MARTIN CUFF
Welcome to Chronosonder, the creative home of Martin Cuff. Chronosonder is a creative studio for the origination, development and production of Intellectual Property with a focus on creating BOOKS, FILMS and TELEVISION SERIES that resonate with international audiences. Chronosonder is the next evolution in Martin’s 35-year career in the global creative industries.
Strategist, marketer and creative industries development expert, he is the former Executive Director of the Association of Film Commissioners International (Los Angeles), the Colorado Film Commission (Denver), the Cape Film Commission and Cape Town Film Permit Office (South Africa) and the former Chief Operating Officer of Sithengi, the Southern African International Film and Television Market. He is also the former Senior Advisor for Creative Industries to the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabic. More on Martin’s professional experience here.
Martin is represented internationally by Thomas Cull at Cull & Co Literary Agency in London.
CHRONOSONDER
The word Chronosonder means “the profound realization and awareness that people in the past lived lives as vivid, complex, and emotionally rich as our own, each with their own thoughts, struggles, joys, and routines.” It is People Over There, but also: People Over Then. Chronosonder therefore inspires and informs all of our projects. By connecting with individuals, their dreams and their challenges, at pivotal moments during their lives, we create stories that reach across time to resonate with modern audiences. Links to all of the creative projects in development are available here: CHRONOSONDER
As a business, Chronosonder operates under several key principles, including:
- Slate model. Eight-to-ten projects under active development at any one time, providing pipeline continuity and multiple monetisation shots.
- Ownership & chain-of-title. All concepts originate in-house; research notes, drafts and contracts are indexed in an IP vault to prove provenance and facilitate financing.
- Total-package approach. Every title launches with an IP base – a book, short story or script – supported by look-books, pitch decks, location research, incentives and financing informat and audience analysis, accelerating partner uptake.
- Historic but fictionalised content. Inspired by verifiable events; all characters and dialogue are original creations, ensuring creative freedom while avoiding defamation or life-rights issues.
- Transmedia + Tourism. Built-in a) companion podcasts/books, b) educational assets, c) location-based visitor experiences.
MAIN SLATE
Key projects currently on the Main Slate include:
ELSIE’S ARMY
When they are prevented from serving their country in World War One, a group of rebel Scottish women doctors, nurses, and ambulance drivers create their own damn hospital. Heading to the Serbian Front, they face down terrible epidemics, battle wounds, a cruel enemy and brutal weather, defying all expectations. They save lives and change opinions — until the collapse of the Serbian Front forces each woman to make a grim and unenviable choice. Currently in development from Pirate Productions, Edinburgh
TV Series, 3 seasons x 6 episodes each: historical drama, action and adventure, feminist, war romance, resilience
BATAVIA
In 2089, the freighter O.R.S. Batavia is travelling to Jupiter carrying gold bullion and hundreds of passengers when it is struck by a meteoride. 350 passengers and crew survive the impact but they are cold, starving and desperate. As Cornell begins systematically eliminating the weak, Uzo must lead a rebellion, expose the mutiny, and reach the rescue ship first—or the truth dies with her.
Book, TV Series: dystopian sci-fi, action and adventure, evil corporations, underdogs fight back.
Current Status: Book complete, pitch packet, pitch proposal, Transmedia proposal available.
SUGAR CITY
It’s Bristol in 2025, and award-winning filmmaker Mallory McCormack is trying to film her latest tv series, while also helping to find a missing childhood friend. But as she pursues leads and follows clues, she uncovers perplexing and unsettling connections between the missing woman and a series of heinous child kidnappings and murders that have rocked the city, raising a terrifying question: are these killings the acts of dangerous illegal immigrants, or something far more sinister?
Book / TV Series: Crime Drama, Investigation, Social and Racial Unrest, Immigration
Current Status: Book complete, pitch packet, pitch proposal, Transmedia proposal available.
SINS OF THE FATHER
Eager to save her relationship, Chloe – a socially-awkward young woman – follows her movie-star boyfriend to rural Serbia to deal with a family crisis. Once in the isolation of the Old Mountains, she finds herself facing the implacable wrath of a Drekavac, a mythical creature that is stalking Alex’s family in revenge for past sins. But when Chloe – revealed as a manipulative fraudster herself – tries to use the Drekavac for her own gain, she discovers that some con games cannot be won, no matter how far you go.
Book / TV Series: Folk Horror, Creature Feature, Fish Out of Water
Current Status: Book complete, pitch packet, pitch proposal
TRAILBLAZERS
In 1962, Swedish veterinary assistant-turned-rally driver Ewy Rosqvist is invited to join Mercedes-Benz’s elite test team. There she clashes with reigning champion Hermann Kühne in a rivalry that transforms into mutual respect and support. Selected to lead the first all-female crew to compete in Argentina’s gruelling 4,624km Gran Premio race, Ewy and co-driver Ursula face brutal terrain, terrible weather, entrenched sexism, and tragedy when Hermann is killed – but they regroup and forge ahead, outpacing 257 male competitors to make motorsport history.
Feature Film: Historical / Biographical Drama / Based on Real Events / Women Breaking Barriers / Female Friendship / Unlikely Heroes / Sports Drama / Race Movie / Teamwork / Underdogs – Current Status: Pitch packet, pitch proposal, commercial proposal complete. Script in development
CRUISE OF THE KINGS
In August 1954, Queen Frederica of Greece invites 104 royals from the 25 European monarchies to join the luxury yacht Agamemnon on a cruise around the Greek Isles. With the formality of their daily lives set aside, the loves, ambitions and aspirations of these idle princes plays out against an idyllic backdrop of sunlight and summer blue. But behind the scenes, rivalries flare, romance blossoms, alliances shift, and the real world intrudes, forcing the passengers to confront a changing world where privilege is no guarantee of survival.
TV Series: historical drama, royalty, travel, intrigue, romance, escapism – – Current Status: Pitch packet, pitch proposal, commercial proposal complete. Script to be developed based on international participation