NEW SHORT IN PRE-PRODUCTION:

A MURDERED MAN IN THE MARGINS

A Murdered Man in the Margins is the upcoming short film from writer-director George M. Atkinson, entering production in late May to early June 2025. Filming will take place in the stark and beautiful wilderness of the Cairngorms, Scotland. Marking George’s third and final short film, this project represents the culmination of his work in the medium—his most ambitious and stylistically distinct film to date.

The film introduces two new collaborators to Effortless Pictures:

• Oliver Giggins, a multi-award-winning playwright (The Ebony Frame) making his screen debut in an Effortless production, and

• Sandy Jack, a Scottish actor known for his appearance in the global hit series Outlander.

A Murdered Man in the Margins is a surrealist psychological drama set over a single weekend in the Highlands. It follows two men—one childlike and unstable, the other controlling and ritualistic—who live inside a tent, following a strict routine designed to suppress emotion, memory, and instability. Just outside, a dead body lies on the grass—but neither of them seems able to see it, let alone confront it.

The script has already received significant attention in development, earning a “Consider” rating from WeScreenplay, one of the leading script coverage platforms in the film industry. Hollywood-standard script readers have praised the piece for its original voice, philosophical undertones, and quietly harrowing atmosphere.

With minimal dialogue, a haunting natural setting, and a heavy dose of surrealism, A Murdered Man in the Margins is an allegory of trauma, repression, and the hidden things we choose not to face. It’s a quietly explosive story that continues Effortless Pictures’ commitment to emotionally potent independent cinema.