BURDEN
Based on ‘The Mysteries of Harris Burdick’ by Chris Van Allsburg, BURDEN follows the story of Jean Burden, a dedicated writer who finds himself racing against time to complete his novel the night before its looming deadline. With the added pressure of submitting the novel's accompanying illustrations the night before, Jean hurriedly makes his way to the publishing office, clutching a mysterious folder containing these captivating images. As he hands over the folder to Florence Élisabeth, a diligent employee at the publishing house, an uncanny sequence of events begins to unfold. As Jean feverishly works on his manuscript and Florence becomes increasingly captivated by the folder and its contents, the boundaries between fiction and reality start to blur, giving rise to a supernatural presence.
— Role
Writer
Director
Producer
Editor
Colourist
Sound Designer
Set Design
Location Manager
Prop Master
Costume Supervisor
Marketing Designer
— Release Date
December 8th, 2023
BURDEN was written over two nights and marked a long-awaited opportunity to adapt a story inspired by the novel The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg. Initially, the script was not intended for production, as I sought to move away from a darker narrative following OCULAR ENGINE in favour of creating a bright, summertime story with American Wedding. However, plans changed when myself and a fellow Tree Shot Studios member Alexander Roffey (DoP, Co-Editor) decided to bring BURDEN to life to reignite our passion for filmmaking after a year-and-a-half-long hiatus.
Visually, BURDEN draws heavily from The Lighthouse (2019, Robert Eggers), with its picturesque cinematography echoing the eerie illustrations within the story. Mark Korven’s score for The Lighthouse also played a key role in shaping the film’s early twentieth-century atmosphere during the writing process. Despite using this score in OCULAR ENGINE, I chose to incorporate previously unused pieces alongside the original score by Robert Vladimirov to heighten the film’s atmosphere and evoke a sense of supernatural tension.
Shot over three days between May 31st and June 5th, 2023, BURDEN required extensive preparation, including a week of set dressing and prop design. This involved creating 14 hand-drawn recreations of the illustrated images from the book to serve as background props in the protagonist Jean’s bedroom. Additionally, I completely transformed my bedroom in the Royal Holloway Founder’s Building to reflect a historically accurate setting. With a minimal production budget of just £40 -mainly spent on candles, bottles, and background props, filming took place on the Royal Holloway University campus, utilising its gothic architecture to enhance the film’s period aesthetic.
— Stills
— Tree Shot x Insanity Radio Interview #1
On December 5th, 2023, I had the exciting opportunity to pre-record an interview on Insanity Radio, discussing BURDEN and the journey behind its creation.
Hosted by Samuel Ness and conducted by Lottie Macro, I sat down with fellow Tree Shot Studios member Alexander Roffey (DoP, Co-Editor) to explore the many intricacies of the film’s creative process. We reflected on the challenges we faced, the artistic choices that shaped the project, and the personal experiences that made this film particularly meaningful to us.
Beyond BURDEN, we also discussed the return of Tree Shot Studios after a year-and-a-half-long hiatus. This moment felt especially significant, marking a new chapter for us as a collective and reaffirming our passion for filmmaking.
Overall, it was an incredible opportunity - not only to share our creative journey, but also to experience Sam and Lottie at work. Their professionalism and enthusiasm made the interview feel natural and engaging, while their warmth and energy made us feel truly welcome.
Edited by myself, this making-of documentary visually brings the interview to life, weaving in behind-the-scenes imagery, videography, and more to complement the stories we told.
— Behind the Scenes Photography
Behind the Scenes Photography by myself, Alexander Roffey (DoP, Co-Editor), Leo Rothwell (Set Assistant), and Florence Trood (Florence)
— Premiere Event
On December 7th, 2023, we had the incredible opportunity to premiere BURDEN at the Royal Holloway Boilerhouse Auditorium. Hosted by Lottie Macro and Samuel Ness of Insanity Radio, myself and Alexander Roffey (DoP, Co-Editor) presented the short film’s first public screening.
Following the premiere, we took the stage to discuss the creative journey behind the film, reflecting on the artistic choices, challenges, and behind-the-scenes moments that shaped the final product.
In addition to celebrating BURDEN, I was also thrilled to officially announce our next project, ZAY, marking an exciting new chapter for Tree Shot Studios.
The night was made even more memorable by the incredibly supportive audience, many of whom travelled long distances to be there. Their warm reception and heartfelt words about the film made the experience truly special, and we couldn’t have asked for a better group to share this milestone with.
Event Photography by Alvin Lo and Nicola Jaros
— Premiere Reflection
Thank you to everyone who attended in support of us and BURDEN! It was such a surreal experience to finally witness this event come to life after months of planning and hard work. Having the opportunity to present BURDEN to such a warm and receptive audience was so incredible and we hope you had an amazing time!
