The Lossen (2018) | Short Film

Beneath every nightmare lies a dream

In the dead of night an other-worldly visitor drags its hulking, hooded mass to the front door of 70 year old successful business woman Sylvia Cappleman, but this mythical Grim Reaper is not all it seems and so appears The Lossen, the Reaper's agent of death.

In the final moments of her life The Lossen discovers a complication with Sylvia's passing, she cannot be taken by death because she has not fulfilled her dream. In order to rectify the problem The Lossen takes Sylvia on a journey to confront her lost dream and the secrets of her past.

Production Stills

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Behind the scenes

The inspiration for The Lossen came whilst researching a documentary about the differences in attitudes towards death in the East and West. Sadly in the West death is still a taboo subject and most people want to avoid any thought of the inevitable.

The dramatic opening scene of the The Lossen came in a daydream. The imposing figure of the Grim Reaper, scythe in hand, walking down the path of an impressive, old country house gave writer, producer and director Colin Skevington, the perfect opportunity to write a script that would begin a journey to turn our view of death on its head and show us a possibility of what could be, but in an entertaining and gripping way. The opening reflects one of the key themes of the film; that death is not what we think it is.

The story brings together the natural and supernatural worlds, embodied in the characters of the ever-present Sylvia and the mysterious Lossen, an attractive, confident, yet other worldly man.

As the story unfolds there is a complication with Sylvia’s passing, she has not fulfilled her dream, despite living a life of material success. Sylvia has deeply buried and suppressed the one thing her heart desired; a revelation that may hit home to many of us. The film begs the question, whose life are we living and is it really too late to live our dreams?

Cast

Sylvia

LINDA MARLOWE

Linda Marlowe has had an extensive career in film (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy; The House of Mirth), television (The Green Man; Houdini; Foyle’s War) and theatre.

Linda worked with Steven Berkoff over a twenty-five year span as his leading lady in most of his plays, touring internationally and in London’s West End. Her association with him gave rise to her first solo show, Berkoff’s Women, directed by Josie Lawrence. She then followed it on with four more solo shows Diatribe of Love, No Fear!, Mortal Ladies Possessed and Believe.

She has toured these shows nationally and internationally and won The What's On Stage, Peoples Choice Theatre Award as Best Actress for Berkoff’s Women.

The Lossen

SEAN KNOPP

Sean Knopp is a Drama Centre graduate and over the last decade has appeared in numerous television (Dr Who; The Bible; 24: Live Another Day) and film productions (Replace; Charismata) and has worked with directors such as Henry Alex Rubin and Sam Mendes.

Sean played the lead in a multi award winning British feature film "The Sky in Bloom" where he won the "Best Actor" award at Newport International Film Festival.

The Assistant

ALBERT WELLING

Albert Welling has appeared in a number of television series including Dr Who, The Sweeney, Rumpole of the Bailey, A Voyage Round My Father, Tom Hardy’s Taboo, Outlander, HBO's Succession and Catherine The Great with Helen Mirren.

His film credits include Backbeat, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's directorial debut Cemetery Junction and Wilde.

In 2013 Albert wrote and starred in the play No Direction, premiering at the Edinburgh Festival.

Young Sylvia

CASSIE BANCROFT

Cassie Bancroft graduated from The Poor School, London in 2014. She has since appeared in a number of productions including the BBC’s BAFTA award-winning television film Murdered By My Boyfriend.

Most recently Cassie appeared as Donna St Laurent in the UK national tour of 80's Boston based courtroom thriller 'The Verdict' opposite Clive Mantle and Jack Shepherd.

Peter

GEORGE BEACH

George trained at RADA. His film credits include:
Our Secret World; Hush and Shark. His television credits include: Agatha Christie’s Poirot; Berlin
Break; Covington Cross; The Bill; Soldier Soldier;
Inspector Morse; Silent Witness and Doctors.

He has appeared in numerous theatre productions including: Rehearsal For Murder; 1984; Dial 'M' For Murder,Witness For The Prosecution and Art at Vienna's English Theatre; King Lear and an Ideal Husband.

SUPPORTING CAST

Crew

Writer, Producer, Director

COLIN SKEVINGTON

Colin is a UK based writer, producer and director who has been making films since he was a teenager.

Previously Colin was the head of the film unit for a major UK based charity, producing corporate, campaigning and promotional films as well as wildlife documentaries. He created several television formats including In the Dark hosted by Julian Clary, which piloted with ITV in the UK and sold to 39 territories and wrote scripts for the BBC2 entertainment show Full House with Francine Stock, Simon Callow and John Sessions.

Colin started Moon Watcher Media in 2006 and has since worked for a range of clients across various industries. He has become known for producing hard-hitting and thought provoking social issue dramas. The Lossen reflects Colin’s love for telling a challenging story

Director of Photography

HATTI BEANLAND

Hatti is a Director of Photography originally from Suffolk, England, now living and working in the USA. Hatti studied Fine Art at Glasgow School of Art and a sponsorship from Actor/Director Ralph Fiennes allowed her to attend the American Film InstituteConservatory, cinematography MFA program in Los Angeles.

She started her career in London working as a camera assistant on TV dramas, feature films, commercials and music videos and also trained as a Steadicam operator, shooting all over Europe. She worked as an onset digital imaging technician supporting and providing onset colour management for some of the best cinematographers in the business.

Past films include Oscar winning Gravity, Rush and the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Production Designer

MADEAU CHRISTOU

Madeau Christou has a MA in Production Design for Film & TV from Kingston University, London. She previously studied MA Film and Set Design at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid.

Madeau has worked in a number of art department and costume roles for projects including Writer’s Retreat and Let’s Be Evil. In 2016 Madeau worked as a model maker for Allied starring Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard.

Music

TOM LINDEN

Tom Linden is a London based German film composer and music producer. He has worked on a variety of independent and commercial films releases, including Noel Clark’s Brotherhood, The Anomaly, The Hooligan Factory, Urban Hymn, Legacy, Chicken and Scottish Mussel.

He is also known for the theme and title music for Channel 5's News, rebranding the entire Food Network and much of the incidental music for Top Gear along with many adverts worldwide.

His background as a Music Producer has led him to work with established artists such as dance giants Basement Jaxx.

FULL CREW

Beneath every nightmare lies a dream

Production Stills

Behind the scenes