Daniel Phillips

We're now over half way towards our target, at $7748 with 31 days to go! We also have an amazing 66 supporters, who have contributed anything from $1 to making this project happen! We're incredibly grateful to all of you. Help us get to $8,000 by the end of the week. Tell your friends or donate to a worthy project being made by Adelaide filmmakers. Spread the word!!

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The Martyr is a short film set against the backdrop of the conflict in Syria.

Syria is currently going through major upheaval. The government is being met with large scale protests from its people, demanding basic rights that we in this country take for granted. To make matters worse, the country’s internet is nearly completely locked down. Sites like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter are highly censored as well as emails out of the country being imposed with massive restrictions.

The media is showing us a government mercilessly murdering its people, being opposed by an impoverished and honourable rebel uprising. THIS IS NOT THE WHOLE TRUTH. The fact is, atrocities are being committed by BOTH sides.

If you've seen any footage of what's happening you'll notice that it's always poor quality, and often shot on peoples phones. Often civilians and even soldiers risk their lives to smuggle this kind of footage out of the country, in the hope that the world will see what is really happening.

This is exactly what we're making our film about.

Synopsis

Issam, a Syrian rebel soldier, enters a dungeon like room to commence the extraction of information from a blindfolded government soldier. As he begins to interrogate this man for vital information that will aid the cause, he soon learns that he was once an old friend of his, a man named Nidal. Issam is surprisingly savage in his approach, until finally Nidal gives up the information he has been withholding. Issam nods to a CCTV camera in the room, acknowledging to whoever is watching that he has what he needs. Feeling Issam will now let him go, Nidal relaxes a little, but Issam soon goes into a rage, inflicting more and more pain upon him.

When he finally stops, leaving Nidal half dead, he reveals a mobile phone that has secretly filmed the preceding events. He places the phone in Nidal’s hand, telling him he must show the world what is happening in Syria. Issam dresses Nidal in his uniform to conceal his escape, and Nidal leaves as best he can. Within moments, other soldiers storm the room and prepare to execute Issam for his treachery. Issam prevails in his mission of providing an example for those that would listen and in the process becomes a Martyr.

Issam’s goal is to prove to the world that the conflict isn’t a one sided massacre, that in fact the country is at civil war, and BOTH sides are to blame. By doing this he will prevent foreign intervention and stop Syria from turning out like Iraq, where western intervention has in many ways actually made the country worse. He believes the Syrian people can reform their own country into what they want it to be.  

About The Film

The film is about the moral dilemma behind doing the wrong thing for the right reason; for the greater good. It puts the question to the audience: “is it ethical to harm or torture one person to ensure the safety of many others?” 

The conflict in Syria is happening right now. There will never be a better time to make this film. Although it will be produced entirely in South Australia, it will be as realistic as possible and spoken completely in Arabic.

Although the story itself is topical, the themes are timeless and universal. It speaks about the extraordinary lengths to which human beings will go in the name of true patriotism, as well as the horrible things we are capable of and the effects on those who get caught in the middle. It will be a powerful film that will provoke the audience to consider what is happening internationally and will spark discussion about the moral questions involved.

You Can Make A Difference

We need a minimum of $15,000 to make the movie. No-one is getting paid - all of this will go towards our equipment and distribution costs. The film will be entered into festivals all over the world and eventually be saturated online, hopefully raising awareness that awful things are happening in Syria.

We don't expect this film to solve the problems in Syria and it does not intend to take sides. We do hope however, that it aids in the cause to stop the bloodshed. There are other forms of pressure besides military support, and hopefully this project can encourage people to start asking the right questions.

We already have the support of members of the Syrian community, but we can't make this film without people like you donating to the cause, and it can be anything; seriously! This is a worldwide funding campaign and every dollar counts. It can be anything from $5, to $20 to $1000!

What do you think? If we work together we can actually make a difference. Worth it? Well, that's up to you.

Key Crew

Daniel Phillips – Co-Writer/Producer/Director

Daniel Phillips currently works as a Writer, Producer and Director on various projects for film, television, music video and the corporate sector. After completing a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Screen Production) degree at Flinders University, Daniel worked as an editor for Ambience Entertainment on the children’s show Larry the Lawnmower, which was screened nationally on the 7 network. He has worked as an editor on various TVC’s including the 2010 Summer campaign for the Beachouse, and acted as Series Producer and Director on the television pilot The Vibe. His keen eye for detail and work in varying roles across the industry allows him to apply equal focus to all areas of production. Daniel’s recent short film Being Nowhere is currently on the festival circuit and is part of the Official Selection in India’s Stepping Stone Film Festival. Daniel is one of the founders of production company Anomaly Media and has several projects in development including two feature length films at script level.

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Andrew Graue – Producer/Sound Designer

Andrew Graue is a freelance sound engineer and composer, best known for his skills in sound design and location sound recording. After completing a Diploma in Music Industry (Technical Production) in 2007, Andrew took up a full time position with LTP Music as a post-production audio engineer. Andrew’s credits include sound editor on Paperback Rehab, which won Best Documentary at the 2011 ATOM Awards and was also a WOW Film Festival finalist. He edited and mixed the feature documentary, 6 On the St and the short comedy, A Few Nervous Habits, both of which received nominations at the 2012 South Australian Screen Awards. As a founding member of Anomaly Media, Andrew has been involved in a number of key productions such as the short film Being Nowhere, The Vibe TV pilot and the recent Mere Theory music video, All Walls Will Fall. He is heading up the Sound department and Co-Producing on The Martyr.

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Daniel Vink – Producer/Editor

Daniel graduated from MAPS in 2007 and has since worked as both Producer and Editor on numerous music videos, short films and corporate videos. While studying Daniel won the ‘Young Australia Productions Award for excellence’ for the short film Squeaky Clean. In 2008 he co‐founded Subconscious Studios and soon after produced award winning films Stan Spade and Samboy–Flavour Hits You. More recent credits include music videos for bands such as Brillig, Mere Theory, Dexter Jones and Tracer, along with producing Frown for the Giveaways which was awarded Best Music Video in the 2011 South Australian Screen Awards. In 2012 amongst other projects Daniel has teamed up with Anomaly Media to produce and edit The Martyr.

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David Gregan – Director Of Photography

David Gregan works professionally in the film and corporate world, mainly serving as a camera Assistant on TVC’s. He has also worked in the camera and lighting departments on major feature films shot in South Australia including: Hey, Hey it’s Esther Blueburger, Beautiful, Broken Hill, and the Clive Owen film The Boys are Back. In 2006 he won a Silver ACS Award for a short film he shot called Chambers. Again in 2010 David won a Silver ACS award in the corporate and educational category for Uniting Care Wesley. With his experience in the lighting department he brings a strong emphasis on light to all his projects. Liking to use light and colour to help tell a story, Dave continues to shoot and camera assist on many major projects.

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Nic English – Co-Writer

Nic graduated from the Adelaide Centre for the Arts Acting Course in 2008. Since graduating, Nic’s theatre credits include Books and Bites (Come Out), The Embryos (The Duende Collective), Different Fields (SINGular Productions/State Opera of South Australia), A State of Affairs (Accidental Productions), Autobahn and Boxing Day Test (Junglebean), The Misanthrope, Holding The Man and The Glass Menagerie (State Theatre Company of South Australia). Screen credits include short film Being Nowhere and travel show, The Vibe. Nic has also developed new works with Sydney based companies Cry Havoc and The Earthcrosser Company, as well Adelaide based ensemble, Chopt Logic. Nic is also a founding member of Adelaide based theatre company, Junglebean. The Martyr is Nic’s first film writing credit.

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For more information

http://www.anomalymedia.com.au/