Kindred have completed second unit production and supervising post production of director/writer Russell Owen’s elevated horror “Shepherd” on behalf of lead production company GC Films. The film stars Tom Hughes, Kate Dickie, Gaia Weiss and Greta Scacchi.

Kindred, a creative production company, formed by Owen and co-founder Sam Orams, performed second unit filming in Wales in summer 2020 to complete “Shepherd” and are now coordinating post production and sales. First unit filming was completed in Scotland by GC Films and the lead producer is Karim Prince Tshibangu who financed the film.

They are aiming to take the production to Cannes in May, where they will screen the film and look to secure worldwide sales, ahead of an anticipated release later in 2021.

“Shepherd” is the first collaboration on a feature for Kindred, being a young company. They have a number of feature projects currently in development. Future projects are soon to be announced, as the company has worked behind the scenes in the past year to secure escapist and audience driven IP.

Writer, Director and Creative Director of Kindred, Russell Owen says, “Like most storytellers, I’ve always been drawn in by compelling, fractured characters. “Shepherd” is my second feature. I’ve navigated my way through the film industry from being a storyboard and concept artist, to writer and director of over a hundred commercials and shorts. In many respects I see this as my first feature. It’s the first true opportunity to express my own creative voice in long form. It’s a terrifying if not beautiful character driven piece about one man’s futile escape from his own guilt.”

Associate Producer and Co-Founder of Kindred, Sam Orams, says ‘We’re really excited about being involved with “Shepherd” from a production standpoint. The cast and crew are outstanding and the quality of work delivered all round is extremely exciting. It’s a really healthy starting point for us in a new and ever-growing film environment, with a whole host of new platforms and opportunities to explore. Launching into the film world we needed to ensure we made a bold statement, and collaborating with G C Films to complete “Shepherd” is exactly that. “Shepherd” encompasses the escapist narratives Kindred aspires to. Our focus is the audience, what they’re looking for and when. Anticipating what’s on the horizon. “Shepherd” is coming at the perfect time where there is a clear hunger for escapism with elevated horror.”

Synopsis:
Widower Eric Black (Tom Hughes) attempts suicide after the suspicious death of his adulterous wife. He becomes distracted by a bizarre advertisement for a shepherd, working alone on a remote, desolate island off the west coast of Scotland. Eric grabs the chance to run away from his troubles and reflect. But the island is a psychological trap.

What appears to be the perfect wind swept escape turns into the most terrifying, unescapable nightmare.

A bump in the night morphs into a horrifying mind game, where the paranormal meets one man’s escalating madness. Haunting images of his dead wife and a mysterious hooded figure taunt Eric to the brink of insanity. Eric needs to face his greatest fears if he has any chance of surviving and escaping the island.