“Like I Used To” By Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen

A tale of getting back to where you started.

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.

For "Like I Used To" it was important to Sharon and Angel to show a side of themselves that their audiences have never seen - alone in their homes, vulnerable, isolated... before music was expected of them, when life was pure and simple.

I employed the usage of split screens both in-camera and in post to show the powerful connection between Sharon and Angel in their different lives. From being alone at home to performing on stage, the focus remains on the duality of their existence and the idea of remaining autonomous in the world of fame.

Credits

Music by Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen
Director & Production Design: Kimberly Stuckwisch
Produced By: Ian Blair
Cinematography By: Justin Hamilton
Costume Design By: Phoenix Mellow
Edited By: Ellis Bahl
VFX Supervisor: Ryan Ross
1st Assistant Director: Hayden Rusk
Production Manager: Jon-Michael Burgess
1st Assistant Camera: Joshua Kirkwood
Gaffer: Julian Janigo
Key Grip: Darrin Stuckwisch
Swing: Michelle O'Shea
Makeup Artist: Rebecca Abram
Hair Artist: Mara Roszak
Construction By: Jack Massura
Color By: Kaitlyn Battistelli
Title Design by: Sean David Christensen
an Invisible Inc production

Special Thanks to:
Zebulon, Lisa Hiatt, Jessi Williams, and Ryan Ross for donating locations
and Elisa Randazzo of Cameo Clothing for donating clothing to our project.

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