Before The Gold Rush (In Development)

Before The Gold Rush (In Development)
Short Film / Narrative Drama / Co-Production

Before The Gold Rush is a short narrative film that follows two young men, fresh out of university and grappling with the realities of adulthood, as they pursue increasingly harebrained schemes in an attempt to escape their stagnant lives. As ambition collides with systemic barriers, the film interrogates the gap between expectation and reality, questioning whether drive alone is enough to succeed within a system that feels rigged against them.

Drawn from the director’s own post-graduation experiences, the film explores the disorientation of early adulthood and the pressures placed on young people to “make it” in an increasingly precarious landscape. It also examines the influence of growing up in the United Kingdom while being culturally saturated by American media, and how this shapes adolescence, ambition, and ideas of success.

The film will be shot in Manchester and its surrounding areas, employing a predominantly local cast and crew. As co-producer, I am working alongside Harry Gill, founder of Land on Feet, to support the film’s development and production. My role includes development support, production planning, budgeting, scheduling, local crew coordination, casting and delivery. The project reflects my commitment to producing regionally rooted screen work that speaks honestly to contemporary youth experience while creating meaningful opportunities for emerging talent.