After what feels like an epic saga of late nights and endless revisions, I’ve finally reached the finish line with my sci-fi body horror short/proof of concept, “From Me To You.” The relief of being able to say those two little words, “It’s done,” is beyond description. In some ways I feel like I haven’t slept properly for some time, but that’s just par for the course when you’re a solo artist, juggling a million ideas in your head and clawing your way through the wilds of independent filmmaking.

In hindsight, this movie has been so much more than just a creative endeavour—it’s been a journey of self-discovery and introspection. I delved into a tapestry of themes that resonated deeply within my being. From the exploration of fertility, the daunting spectre of motherhood to the intricate dance of my relationships with men. Choices I made, both bold and fraught with uncertainty, shape the narrative of my life, while also exploring fluidity and gender identity. Then, navigating the world as a woman of colour which has presented its unique set of challenges, interwoven with the personal hurdles I’ve encountered. Every frame of “From Me To You” is a reflection of my own personal odyssey and there was just so much to throw at the screen, along with my love for creating tactile, expressive, visual, textured, works of art through my love of films.

I had all of these ideas and I wanted to do it all! I also believe this movie was my film school, since I never went and I’m self-taught when it comes to film. 

Reflecting on it now, the decision to make a film in Vietnam felt wild and it was definitely my Apocalypse Now production experience. There were enough twists and turns to fill a novel, from dodging crooks to navigating betrayals. You can catch all the drama in my blog post here.

As for my crew, they were a global bunch hailing from Canada, France, Poland, Italy, Russia, Ukraine and the UK and are a melting pot of talent!

My foray into the world of VFX ignited a passion within me to push boundaries and explore the realms of possibility. Connecting with institutions like Escape Studios and gaining employment at MPC enriched my understanding of post-production, fuelling my desire for continuous growth. You can read the blog here on this part of the project.

To fund the extensive VFX work required for my film, I took on many different jobs after my time at Escape Studios. The demand for consistency in each scene drove my relentless pursuit for excellence. As the architect of this cinematic universe, maintaining coherence across every frame became paramount.

As I delved deeper into production, the scope of the film just kept expanding. I always had my sights set on incorporating both VFX and practical SFX.

I enlisted artists through platforms like Upwork and relied on recommendations from various contacts. While it was occasionally hit or miss, we ultimately achieved our goals. Acting as the VFX Coordinator for my own film was a demanding task, juggling both logistical and creative responsibilities. Fortunately, a friend stepped in as a VFX Supervisor, providing invaluable guidance on technical elements. This partnership ensured that what appeared satisfactory to me aligned with industry standards, not to mention the countless discussions on intricacies like subsurface scattering (SSS)!

I even had to re-design the main creature after a whole year and a test shoot of the monster scene in the movie. It was hard, because I had to learn how to simplify, but it also gave me the power to create an idea for a monster that I really wanted. This of course was then taken to the next level by an incredible concept artist and modeller called Cristian Giuseppone. More on that in the up and coming blog posts. 

Of course, no journey is without its setbacks. When COVID struck, it threw a wrench into our plans, scattering my original UK-based artists to the winds since most of them were international so had to return to their home countries. But where there’s a will, there’s a way, and we soldiered on, embracing the virtual landscape of remote collaboration.

And now, with the finished film in hand, I can’t help but marvel at the journey we’ve been on. It’s been a dream that never seemed to end, filled with highs and crippling lows, and everything in between.

As for what comes next? Well, that’s up to the universe and a handful of festivals on Film Freeway. 

Thanks for reading and here’s to the next chapter. As my dear Pups used to say, “What will be will be.”