A successful Scottish Chef in New York City harbors a dark secret: he has an eating disorder.
A successful Scottish Chef in New York City harbors a dark secret: he has an eating disorder.
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Story
Mission Statement
Bitter Taste explores how the intersection of mental health, socioeconomic class, and the patriarchy can shape one man's life.About The Project
Fraser is at the top of his game. He’s the head chef of a successful restaurant in New York City. Yet when asked one night to personally make his “chef’s special apple crumble,” he is harkened back to his childhood growing up on a Glaswegian housing estate, and by thoughts of the woman who taught him his recipe— his mother.
Bitter Taste is a psychological drama about a successful Scottish chef in New York City who is stuck in a traumatic emotional cycle. As a teen, he is propelled to leave his working-class life and become a top-tier chef after experiencing a violent crime, the same crime which destroys his ability to experience pleasure while eating. Chef Fraser is left transfixed with recapturing his past through baking his favorite childhood dish over and over — his mother’s apple crumble.
Shot on a Sony C300 Mark ii with a budget of under ten thousand US dollars, Bitter Taste is a testament to the power of combining social realist techniques with 21st century film equipment. It was filmed in both Glasgow, Scotland and New York City, United States at real locations and with a cast of primarily non-actors. For example, Alexis Trolf, who plays the adult Chef Fraser, is a restaurant-owning Executive Chef in real life, and Young Fraser is played by Sam Kennedy, who was raised in the same city as his character.
Growing up under the poverty line myself, I wanted to make a film about how trauma drives someone’s life both positively and negatively and the emotional difficulties of scaling socioeconomic classes. Ultimately, the film is a critique both of the New York mindset and the very concept of social mobility.
All filming for the Bitter Taste scenes in New York City (two thirds of the total film) has been COMPLETED. It was shot on the C300 Mark II in stunning 4K by cinematographer Tyson VanSkiver who worked on the Sundance award-winning film Blood Brother. Our lead actor, Alexis Trolf, is a real-life award winning chef. We are now trying to gain funding for the second half of our production, which will be shot in Glasgow, Scotland, as well as for post-production, marketing, and festival costs.
For more information, please visit the Bitter Taste website at www.bittertastefilm.com
We will use finances raised to fly our core crew (director, producer, DP) to Scotland as well as cast, rehearse and shoot the second half of Bitter Taste:
In the event we reach our goal of $6,000 (Fingers crossed! Let’s do this!) we have stretch goals ($2,000) that would allow us to pay more towards our crew and cast as well as for post-production (sound design, music, color grading, and the DCP). Here’s a look at those numbers:
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
If you are unable to donate to our film at this time, no worries! We are freelancers in New York City and understand the pinch. You can still take part and support the mission by sharing our campaign page on Social Media, liking us on Facebook and Instagram, and/or providing your email for updates on the film's progress and other opportunities to get involved.
Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] to be added to our mailing list.
WE ARE SUPPORTED BY:
Incentives
$15
The Porridge
You’re the foundation of Scottish nourishment as well as our film; we don’t know what we’d do without you. Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
Items included:
- Bitter Taste Apple Social Media Shout-out
- Special Thanks in the film credits
- Special thanks on the official Bitter Taste website
$25
The Shortbread
Simple and Sweet, yet undeniably Special. You will receive a personalized social media shout-out from a specially selected location in Scotland as well as a private link to the Bitter Taste film and a DRM free download after it has completed the festival circuit. Also includes credits in the film and on the website.
$40
The Mince and Tatties
ALL of the above plus:
A digital download of the complete original soundtrack by James Holt A.K.A. The Lone Bureaucrat. Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
$60
The Black Pudding
ALL of the above plus:
A beautifully illustrated collection of original Scottish family recipes passed down from my own mother! (Please be advised we are a vegetarian household and therefore all recipes are vegetarian.) Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
$100
The Festy Cock
Who needs Shrove Tuesday? You’ve donated $100 and we are celebrating.
ALL of the above plus:
Two tickets to the exclusive private screening of Bitter Taste in New York City! (Flights and Travel not included.) Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
$150
The Cranachan
ALL of the above plus:
You will receive a digital download of the official Bitter Taste Script and will also be entered into a lottery to win one of our three gift baskets of hand-selected food items from Scotland. Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
$300
The Haggis
You are a legend, just like Haggis.
ALL of the above plus:
A meal for two cooked by Chef Fraser at LOST&FOUND*, the restaurant owned by Alexis Trolf who plays Chef Fraser in our film! (Restaurant is located in Long Beach, New York. Travel expenses not included.) Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
* (Limited edition, not included in higher incentive levels. Meal must be on a Sunday and reserved by us in advance. Cost for meal must not exceed $150.)
Sold Out!
$500
The Single Malt Whisky
Refined and classy, as long as you don't call yourself Scotch!
All of the above plus:
A night of whisky tasting at a famous Upper West Side Hotel which is also Chef Fraser's apartment in the film! (travel expenses not included). ALSO includes an Associate Producer credit on the end of the film credits, website and IMDB. Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
Claimed: 0 of 6
$750
The Apple Crumble
All of the above plus:
An Executive Producer credit on the end of film credits, website and IMDB. You will also be able to watch early edits of the film, and will be invited to the Glasgow set to meet the director and crew of Bitter Taste (Flights and Accommodation not included). Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
Claimed: 1 of 3
$1,500
Sponsor the Film
All of the above plus:
You or your company are the official sponsor of the film, with your logo in the credits with the title “Official Sponsor.” Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
Claimed: 0 of 1
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$15
The Porridge
You’re the foundation of Scottish nourishment as well as our film; we don’t know what we’d do without you. Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
Items included:
- Bitter Taste Apple Social Media Shout-out
- Special Thanks in the film credits
- Special thanks on the official Bitter Taste website
$25
The Shortbread
Simple and Sweet, yet undeniably Special. You will receive a personalized social media shout-out from a specially selected location in Scotland as well as a private link to the Bitter Taste film and a DRM free download after it has completed the festival circuit. Also includes credits in the film and on the website.
$40
The Mince and Tatties
ALL of the above plus:
A digital download of the complete original soundtrack by James Holt A.K.A. The Lone Bureaucrat. Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
$60
The Black Pudding
ALL of the above plus:
A beautifully illustrated collection of original Scottish family recipes passed down from my own mother! (Please be advised we are a vegetarian household and therefore all recipes are vegetarian.) Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
$100
The Festy Cock
Who needs Shrove Tuesday? You’ve donated $100 and we are celebrating.
ALL of the above plus:
Two tickets to the exclusive private screening of Bitter Taste in New York City! (Flights and Travel not included.) Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
$150
The Cranachan
ALL of the above plus:
You will receive a digital download of the official Bitter Taste Script and will also be entered into a lottery to win one of our three gift baskets of hand-selected food items from Scotland. Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
$300
The Haggis
You are a legend, just like Haggis.
ALL of the above plus:
A meal for two cooked by Chef Fraser at LOST&FOUND*, the restaurant owned by Alexis Trolf who plays Chef Fraser in our film! (Restaurant is located in Long Beach, New York. Travel expenses not included.) Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
* (Limited edition, not included in higher incentive levels. Meal must be on a Sunday and reserved by us in advance. Cost for meal must not exceed $150.)
Sold Out!
$500
The Single Malt Whisky
Refined and classy, as long as you don't call yourself Scotch!
All of the above plus:
A night of whisky tasting at a famous Upper West Side Hotel which is also Chef Fraser's apartment in the film! (travel expenses not included). ALSO includes an Associate Producer credit on the end of the film credits, website and IMDB. Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
Claimed: 0 of 6
$750
The Apple Crumble
All of the above plus:
An Executive Producer credit on the end of film credits, website and IMDB. You will also be able to watch early edits of the film, and will be invited to the Glasgow set to meet the director and crew of Bitter Taste (Flights and Accommodation not included). Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
Claimed: 1 of 3
$1,500
Sponsor the Film
All of the above plus:
You or your company are the official sponsor of the film, with your logo in the credits with the title “Official Sponsor.” Please remember to follow us on Seed&Spark too!
Claimed: 0 of 1
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