AUDITORY, 2min., USA
Directed by Justin Walker
A young girl begins to experience auditory hallucinations 'hearing voices' impacting her life

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I work for NHS (United Kingdom) within Mental Health services, I work for the Early Intervention Team which is a service that supports individuals experiencing symptoms of psychosis; Auditory or visual hallcinations. My two passions are film and my career within mental health services; I wanted to create a short that attempted display how these symptoms effect a person and their lives, hopefully creating more understanding and awareness of mental illness.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Well you may be surprised or shocked that it only took a day to film (hack filmmaker right!) I had the idea in mind for sometime, randomly one day myself and my daughter Islien went out and shot footage, unscripted I may add. The editing process took a little longer, perhaps a week of cutting, recutting and sound mixing, until we had the final cut, very Roger Corman I guess 🤣

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Powerfully relatable

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Time, attempting to find the time between work-life and family life; Islien (daughter) has been revising and sitting some mock exams in high school, so finding time was difficult.... perhaps this explains the one day shoot for the entire film.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I have to admit I was apprehensive prior and during the feedback video, this did dissipate afterwards and it was a wonderful feeling to receive such positive feedback about my film, I re-watched it again a few more times to totally enjoy the experience..... strangely I did expect some negative or should I say some constructive critical feedback too.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Well film, movies have been a huge part of my life since being a child, my uncle Colin had a vast VHS collection, I think my passion for all things film was definitely influenced by my Uncle. I can still recall watching my first film at the cinema/theater back in 86/87....Transformers the Movie. When I turned 16 I was expelled from high school here in the UK, I left with no qualifications. A career advisor quickly dismissed my ambition of becoming a filmmaker; feeling deflated my parents gave much encouragement and stated 'make it happen' a week or 2 later my parents presented me with a camcorder, my creative journey began. I do have to empathize by my early 20's my life, my aspirations had changed and it wasn't until 2020 and the Pandemic (covid19) that I again began being creative and producing short films.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

That's my favourite film of all time....Jaws, both my parents went to see Jaws in the theater back in 75, my dad introduced me to Jaws at around 8 years old, Spielberg's visuals, the suspenseful and tense story he crafted combined with Williams score has had a profound impact on me, in my humble opinion Jaws is one of cinema's greatest films.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I feel the package you offer and my experience has been outstanding. While online festivals are massively important and do give filmmakers greater opportunities I am a fan of practical film festivals, so more opportunities for practical festivals or perhaps more streaming of live events, interactive festivals with the opportunity to meet and network with fellow filmmakers, producers, writers etc.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Overall my experience has been fairly positive, it's a great feeling receiving the confirmation your film has been selected. I have learned and accepted the rejection, not having your film selected (which has happened more than getting selected) it's important to understand it's not personal and it's part of 'putting' your film out there.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Well that's an English Roast Dinner, which here in the UK is also called a Sunday Dinner.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

High Plains Dreamer is my new short (completed) the film is a homage to the Western genre and follows a young girl who rejects the modern world, she longs for the old west and to be a cowgirl.