Dinah is inspired by the true story of Dinah Black, a Bristolian runaway slave from 1687, who was threatened to be shipped back to work on the plantations in the West Indies. It’s said that her ghost still roams the streets of Bristol.

In the film we follow the main protagonist Michael, a Tanzanian international student who’s settling into Bristol. We experience the city from his perspective, experience his isolation from being an outsider, far from home.

As Sound Designer I wanted to plan an acoustic journey so we could more intimately experience Michael’s journey. We started in the city, with very mundane and droll sounds so the extracts from the Black Lives Matter protests and the toppling of the Edward Colston statue were emphasised - so it’s understood that this is significant as Michael learns about the city he’s moved to. As Michael and Dinah are chased by Slave owners, we’re in a very busy, windy woodland - certain sharp sounds of trees and birds calling were used with the score to create a very tense atmosphere. In the final act, this transitions to a quieter and calmer soundscape as Michael returns home from his discovery.