Title: Isabella De Fortibus
Directed by: Majid Khan
Written and Produced by: Sorcha Verey
Isabella De Fortibus, this is a name that is long forgotten but if you look closely into History, it will tell you that she, the Countess of Devon and Lady of the Isle of Wight was one of the most powerful female landowners in 13th Century Medieval England, yet her story is rarely explored in film or popular media. Shot on location on the Isle of Wight, including historically sites such as Carisbrooke Castle and Arreton Manor, our aim is to bring Isabella’s story to new audiences and spark further interest in her story.
The telling of Isabella story began with Sorcha Verey, born and raised in Isle of Wight (UK). The Isle of Wight has always carried a quiet sense of history in its landscape: Castles, Manor Houses, beautiful cliffs, churches that date back hundreds of years. It was there that Sorcha Verey first connected with Isabella de Fortibus, not just as a historical figure, but as a presence tied to the island itself and therefore, this gave her a need to give Isabella a voice again.
Sorcha not only produced and wrote the film but also stepped into the role herself. As this gave her the best possible knowledge of stepping into her shoes and bringing her character to life. Before I came on board, she had already completed a day of filming, laying the foundation for what this project could become. I saw some footage and was really impressed by the cinematography, acting, writing and production design. Even though the footage was visually compelling, there was something more to bring to life. It wasn’t about what was shot but more about how can we mould this where the story has more tension, suspense and drama as well as the performance needed that extra layer of direction. These elements are key factors in brining in the audience, drawing them in. Separating your project from all of the others. Therefore these concerns were matched by Sorcha and Florian who plays Simon in the short film.
But what I would say is that when she brought me in as Director and Editor, it felt like joining something that already had a heartbeat. I knew that there is something very unique to this story that I hardly ever see in short films and potential to make it into a feature film. Once I realised that, my role was to help shape and elevate that vision whilst working alongside a very dedicated but very minimal full time crew of just 4 (Myself, James Westlake (DOP), Julian Hundy (1st AC), Chris Stanley (Sound) whilst also getting the help of Sorcha, Florian, Sam & Elizabeth who are our main actors in the short film when they weren’t needed on the day/scene. I will also mentioned that the actors also did amazing work in bringing out their characters to life by helping each other with costumes, props, hair & make-up. Even though this is a period drama and you need Costume Designer and a Hair & Make-up Designer, the actors did a tremendous job on their own.
Filmmaker Bio:
Majid Khan is a Director and Writer with five years’ experience in Film and Television, working across major productions for Marvel, Disney, Netflix, and Paramount, rising from Production Assistant to Director and Producer’s Assistant. Now focused on independent filmmaking, their work explores personal, character-driven stories. Alongside their creative practice, they have worked as a Personal Assistant for individuals with Muscular Dystrophy who are full-time wheelchair users.
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