An independent film company is seeking the public's help to complete a new film offering a different take on the Loch Ness Monster legend.
Guardians of Loch Ness, a fantasy action/adventure produced by emerging Scottish company, Fellowship Film, has already been shot on location.
Having now reached the final editing stage, the company - headed by a former Highlander - has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the final £6500 to get it ready for distribution by next spring.
Award-winning filmmaker and actor Philip Todd, a former pupil of Thurso High School, teamed up with his brothers Nathan and Matthew, and cousins John and Tom Walkinshaw, in 2014 to start making films together.
Guardians of Loch Ness is the third feature film produced by Fellowship Film and its most ambitious one yet, telling the story of an FBI agent who teams up with a magical Scottish family to protect a mysterious egg from a ghostly Jacobite boatman.
A short trailer for the film has been posted on its fundraising page.
"We are very inspired by Scotland's myths and legends," Philip said.
"We have already done a couple of films but the Loch Ness Monster is obviously the big one.
"It is our take on that and trying to bring out what we feel is great about Scotland and Scottish myths.
"It is in a contemporary setting."
It was shot in various locations across Scotland, including Loch Ness, although parts were also filmed at Loch Morlich near Aviemore.
"We doubled Loch Morlich for the side of Loch Ness as we needed a sandy beach," Philip explained.
"There was good access and space as a big battle takes place.
"We looked at Dores but it was shale and rock and there was not enough sand for doing it - and it was quite busy.
"We also did a partnership with the Loch Ness Centre which allowed us to use their boat which features in the film trailer when some of the characters are travelling across the loch."
Streets in Glasgow, meanwhile, were used for scenes set in New York.
The cast includes American actress Erica Everett, who plays FBI agent Kaz Armstrong, and Inverness schoolboy Marcus Macleod who was aged 10 at the time of filming.
Filming took place over 20 days.
"When you don't have a huge budget, you have to work very quickly," Philip said.
"We had a really good team and everyone worked their socks off."
As it aims to finish the film by spring, the company will also be talking to sales companies regarding distribution and has its eye on markets such as Europe, Japan and America.
Previous projects, including Jessie and the Elf Boy and The Gaelic King, have been available via streaming channels and DVDs.
The Gaelic King, Philip's debut feature film, was selected for EIFF Works in Progress, was picked up by Sony Home Entertainment and received a commendation from the Scottish Parliament for being a triumph of resourceful filmmaking.
Philip currently lives in Fife but is familiar with Loch Ness from his Highland childhood days and also spent time there while working on the script for Guardians of Loch Ness.
"Obviously there is a big tourist element to the legend," he said.
"It brings people in because of the curiosity.
"What is fascinating to me is that even if it was scientifically proven without a shadow of doubt that there was nothing in Loch Ness, I think people would still be wondering.
"You cannot ever know for sure as there is so much water and it is so big and deep.
"There is always that sense of mystery.
"I think that is not just true of Loch Ness but is also true of Scotland.
"There is always more than meets the eye.
"There are always layers beneath what you can immediately see."
Philip, who still keeps in contact with former schoolmates in Thurso, harboured ambitions to go into films from about the age of 14.
"It was probably due in a large part to the Lord of the Rings," he reflected.
"The films were very influential for me. They captured my imagination.
"I started to make home movies with my siblings and friends."
Although there was no film club at school, there was a good drama group and he took on roles such as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance.
He also sang with the Melvich Gaelic Choir.
After leaving school, he went on to graduate from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Philip, who has previously won multiple awards at Gaelic film competition FilmG, was presenter and editor for the Scottish BAFTA-nominated documentary Knox and also for the award-winning documentary Morningstar.
Although his current priority is finishing Guardians of Loch Ness, he is already looking ahead to the next project with plans in the pipeline for another film - dependant on finance - based on the Kelpies.