“Be Here Now” By Parker Foster

A film for the voiceless who are scared and worried to open up about the dark thoughts they feel inside.

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 the last few years, mental health has become something that has become part of my life. Dealing with depression has been an addition to my day-to-day. Since being more vocal about my own experiences I have learned that this isn’t a niche or rare issue. This is something most of us deal with, but choose to hide. The fear of being labeled depressed or suicidal can cause someone not to feel comfortable opening up.

I always felt that when I watched depression or suicidal PSA’s they were always branded as overly optimistic and not real, for me at least. It always ends with some light at the end of the tunnel fairytale. I don’t believe depression has that easy of an ending. I feel it is something you live with and learn how to cope with.

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During the making of this film, I reached out to almost every US-based depression and suicide preventive organization. They all came back and said that this film was “dark” and “triggering”. I agreed with them. We aren’t talking about hallmark movies here, this is real life. Suicide is dark and it shouldn’t be sugar-coated. The organizations and non-profits at the helm of suicide prevention need to be bolder with how they talk about mental health. You can’t just wrap it in a pretty bow and say “It will get better”. That doesn’t help anyone. We need to give everyone a forum to open up and let them unleash the dark thoughts they are harboring. Showing someone who is down in a dark hole constant advertisements that always end in someone coming to save them doesn’t do anything but make them feel more alone.

Not everyone has a friend or family to call. It’s even tough when they have a friend or family who is there for them because it’s rare for someone to be open about their depression or suicidal thoughts. More often we hear stories about someone killing themselves who expressed the opposite feelings.. happiness, love, joy. It’s hard to detect these dark clouds behind the bright stars of people surrounding us. Unfortunately, that is most of us. Realize that you can still be that bright star around everyone while also being honest with how you feel when you are down. It doesn’t go away but it does get easier.

Credits

Director: Parker Foster
DP: Sid Singh
1st AC: Luis Romero
Gaffer: Elliott Travis
Key Grip: Carlo Stigliano
PD: Vladislava Dyecheva
PA / BTS: James Berkeley
EP: Lori Foster and Filmsupply
Editor: Brian Chambers
Music: VACVVM - Cæsúra

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