SAFE is a short-film co production between Big Buddha Films and Jackalor Films. It is a very necessary film of our times. We aim to tackle the fear and threat women feel on a daily basis, even when no specific crime is committed. Every single woman has experienced threatening or frightening encounters many times during her life by simply just going about her daily business.

After the recent tragic murders of several young women on our streets, the charity Reclaim These Streets was founded in order to help safeguard women. As young girls, we have learned inherently to appease men, to keep ourselves safe, negotiating and compromising our choices to avoid danger. It’s not about what we wear, where we walk or what time of day or night it is. It is simply unexceptable that as women, we should accept that feeling unsafe on our streets is the norm. It's not. And it needs to change.

We’re used to seeing films about rape, domestic abuse and violence. But in SAFE we're looking at the small, daily adaptations we have to make to our behaviour. What route home we take, spending money we don’t have on taxis, holding our keys as weapons, making fake phone calls and more importantly, worrying endlessly about our day to day movements in fear of our safety. As discussed in Caroline Criado Perez's incredible book Invisible Women, women face a great deal of harrassment world wide on public transport and at bus stops and stations. These women often don't have any other option for travel and they ougth to be able to do this safely.

With this film we’re helping give a voice to women and girls to challenge and change the behaviour of some men and boys in order to bring about real change for women and their freedom.

We need to raise £15,000 to make this film. We have already been given £1,000 by The Violence Reduction Unit at South Yorkshire Police. It's wonderful to have their support in the making of this film. We are also applying for some grants and funding.

Synopsis

When Anne, an office cleaner, finishes work in the evening; all she wants is to get the bus home in time to put her daughter to bed. Instead, she’s pursued and harassed by a man at the bus stop, leaving her facing a dilemma as to whether to get the bus or face a long walk in the dark.

Most of our key crew our women, collaborating together to make a vital, powerful and gritty film. SAFE will be shot 'hand held' in 'real time' a late evening snapshot with a distinct sense of place, an exterior authentic real-world setting.

Please support us to bring SAFE to our screens. Every pound donated will help us to reach our goal.

We are working alongside these organisations in the preparation and shooting of this film: Know The Line, South Yorkshire Police - Violence Reduction Unit, Sheffield Women's Equality Party, IDAS, Sheffield Feminist Network, Rape Crisis Centre, Everyday Sexism, Sheffield Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, Hollaback, Cheer Up Luv, Alison Higgins at Sheffield Council, Flare and Vida.

Our Team:

Debbie Howard - Writer/Director/Producer

Debbie grew up in a working class family from Lancashire. She worked as a professional actor for twenty years, then moved into writing and directing. She set up Big Buddha Films and has made several award winning short films including Peekaboo with Lesley Sharp and Shaun Dooley and the critically acclaimed, BIFA long listed feature documentary, Still Loved. She is currently in production on a feature doc, The Cowboy From Newcastle, in development on a feature film Cold, with Wellington Films, a sci fi series The Return and a TV comedy, Hitched. She also directs television for the BBC and Channel 5. Debbie lectures in Filmmaking at Sheffield Hallam University. She was a mentee on the prestigious WFTV Mentoring Scheme in 2014 and took part in Filmonomics with Mia Bays on 2017. She is a full voting member of BAFTA. Debbie is represented by Andrew Mills at Revolution Talent.

Watch Debbie's Director's Reel

Laura Bayston - Lead actress/Producer - playing Anne

Laura Bayston is a proud working-class actress born and raised in Dagenham, East London. She is known for her work as an award-winning actor on the BAFTA & OSCAR qualifying multi award-winning films Hungry Joe & Hollow. Laura attended the prestigious Anna Scher Theatre School in North London whilst also completing additional training at The Bristol Old Vic & The Bristol Acting Academy. TV & Film credits include Killing Eve BBC America, Ellen C4 Films, Slow Horses for Apple TV & BBC Doctors. Laura recently completed her first feature film in a leading role ‘The Wife and Her House Husband’ for Director Marcus Markou and has several additional projects due for release and in development for 2022. Laura is also the recipient of several ‘Best Actress’ awards for her role in Hollow, including ‘Infinity Film Festival in London, MIIFF in Italy and The London City Film Festival.

Watch Laura Bayston's Showreel here: Laura Bayston Showreel

Please support us with a donation and please share our campain with others. Every woman will relate to the themes of this much needed film. Thank you.