“The Empty Chair” By Sye Allen
Synopsis
The Empty Chair is a love letter to all those we've lost as a result of the pandemic, but it also speaks of those intimate collective experiences that we've all missed of late.
In a situation fronted by numbers and statistics, the film takes a step back and speaks of a lost individual, and how the survivor will choose to face the world.
Directors statement
I was speaking to Sam Care (DP) about creating something to bring us out of the first lockdown. We were bouncing a few ideas around and unfortunately, later that week I helped a friend of mine with a house clearance following the loss of his mother to Coronavirus. It was really tough for a number of reasons, and after clearing the living room, one exposed chair was left, which immediately grabbed my attention. It was a truly powerful, heart-breaking image, and the seed for the film was sown.
I knew the film had to convey a positive message, but it also had to pay homage to the grief that so many people are feeling at the moment. I decided to write from a single perspective about the loss of a loved one, and how they resolve to face the world in the future. What's interesting is that throughout the process, the film also became distinctly about the loss of intimate collective experiences, and I was personally reminded of how much I'd lost as a result of the pandemic. That's one of the things I love most about film. Its ongoing ability to reveal things even to the makers, reminding us of the magic of medium.
Credits
Writer, Director, Producer: Sye Allen
Performed by Kate Dickie
Director of Photography: Sam Care
Editor: Chris Roebuck
Production Company: Burning Reel
Executive Producer: Joe Elliot
Original Music: Nico Casal
Colorist: Jax Harney
Sound Designer: Aaron Taffel
Production Manager: Winston Milton
Gaffer: Ryan Delahunty
Spark: Jurijs Subotins
Spark: Luke Maund
Focus Puller: Dave Agha-Rafei
Loader: Joshua Dadson
Loader: Josh Hughes
Runner: Sion Roe
Script Editor: Ryan Baxter
Music Supervisor: Hamish Duff
“The Empty Chair” was submitted to us by Sye Allen. Have a film of your own you’d like us to check out? Click here!