Spirit & Bone
London, United Kingdom | Film Short
Comedy, Action
We’re actively looking for collaborators on this project. As UK-based filmmakers, we see this as an amazing opportunity for us to collaborate creatively on this project with filmmakers and film enthusiasts from other backgrounds and communities.
Spirit & Bone
London, United Kingdom | Film Short
Comedy, Action
Green Light
This campaign raised $1,500 for development. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
25 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
We’re actively looking for collaborators on this project. As UK-based filmmakers, we see this as an amazing opportunity for us to collaborate creatively on this project with filmmakers and film enthusiasts from other backgrounds and communities.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Logline
400 years ago, West African peoples were snatched and forced onto ships bound for the “New World”... their liberty could be taken, but not their gods...
Present Day – London - Night.
José, a Brazilian delivery rider, gets an order to the notorious Broadwater Towers and he prays that the Gods are still amongst us…
The Story
Spirit and Bone is set in a modern-day, gritty London. We begin with a Bladerunner-type neon wet atmosphere, where economic pressure and underground violence pulse beneath the surface of daily life. Underground violence is a reality in this world, challenging the quintessential London we often portray. Postcard London is a world away.
We meet José, a Brazilian immigrant, currently a jobbing delivery rider who is traversing this modern reality in a dark, rain-soaked London, looking for his next job. José has a very special talent that he keeps in his back pocket if he ever needs to get out of a tough spot. A tough spot rears its ugly head when he gets a gig at the notorious Broadwater Towers and things take a sharp, dramatic turn.
What are we developing?
We are making a previsualisation of the main fight at the heart of the film.
The pre-visualisation will be filmed in a stripped-down raw production, light and quick to turn around, the aim is to rehearse the choreography, sequencing and camera shots and lock in our visual language.
We will rehearse what the characters are going to do:
And what the cameras are going to do:
The camera movements and characters are like a dance, and a previsualisation is a very important part of honing the choreography.
At the end of this previsualisation campaign, we will edit the previs with music and SFX, and it’ll be a unique and interesting short!
This campaign will be followed by a secondary campaign that will be for a fully funded short film, with something very close to this fight sequence being the centrepiece of the film.
This first campaign also allows us the opportunity to grow our audience and creative network. We’re actively looking for collaborators on this project. As UK-based filmmakers with backgrounds in educational learning, we see this as an amazing opportunity for us to collaborate creatively on this project with filmmakers and film enthusiasts from other backgrounds and communities. Join us on this film and get experience! Literally! Get in touch!
Directors Statement
The vision of Spirit & Bone is ambitious but eminently achievable with meticulous pre-production and planning. We will continue to do extensive work leading up to principal photography to ensure optimal efficiency on the main shoot.
I strive to blend film genres in interesting and unique ways that explore the language of film in a novel, engaging and ultimately entertaining way. Ultimately, this is an action comedy inspired by 80s Hong Kong action films and Chinese opera choreography in film, that swaps out Chinese Kung FU with Brazilian Capoeira.
Within this framework, there are interesting themes to explore. The foundation of the piece is one uniquely-choreographed fight in one room; the core structure of the film is deceptively simple, with deeper and more resonant threads interwoven throughout.
Capoeira is deeply rooted in the struggle against oppression and finding expression via community, it has so many aspects to its make-up that will be an incredibly rich art to find very pertinent answers to today's troubles, I believe.
Why now?
In 2025, we find ourselves in a political landscape that can divide friends, families and communities. Our film seeks to celebrate diversity in communities and explore aspects of conflict that can actually bring people together rather than pull them apart.
It’s a story about fighting, not just other humans, but the societal systems, histories, and expectations that shape us—and what happens when you choose to dance instead.
For the fighters, the dancers, the dreamers and those who feel unseen and everyone who knows that sometimes the best way to understand someone is to step into their rhythm.
For a laugh! We want to make something entertaining, fun and comedic; anytime is a good time for comedy.
If you’re interested in being part of our creative team or you’re enthusiastic about our story, please follow our project. Any financial commitment is greatly appreciated, and we’ll speak to you very soon with more.
Check the Website Here!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast & Crew
Costs $300
Need one camera Op, Fight Choreographer and Capoeira Mestre
Insurance & Contingency
Costs $500
Need to protect our cast and crew - etc :)
Food for Fuel
Costs $150
No food no party.
Transport
Costs $150
Pay for people to get to places
Location Location Location
Costs $400
We need a place with a sprung floor!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Xavier Lopera: Director
Xavier is a professional filmmaker.
His experience has ranged over many different forms of the medium, including broadcast, digital media, film, news, drama, comedy, poetic film, feature, short form, episodic, documentary and commercial.
Working mainly as an editor for clients, he has also produced and directed his own work. A lot of the films he worked on have garnered awards at film festivals.
Being one of the founding members of a comedy collective called Kill TV, they went on to have commissions for original scripted comedy from Endemol, Channel 4, Google and London Live with original short form and episodic. He is also an educator, being a post production discipline leader at Metfilm in London.
Dar Abbi Williams: Producer
With over a decade of experience in film, TV, and media, Dar Abbi Williams has built a career as a Producer and Casting Director, collaborating with independent filmmakers, emerging talent, and film students. Her work spans short films, music videos, and proof-of-concept projects, with a focus on impactful storytelling and talent development.
Dar’s goal is to build a movement of creatives who follow the light, illuminating the world through their work and driving meaningful change. Rooted in resilience, wisdom, and integrity, she is committed to leading with humility and courage, inspiring others to create fearlessly and with purpose. Dar’s aim is to foster an environment where artists feel empowered to embrace their creativity without fear, collaborate openly, challenge perspectives, and pursue storytelling that leaves a lasting impact.
Filmmaking is about purpose, not profit. Her mission is to create art that challenges perspectives.
Edward Scott: Producer
Edward is a producer with a passion for untold, persuasive and bold storytelling. He searches for projects that push generic conventions that educate and enlighten it's audience through entertainment.
Currently working for the prestigious National Film and Television School, he has successfully delivered over 60 short films in just over two years. Despite some of these films being produced around educational learning, many have been successfully screened at BAFTA-qualifying film festivals. His current clients include Channel 4, The Pinewood Group, Sky and Netflix.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Logline
400 years ago, West African peoples were snatched and forced onto ships bound for the “New World”... their liberty could be taken, but not their gods...
Present Day – London - Night.
José, a Brazilian delivery rider, gets an order to the notorious Broadwater Towers and he prays that the Gods are still amongst us…
The Story
Spirit and Bone is set in a modern-day, gritty London. We begin with a Bladerunner-type neon wet atmosphere, where economic pressure and underground violence pulse beneath the surface of daily life. Underground violence is a reality in this world, challenging the quintessential London we often portray. Postcard London is a world away.
We meet José, a Brazilian immigrant, currently a jobbing delivery rider who is traversing this modern reality in a dark, rain-soaked London, looking for his next job. José has a very special talent that he keeps in his back pocket if he ever needs to get out of a tough spot. A tough spot rears its ugly head when he gets a gig at the notorious Broadwater Towers and things take a sharp, dramatic turn.
What are we developing?
We are making a previsualisation of the main fight at the heart of the film.
The pre-visualisation will be filmed in a stripped-down raw production, light and quick to turn around, the aim is to rehearse the choreography, sequencing and camera shots and lock in our visual language.
We will rehearse what the characters are going to do:
And what the cameras are going to do:
The camera movements and characters are like a dance, and a previsualisation is a very important part of honing the choreography.
At the end of this previsualisation campaign, we will edit the previs with music and SFX, and it’ll be a unique and interesting short!
This campaign will be followed by a secondary campaign that will be for a fully funded short film, with something very close to this fight sequence being the centrepiece of the film.
This first campaign also allows us the opportunity to grow our audience and creative network. We’re actively looking for collaborators on this project. As UK-based filmmakers with backgrounds in educational learning, we see this as an amazing opportunity for us to collaborate creatively on this project with filmmakers and film enthusiasts from other backgrounds and communities. Join us on this film and get experience! Literally! Get in touch!
Directors Statement
The vision of Spirit & Bone is ambitious but eminently achievable with meticulous pre-production and planning. We will continue to do extensive work leading up to principal photography to ensure optimal efficiency on the main shoot.
I strive to blend film genres in interesting and unique ways that explore the language of film in a novel, engaging and ultimately entertaining way. Ultimately, this is an action comedy inspired by 80s Hong Kong action films and Chinese opera choreography in film, that swaps out Chinese Kung FU with Brazilian Capoeira.
Within this framework, there are interesting themes to explore. The foundation of the piece is one uniquely-choreographed fight in one room; the core structure of the film is deceptively simple, with deeper and more resonant threads interwoven throughout.
Capoeira is deeply rooted in the struggle against oppression and finding expression via community, it has so many aspects to its make-up that will be an incredibly rich art to find very pertinent answers to today's troubles, I believe.
Why now?
In 2025, we find ourselves in a political landscape that can divide friends, families and communities. Our film seeks to celebrate diversity in communities and explore aspects of conflict that can actually bring people together rather than pull them apart.
It’s a story about fighting, not just other humans, but the societal systems, histories, and expectations that shape us—and what happens when you choose to dance instead.
For the fighters, the dancers, the dreamers and those who feel unseen and everyone who knows that sometimes the best way to understand someone is to step into their rhythm.
For a laugh! We want to make something entertaining, fun and comedic; anytime is a good time for comedy.
If you’re interested in being part of our creative team or you’re enthusiastic about our story, please follow our project. Any financial commitment is greatly appreciated, and we’ll speak to you very soon with more.
Check the Website Here!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Cast & Crew
Costs $300
Need one camera Op, Fight Choreographer and Capoeira Mestre
Insurance & Contingency
Costs $500
Need to protect our cast and crew - etc :)
Food for Fuel
Costs $150
No food no party.
Transport
Costs $150
Pay for people to get to places
Location Location Location
Costs $400
We need a place with a sprung floor!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Xavier Lopera: Director
Xavier is a professional filmmaker.
His experience has ranged over many different forms of the medium, including broadcast, digital media, film, news, drama, comedy, poetic film, feature, short form, episodic, documentary and commercial.
Working mainly as an editor for clients, he has also produced and directed his own work. A lot of the films he worked on have garnered awards at film festivals.
Being one of the founding members of a comedy collective called Kill TV, they went on to have commissions for original scripted comedy from Endemol, Channel 4, Google and London Live with original short form and episodic. He is also an educator, being a post production discipline leader at Metfilm in London.
Dar Abbi Williams: Producer
With over a decade of experience in film, TV, and media, Dar Abbi Williams has built a career as a Producer and Casting Director, collaborating with independent filmmakers, emerging talent, and film students. Her work spans short films, music videos, and proof-of-concept projects, with a focus on impactful storytelling and talent development.
Dar’s goal is to build a movement of creatives who follow the light, illuminating the world through their work and driving meaningful change. Rooted in resilience, wisdom, and integrity, she is committed to leading with humility and courage, inspiring others to create fearlessly and with purpose. Dar’s aim is to foster an environment where artists feel empowered to embrace their creativity without fear, collaborate openly, challenge perspectives, and pursue storytelling that leaves a lasting impact.
Filmmaking is about purpose, not profit. Her mission is to create art that challenges perspectives.
Edward Scott: Producer
Edward is a producer with a passion for untold, persuasive and bold storytelling. He searches for projects that push generic conventions that educate and enlighten it's audience through entertainment.
Currently working for the prestigious National Film and Television School, he has successfully delivered over 60 short films in just over two years. Despite some of these films being produced around educational learning, many have been successfully screened at BAFTA-qualifying film festivals. His current clients include Channel 4, The Pinewood Group, Sky and Netflix.