“My Condolences To Your Future Lovers” by Jessica Dowse
Determined to fight for her summer love, idealist Vicky argues passionately for young love and picture-perfect moments convinced Stacey is just scared or, even worse, in the closet.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
“This film is based on my very first break-up. Cliche, I know... but I wanted my first film to be a conversation and this was the most intense one I could remember!
I decided to do it in one-take to increase that intensity. With both characters confined to the car and trapped inside this awkward moment unable or unwilling to escape, the one-shot nicely mirrors that feeling and doesn’t give the audience the option of escape either.
I was drawn to this conversation because upon revisiting, it revealed to me my immense emotional immaturity. That much of what I had said and done seemed more like a dramatic performance-say the right thing, listen to the right music and then that’s “love.” It felt like such a betrayal to realise the other person was playing a role too...who then heartbreakingly lost her commitment to the part.
The part also is that of a newly out LGBTQI+ woman of course... all I, and now Vicky, thought you needed to do was be brave enough, love enough and all the other problems would fade away. The truth being, of course, vastly more complex... something of which only Stacey seems aware.
I have always been drawn to the role-playing and fantasy that takes part in everyday life, particularly in youth and for me that’s what this film is fundamentally about.
This was self-funded, so I had to call in favours from people I know from the commercial world and managed to bring together an amazing team. Even then, we didn’t really have enough money (do we ever?!) and I had to make a fair few compromises to make sure we could still achieve the emotions we were after. I would love to have gone wider, bigger, higher on the one-shot... but in all honesty, the fact that we managed to get 5 useable takes in one short day of filming, with the English weather massively against us, is a miracle!
My crew were phenomenal, there’s no denying that, but the true troopers were Alex and Megan, my two amazing actresses who didn’t mess up one take. We had done a full day of rehearsal the weekend before so by the time we arrived on set we had worked through everything and were all aligned on what we were aiming for. I specifically picked actresses who had theatre experience because I knew they’d be able to handle the one-take and a high-pressure day...and they did not disappoint, they were perfect!
Anyway, I really hope this terribly painful and formative experience of mine ends up entertaining you!”
-Jessica Dowse
CREDITS
Writer & Director // JESSICA DOWSE @_jessdowse_director
Cast
Stacey // MEGAN WALKER @mfwalker_
Vicky // ALEXANDRA HANNANT @alexandrahannant
Producer // ANDIE RICHARDSON @andierico @bluerobin5
Director of Photography // OSCAR PARTRIDGE @oscarpartridgedop
Music & Songs // TWO TWENTY TWO @two22music
Alien man // DAN VAN DAMN
Festival guy // JEANPIERRE MANN @jdmann80
Bouncing woman // VANESSA IBBETT
Party dude // TOM MELVILLE @tom_melv
Nosy man // LEE COXON @leeroyhalloween
Nosy woman // VICKY COXON @vickycoxon73
Man in love // MATTHEW CONNOLY @conlay
Woman in love // PIPPA SNADDEN @escapetheonion
Camera Operator // CALLUM TUNMORE @callumtunmore
1st AC // ALEX WILLIAMS @alex.willigrams
Camera Trainees // LUKE STACEY @lukestace_ / JAKE DE LA MOTHE @jake_delamothe
Sound Recordist // FREDDIE NEVISON @frednevsound
Gaffer // ASH LANG WEN LI @ashlwli
Spark // ANDREW Alexander @dre.alexand
Production Assistants // GRACE MASON / TAOFEEQAT OLANLOKUN @t.lanlo / OLIVIA PRENDERGAST @thatwentsouthsofast
VFX Artist // LUKA STEMBERGER
Sound Editor // DOM Lancaster @trentmango
Colourist // KAROL CYBULSKI @imkarol.colour AT CHEAT @cheat_it
Graphics // ALEX DOWSE @byonward
BTS Photographer // ROSALIND Alcazar @rosalindalcazarphotography
Catering // EMILY Hyne @emilyhyne1 / JO Hyne @jjhyne
"my condolences to your future lovers" Written & Produced by // TWO TWENTY TWO
Performed by // JADE ELLINS @JADEELLINS
Location // LEE VALLEY Campsite @leevalleypark
Car // CLASSIC CAR HIRE UK @classiccarhireuk
Special thanks to:
PAUL SARGEANT AT PROCAM/TAKE 2 Films procamtv
BEX PASHLEY AT LLAUDI Creative @llaudicreative
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