Narrative

The Blackthorn Key

The Blackthorn Key is an 8 x 60 minute episodic co-viewing historical action-adventure. Based on the best-selling book series by Kevin Sands, set in a time when science is akin to magic and apothecaries are the magicians.

In the shadowy back alleys of 1665 London, three courageous fourteen-year-old friends discover their beloved Master Apothecary, Benedict Blackthorn, murdered. The Blackthorn Key is a touching, cinematic and heart-pounding adventure where mysterious, elaborate codes are deciphered and dark secrets are drawn out of the shadows, and there’s definitely an explosion or two along the way. Building on the scientific and inquisitive atmosphere created in the book series, The Blackthorn Key draws from the pages of history to tell the remarkable story of a band of fourteen-year-old outsiders who use their collective grit, guile, and bravery to solve a winding trail of arcane codes.

What they find though, is a terrible secret with the power to tear the world apart.

The Blackthorn Key is based on the first book in a series of six. Each book is a satisfying self-contained story that can be adapted into a full standalone season. There is strong franchise potential as each instalment is part of a larger overarching narrative that builds upon revealing the machinations of a singular diabolical archenemy. Throughout each series, we follow the adventures of Christopher, Sally, and Tom as they dive further into conspiracies, decipher codes, and encounter such characters as Templars, plague doctors, assassins, and even the King himself.

Since You’re Here

The Cantwell family has always been in the public eye: Sam with his music, and Merriam with her painting. Both parents possess strong artistic personalities. Their boys, Will and Charlie, grew up travelling between their divorced parent's homes, in the constant presence of art and creativity. Perhaps because of this, Will struggles with his own creativity, believing he’s living in their shadow. A car accident brings them all back together twenty-five years after splitting apart.

Tension builds between Sam and Will as unresolved issues from the past arise between the father and son. Will’s self-inflicted feelings of failure generate friction between the two brothers. In the middle of planning her latest art exhibition, Merriam arrives at the house. Josie, a half-sister they didn’t know existed, is introduced to the brothers. Josie is figuring out how to deal with her new ‘family,’ as well as navigating through the first big moments of her own artistic life.

Then Sam drops the bomb: he’s terminally ill and plans on ending his life. This shocking news strikes each family member as they try to understand what’s happened, how they can change Sam’s mind, spend more time with him, and process their own place in the world.

The approach for this film is an intimate portrayal of everyday life with this unconventional family. Though they may have taken varied roads in life away from kith and kin, they quickly fall back into old habits.

Fastball

Short film

A young boy deals with his grief through baseball.

Writer/Director Jeremy McCracken
DOP/Producer Martin Wojtunik
Producer Mikayla Carson
Score composer Andrew Farnsworth
Starring Chad Cheadle, Sherri McKnight, Michael Barkey
Winner: Audience Choice Award - Best Short Film at Oakville Festival of Film and Art (offa.ca)
Winner: Best of Fest - Nassau Film Festival
Nomination for best short film cinematography for the Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC)
Official Selection in 22 festivals worldwide

Baraboo

Short film

While on tour, three members of a band drive through their small hometown, stopping to visit their former drummer, who never left. They find their memories of him very different than his present reality…