Movie/TV/Short
🔥 WHY THIS STORY MATTERS
From the streets to the screen. A life lived on the edge — now ready to hit the world full-force.
Ian McCranor’s story isn’t fiction. It’s not polished. It’s not safe.
It’s real.
Born in England and raised during a time when silence was seen as strength and emotion as weakness, Ian was a quiet boy riddled with fear. He wasn’t attacked — his ego was. He didn't fight because he was violent — he learned to fight in an attempt to feel confident, to be respected, to survive.
And he did survive.
A Commonwealth silver medalist, a former England international karate competitor, and a bouncer in some of the UK’s most notorious nightclubs, Ian lived in the heart of conflict for over 15 years. Fighting With Myself is the raw, unfiltered account of what happens to a man when ego, fear, violence, and identity collide — not on a battlefield, but in the streets, behind nightclub doors, and deep within the self.
🎬 Why This Short Must Become a Series or Feature Film
Violence is rising. Young men are carrying knives. And the root cause? Ego. Insecurity. The desperate search for identity.
This short film is just the beginning — a powerful glimpse into Ian’s world. But the full story is bigger. It’s a journey through fear, false bravado, emotional suppression, and the transformation that comes when a man finally confronts himself.
This isn’t just a story for entertainment — it’s a mirror.
It asks:
Why are young men so angry?
Why do they think fighting will fix it?
And what happens when it doesn’t?
🎯 What You’re Investing In
This is not just a short — it’s the launchpad for a TV series or full feature film that will shake audiences, start conversations, and inspire change.
You’re not just funding a project. You’re backing a message.
A message the world needs to hear.
This is real. This is now. And it’s time.
🎯 MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to launch Fighting With Myself as a powerful short film that makes an unforgettable impact on film festivals worldwide — from gritty underground showcases to prestigious international stages.
But this isn’t just about making a film.
It’s about starting a conversation.
A conversation about young men, fear, ego, and identity.
At a time when violence among young men is rising, when bravado replaces vulnerability and weapons become masks, Fighting With Myself dares to expose the truth: most young men aren’t fighting others — they’re fighting themselves.
Through raw storytelling, real-world experience, and cinematic intensity, this short aims to shine a bright, uncomfortable light on the internal battles men face — battles they rarely talk about.
But this short is just the beginning.
Our ultimate goal is to attract serious investors and production partners who recognize the cultural urgency and commercial potential of this story — so we can expand it into a full-length movie or high-impact TV series.
A project that isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions.
A story that could save lives.
A mirror held up to a generation in crisis.
🎬 SHORT FILM SYNOPSIS (10–15 MINUTES)
Title: Fighting With Myself
Genre: Gritty Drama / Psychological Thriller / Based on a True Story
It’s not about the fight. It’s about the choice.
Set in a gritty Midlands nightclub in the 1980s, Fighting With Myself follows one intense, pressure-filled night through the eyes of bouncer Ian McCranor — a man whose own journey through fear, insecurity, and ego has taught him that real strength lies in walking away.
Inside the pub, tensions rise between two strangers. One of them is looking for trouble. The other, a young man called Derek, is struggling — torn between proving himself and doing what he knows is right.
Derek confides in Ian, looking for answers. Ian offers the truth — hard-won wisdom from a lifetime of violence and inner chaos.
But the night doesn’t end the way it should.
As egos clash and adrenaline takes over, another man makes a different choice. A simple confrontation spirals. And in the heat of that moment, a life is changed forever.
We never see the outcome.
We feel it.
We’re left with the silence, and the question:
What if someone had just walked away?
A gripping, heart-pounding short that explores how fragile masculinity can destroy lives in a single moment.
Sometimes, the most dangerous thing in the room isn’t the fight… it’s the reason you step into it.
🎥 WHAT IS A SHORT - AND WHY MAKE ONE ?
A short film is a cinematic production typically ranging from 5 to 20 minutes in length. Unlike a full-length feature or TV pilot, a short delivers a complete, powerful story in a compact timeframe — often with a strong emotional impact.
Why make a short?
Because a short film is the most effective tool to prove your story deserves more.
It acts as a calling card — showcasing the tone, visual style, and emotional weight of the full-length project. It demonstrates what the team is capable of producing on a limited budget and gives investors, producers, festivals, and distributors a tangible taste of what a larger series or movie could look like.
A short is not the end goal — it’s the launchpad.
For Fighting With Myself, the short will:
⚡ Introduce Ian McCranor’s story to global audiences
🏆 Compete at film festivals to gain recognition, awards, and momentum
🎯 Attract production companies and financiers for a full-length movie or series
💥 Spark conversations about masculinity, ego, and violence among young men
The short proves this isn’t just a good idea. It proves it works.
📍 Filming Location & Community Involvement
Proudly Filmed in Coventry, England
The short film Fighting With Myself will be shot entirely on location in Coventry — the city where Ian McCranor spent many of his years working the doors, learning hard lessons, and ultimately shaping the true story behind this project.
Coventry’s gritty urban charm, industrial backdrops, and classic British pub culture provide the perfect canvas for this hard-hitting, period-accurate short set in the mid-1980s.
Real Story. Real Streets. Real People.
This isn't a studio film with sets and extras flown in — this is a community-powered production.
Much of the short will take place in real pubs and nightclubs, and Ian will be personally calling on friends, former colleagues, and local supporters to get involved. That means:
Local casting opportunities for extras, patrons, and doormen
Authentic environments that reflect the era and culture the story is built on
A genuine chance for the people of Coventry to be part of something meaningful
Why Coventry?
Because it’s not just a location — it’s part of the DNA of the story. The same streets where confrontations played out… where decisions were made… where Ian found his edge and learned to control it… are the very streets where this story will now come to life.
This isn’t just filmmaking. It’s full-circle storytelling.