“Andi” By Julia Kupiec

Andi, a Long Beach based roller skater discusses her journey of shedding false identities and the value of finding a safe space among found family in order to grow past trauma.

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.

This project came to life on the heels of many months away from filmmaking. Like many others I spent the shutdown in a state of quiet reflection, living unemployed in my parents home - a turn I hadn’t anticipated my life would take, but one which I look back on with a deep sense of gratitude. I was fortunate that I was able to take that time to consider the kind of work I had made up to that point and the kind of work I’d like to make when the opportunity came again. Meeting Andi and crafting this small portrait with her and only a few close friends and collaborators was a continuation of that meditation for me.

Andi isn't a flashy project, but it is perhaps the first time I’ve made something that feels like a piece of myself - that came from a desire to craft something with care and sensitivity and intention. Andi’s immediate openness and warmth, her desire to understand herself and forge an identity that felt truthful to her was a gift to me during a time when I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to make a film that, in turn, felt like a truthful representation of me and my sensibilities. Of course, as we always do in hindsight, I have critiques of the choices I made and things I would approach differently in the project now. But regardless of that, it’s the first time I’ve been able to walk away from a finished cut and think to myself - screw it, I like this. This feels like me. And the sense of hope that came from that experience is something I believe I will always feel thankful for.

Julia Kupiec - Director

Credits

Director: Julia Kupiec
Production Co: rubbertape
Producers: Jonas Berry, Owen Lazur, Samson Jeter
Director of Photography: Ace Buckley
Colorist: Jared Rosenthal
Sound Designer: Nikolay Antonov
Skaters: Andrea Brewer, Sean Holahan, April Osorno

Hey filmmakers! Have a project of your own you’d like us to check out?