills/Lighting duties is Adrian Villeschi, an established, prominent freelance digi/film photographer exploring a diverse range of genres.

     

    CAST

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    Jorden Myrie

    Chosen by Screen International as one of their Stars of Tomorrow, East Midlands actor Jordan has played some major roles in a number of high profile TV dramas over the last few years. He starred in the Jed Mercurio produced Stephen about the murder of Stephen Lawrence, playing Stephen’s younger brother Stuart.
    In 2022 he played Kobi in the award-winning BBC Three drama Mood. In 2023 he starred in The Strays, a Netflix Original film, playing Carl opposite Bukky Bakray who played Dione.
    More recently he has a featured role in the third series of Netflix's romantic regency drama Bridgerton, in which he plays Lord Stanton, a close friend and confidante of lead character Colin Bridgerton. Also in 2024 he plays a major role in the new series of BBC One drama series Sherwood.

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    Joel Morris

    Originally from Nottingham, Joel Morris is an experienced actor whose work in feature and short films and TV spans over a decade. Joel is known for playing William Hardcastle in Gentleman Jack, Superintendent Chatterley in the award winning BBC series Sherwood, a main role as Gary in all episodes of Channel 4’s The Couple Next Door, and also appeared in two episodes of highly BAFTA nominated BBC’s The Responder.

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    Noah Valentine

    Throughout his developing acting career, Manchester actor Noah is known for appearing in in soap operas including Coronation Street, Emmerdale Farm, Hollyoaks, and BBC’s Waterloo Road.
    In the latter, he plays series regular Preston Waters. Noah has also appeared in ITV’s The Bay, and TV movie Mother’s Day playing the role of Dom Parry.

     

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    Everyone involved with We're All Black Down Here is extremely proud of creating an authentic period drama on a very limited budget. If you want to support independent film, champion Nottingham industry and stories, we will be incredibly grateful for anything you can contribute to help us complete production.

    Your money will go to helping us complete the film's edit, find the best sound designer and colourist. We will also use the money for promotional posters and materials, as well as film festival entries which all add up.

    This is an exciting time not only for independent British film but also stories about Black History, and we believe the story we are telling is both relevant and important to the times we live in. With your help, we can make sure We're All Black Down Here reaches the audience it deserves.

    £3,326.00
    raised of £6,000.00 goal
    Funded
    48 Backers
    The Shovel

    Thank you! You play a very important role. Work couldn't get done without you.
    For your reward, you'll receive a ‘thank you’ on the film’s official Facebook page, and in the film’s end credits.

    £25.00
    The Apprentice

    Well done! You're new at this but you're a fast learner.
    Rewards include everything from the 'The Shovel', plus an A3-sized digital We're All Black Down Here promotional poster.

    £50.00
    Brother Below

    Team work makes the dream work, And boy do we need you!
    You'll receive everything from 'The Shovel' and 'Apprentice' rewards; plus
    a set of behind the scenes production stills.

    £100.00
    The Miner

    We really appreciate you digging deep and coming up with something precious.
    You'll receive everything from 'The Shovel, 'The Apprentice,' and 'Brother Below' rewards
    plus an exclusive digital download of the film's beautiful original music,
    and an invitation to an exclusive online screening event, or a pair of tickets to an exclusive cast and crew screening of We’re All Black Down Here in Nottingham.

    £250.00
    The Deputy

    You’re a Boss! Leading the miners with your fortitude and your generous example. You’ll get everything included in 'The Shovel', 'Apprentice', Brother Below' and ‘ Miner,’ rewards, plus a personal video thank you from the writer, director or producer.

    £500.00
    Smooth Operator

    You're running things for real! The mine depends on people like you.
    We love your enthusiasm and hard work!
    Rewards include everything from the previous rewards plus an invitation to a Q and A with the director, producers and writer, and tickets to an official festival screening of the film.

    £1,000.00