Messages
We recently collaborated with Shepherd Creative to produce Messages; a micro short by Benjamin Peel. It follows a woman through the woods who starts to receive mysterious messages.
Starring Natalie Yates, it was directed by Joseph Shepherd and shot by Lewis Hart. The score was composed by Jay Shute.
Marketing materials designed by Evening Cat Productions, with input from Shepherd Creative.
It was shot in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.
Messages has officially finished its festival run.
Director's Thoughts
"For me, Messages was a fresh start. When I first got my hands on the project, I knew the main thing I had to do was establish a sense of unease, which was present throughout.
There are numerous ways of doing this, including music and post production. In regard to the score, I knew Jay [Shute]'s style of ambient music would really help establish tone.
I'm really keen on collaboration and very quickly Natalie [Yates], Jay and I found a winning formula.
Regarding VFX, I found the use of the warp stabiliser tool in Premiere Pro helped create this sense of unease. Normally this tool is used to smooth footage, but when used in this context it creates a good amount of distortion and warping. Combined with the score, it achieved a real sense of discomfort."
- Joseph Shepherd, 2024
Awards and Selections
OFFICIAL SELECTION- Fear in the Fens Festival 2024
OFFICIAL SELECTION- Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions 2024
OFFICIAL SELECTION- First-Time Filmmaker Sessions Volume One 2025
OFFICIAL SELECTION- Weird and Wonderful Festival 2025
STYLING AWARD- Weird and Wonderful Festival 2025
Laurels and Awards
Team Behind Messages
MEET THE PRODUCTION TEAM
Writer
Producer
Producer
Benjamin Peel has had work produced, recorded and published across various media. His play Not a Game for Girls is receiving a fifth production in May 2024 by Pepper's Ghost Theatre at Stantonbury Theatre and an upcoming audio drama Floodland is due for release in 2024 as part of a speculative fiction anthology produced by Kobold Blue Productions.
Producer
Producer
Producer
Natalie Yates is an actress and producer, based in North Lincolnshire, Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds and London. She regularly works on screen, though occasionally works on stage too. She recently produced and starred in short film How to Win Friends and Guinea Pig People at the same time as Messages.
Director
Producer
Director of Photography
Joseph Shepherd is an up and coming, neurodiverse director from the North of England. He spent much of his early life on stage and in front of the camera, later on making the switch to production.
He has learned from directors such as Peter Cattaneo and has worked with a range of companies including the BBC and Netflix.
Director of Photography
Director of Photography
Director of Photography
Lewis Hart was DOP for Messages, bringing a sense of mystery and precision to the shoot. He managed achieve a real sense of ambiguity with his shots that complimented the writer’s vision. His final shots were hauntingly fitting for the film.
Sound Design
Director of Photography
Sound Design
Jay Shute is a musician and producer based in Hull, with inspirations stemming from lofi and ambient sounds.
He also produced the sound for How to Win Friends and Guinea Pig People.
Full Credit List
Cast
Production
Production
- Natalie Yates
Production
Production
Production
- Natalie Yates (Producer)
- Benjamin Peel (Writer)
- Joseph Shepherd (Director & Editor)
- Lewis Hart (DOP)
- Jay Shute (Composer)
Locations
Production
Locations
Filmed in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, UK.