“Luck Is Alive” by Paul Ward

Featuring acclaimed surfer Damme Samb, “Luck Is Alive” tells the story of an African surfer who is a believer in Animism, through his belief in luck, he is lead to the water where he finds freedom.

The short film IN MEDIAS RUSH is an experimental cinematic journey into the depths of a manic mind. A poetic retro-sci-fi narrative unfolded in a string of unsettling tableaus that encapsulates the male protagonist’s ambiguous feelings about his birthday. While balancing between realities in his silent struggle with severe mental illness, we plunge into the film at a neatly orchestrated birthday party. The protagonist is accompanied by his girlfriend, and they are drinking cocoa on the couch in their mutual home. The setting breathes pure perfection, but through the voice over we sense that another reality is soon to be revealed. With one foot on the accelerator, he is heading towards the edge. The thematic focal point of IN MEDIAS RUSH is mental health problems among young adults, and the social/personal consequences related to the existing taboo on the subject. The film wishes to formulate an honest cinematic space in which words, sound, and image artistically interprets and articulates some of the perspectives related to especially bipolar, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. IN MEDIAS RUSH was nominated in the category 'Best Danish Short Film' at Copenhagen Short Film Festival in 2020. Original title: IN MEDIAS RÆS Directed by: Esben Persson -------------------- DK: IN MEDIAS RÆS IN MEDIAS RÆS er en filmisk rejse ind i dybderne af et manisk sind. En ung mand fejrer sin fødselsdag, mens hans tanker tordner afsted. Med en uvillig fod på speederen har han kurs mod kanten. FR: IN MEDIA RES IN MEDIA RES est un voyage dans les profondeurs d’un esprit maniaque. Un jeune homme fête son anniversaire tandis que ses pensées se multiplient. Malgré lui, il se dirige vers un point de non-retour. -------------------- Cast: Peter Alexander Bach & Amanda Overby Drew Director // Script writer // Set designer // Costume designer // Editor // Speaker: Esben Persson Photographer // Editor: Lasse Mølsted Producer: Latifa Lykke Ben Mabrouk Assistant producer: Cecilie Creutsberg Music composer: Martin Bejder Sound designer: Mads Hye Chief Lighting Technician: Rasmus Bruun Liboriussen VFX: Jonas Fonnesbæk Lodahl Colorist: Kristopher Paterson Graphic designer: Jakob Toft Kristensen -------------------- Shot on RED Monstro 8K with Lomo Squarefront Anamorphics.

Animism is based on the idea that everything is sentient: that inanimate objects, plants, animals or even entities such as the ocean have a spirit or a soul, often in the sense of having ‘personhood’.

The film demonstrates an animistic sensibility through the concept of luck. The line, ‘Luck is Alive’, encapsulates this way of relating to the world: a sense of the aliveness of chance, and by believing in luck and that luck is alive, luck can lead you to be lucky.

In his case, luck leads him to the water, where he finds a sense of freedom he has never felt before.

From the Director

“Luck is Alive, was filmed over 10 days in Dakar, Senegal. It was a beautiful fluid and creative process bringing to life this unique story. Inspired by deep research and understanding, Peet Peinaar (Creative Director of Mami Wata) approached me with the story of an African surfer, and believer in animism.

The story immediately grabbed me, and over a few months, Peet and I developed the story and world we wanted to create around it.

A complete mix between reality and surreality. Through the love and dedication of great collaborators from all departments "Luck is Alive", was born.”

—Paul Ward

Credits

STARRING

Damme Samb

CREW

Director: Paul Ward | @iampaulward

Creative Director: Peet Peinaar | @peet.pienaar

Production Company: Giant Films, Stink Films

Executive Producers: Emma Lundy, Cindy Gabriel, Martina Luelsdorf, Paul Ward

Producer: Jo Barber | @jobarber

Story: Peet Pienaar

Researcher: Hana Sho

Director of Photography: Deon van Zyl | @deonvnzl

Production Art Director: Peet Pienaar | @peet.pienaar & Wendy Frederiksson | @_wendingmachine_

Costume Design: Peet Pienaar & Wendy Frederiksson

Underwater Cameraman: Calvin Thompson

Senegal Service Company: Senegal Fixers

Senegal Producer: Meissa Seck

Equipment: Panavision

POST PRODUCTION

Editor: Xander van der | @xander_vander

Editing Company: Strangelove

Post Producer: Bevil Schwartz

Grade: Company 3

Colourist: Joseph Bicknell | @josephbicknell

Online: Charmaine Greyling

VFX Co: Tetaki Studios

VFX Artist: Gavin Coetzee | @gavin_coetzee

Animation: Mami Wata Creative

Composer: Mario Batkovic

Music & Sound design: BDS

Additional Music: Amery GG, Brick

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