Novel Visuals
On The Same Earth
A film supported by the
Exeter Phoenix, Watershed and the BFI Film Academy
Overview
Entwining realism with myth in a dark ages film where two cultures meet
The story: In the 7th centuary, Eadlin, a Saxon settler, discovers a mysterious dragon egg and when unable to break it she panics, racing home but trips and struggles to move. When faced by Leir, a displaced Celt wanting to protect the egg, they apprehensively try to communicate through their native languages Cornish and Old English slowly beginning to understand and accept each other.
The project
A 6-10 minute historical short film produced by Novel Visuals as a proof of concept for a longer working script of an authentic and original action adventure currently in preproduction.
Tone
Authentic and believable using close resemblance to both characters native languages with a mysterious dragon like egg brining the mythical element to the film.
Mysterious, poetic, beautiful.
Inspired by Harry Potter, The last kingdom, The King and Vikings.
Why make the film?
Creating this film will help try out the concept of transitioning between different views by changing between English and each characters historical languages to get an unbiased view and connect with both cultures in a rarely shown period of native Celts and migrating Anglo Saxon settlers in the South West.
With so many films that showcase two cultures there is always a bias to the main character and who they stay with especially with Celtic people depicted often as barbarions so through showing both perspectives an audience get better understand each character and how they feel.
History and language
This point in history was when Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were establishing and brining over their pagon religion again to Britian. As this era is known as the dark ages, not much is recorded about how these cultures interacted, but with the fact of a cultural shift towards Germanic tribes, place names originating from Old English language, political powers achieved by Anglo-Saxons and migration of Celtic Britions, there must have been a mix of conflict and acceptance varing across Britian and history. This is something rairly shown in films and education so this film will bring to life a small piece of this mysterious era.
Hearing an unfamiliar language will help viewers connect and feel the uncertainty of the character they are with. Then when the camera changes they view from the other perspective now hearing who they were looking to in English and who they are now looking at in their native language.
With accuracy in mind Mark Elton, a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh for his proficiency, kindly joined the project to help to translate parts of the English dialouge for "Leir" to Cornish and with translation from the Cornwall Council too could make sure the dialogue was accurate and best fit the story. With voice recordings from both, pronunciation training from Mark and fast learning from Toby McLellan who's graduated the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama created a strong performance putting non Cornish speakers in the perspective of the character Eadlin - Played by Rosemary Blaker.
Cornish dialouge
Unsurprisingly historical languages aren't commonly used, especially Germanic and Anglo-Saxon/ Old English (Not the same language in Shakespeare plays over 900 years later). So for this Sam Cox - Film Scriptwriter, used multiple Old English and old Germanic translations sties, videos and pronunciation resources based off the few written remaining records from the dark ages. Then choose the words with the closest meaning of the dialogue and created a pronunciation guide for the actress Rosemary Blaker playing Eadlin.
Old Germanic is a route language for English brought over by the Angles, Saxons and Jutes, ultimately giving the name of England and the language English. As Many of the Germanic settlers in Britain were Angles, the settled area became referred to as England ("Engla land"), "the land or country of the Angles. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angles_(tribe).
Other mentions of this impact on modern day names is counties and regions: Wessex (Kingdom of West Saxons), Sussex (Kingdom of South Saxons), East Anglia (previously a kingdom of the Angles) and Essex (Kingdom of the East Saxons).
Old English/ Germanic dialouge
Benefits of making this film and the commission support
Style:
This proof of concept short film will create an opportunity to try out transitioning between different views by changing between English and the characters historical languages to get an unbiased perspective and connect with both cultures in a rarely shown period of native Celts and migrating Anglo Saxon settlers in the South West.
Supporting local actors and filmmakers to:
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Use the Cornish language in a historical film as a close representation of its ancient route language of Common Brittonic spoken in the early dark ages.
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Build local cat and crew connections
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Showcase authentic clothing of the era
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Let the audience connect with characters from different cultures showcasing both their perspectives
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Build experience filming in remote locations, often chosen by large productions filming in the South West for exteriors and its landscapes.
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Gain or continue building experience and portfolios in a historical era
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Use more professional equipment and setups
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Get hands-on experience in lower stress environment
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Building showreel material in a historical setting
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Offering less advertised roles, helping give experience/ showreel opportunities that usually are harder to find.
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Develop connections and resources in Cornish
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Receive industry advice in scriptwriting, producing, shooting and editing
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Reach a larger audience and create interest on English history especially in Devon and the South West
Costume/ props
Everything within the film is aimed to be believable and authentic with a mysterious dragon like egg brining the mythical element to the film.
With historically researched costumes, locations and some of the closest representations of the characters original languages, Cornish spoken by Leir (Celtic) and Old English spoken by Eadlin (Saxon), this film lets a viewer step into the dark ages, seeing and hearing what it might have been like when two cultures met and decided to talk.
With Actress, Rosemary Blaker, bringing so many costume pieces and making her own dress with authentic tablet weave the costumes had so much more unique and detailed.
The dragon egg was inspired by dinosaur and large bird eggs today creating something that looks like it could have excisted but still original. It was created by talented prop/ set and costume designer Alexia Dobre.
Inspiration
Locations
Roundhouse
Project update
"This short was a long time in the planning but very special to film with two great locations in a wonderful authentic roundhouse and native woodland. Learning so much about this era from clothing to languages was so interesting and seeing the actors in costume speaking these languages made it very magical. Having so many crew across the 3 days was great and whether in new or experienced positions we learnt and shared tips with each other. We've finished all the shoots so now looking forward to the voiceovers and finishing the first edit."
Sam Cox - Director
The Cast
Eadlin
A Saxon now surviving alone settling in unfamiliar land. Scared of the locals and mythical creatures Eadlin begins to question her views after confronting both.
(Rosemary Blaker)
Leir
Displaced from his home by Saxons and running out of hope finds Eadlin injured and has to decide if he should leave or help her.
(Toby McLellan)
Crew
Coming soon
BTS
Official poster
Trailer
Electronic Press Kit (EPK)
Film premier (Q1 of 2026)
Online film release
Follow the film online
Future
Using this short as a proof of concept, the characters and story will expand in a long form version exploring this less known era, after roman occupation but before vikings, that was the start of English identity.
Cultures
In the era just after King Arthur and with multiple different Germanic cultures settling and creating kingdoms in post Roman England, this period has a huge amount of potential which can be discovered.
With Devon and modern day counties in the South West at the evolving border between Anglo Saxon kingdoms and British Celts this point in time has a unique range of stories, from people trading between the cultures, annexation, referenced battles, a new social structure, opposing religions and peaceful migrating communities.
Following both cultures and getting the audience to understand each of their perspectives makes a more authentic film where an audience can connect in a non biased way with both characters and get a real view of what the dark ages were actually like.
Landscapes
With so many dramatic and mystical landscapes from Dartmoor, Exmoor, Bodmin Moor, the South West coastline, dwarf forests, caves and rivers in areas of outstanding natural beauty there is so many stunning natural locations to amaze an audience.
Film plan and audience
With many cast and crew connections established and still creating more, locations researched, accurate costume experience and the development of an achievable unpredictable script based on historical events, this film is a great opportunity to join or support and make a unique visual story with a large existing audience from shows such as "The Last Kingdom", "Vikings" and "Merlin".
About Novel Visuals
Showcasing Creativity Through Visual Storytelling
Novel Visuals is a film production and media business specialising in filming historical narrative films, brand videos and photography to promote products and services for organisations in South West England.
Get in Touch
Want to get involved in the full length production or other future projects?
It would be great to hear from you or connect online.
