“Just Break Away” By Sean Kalra

A young boy finds the inner strength to prevail over his surroundings by walking in his late father’s footsteps.

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.

Credits

Writer, Director: Sean Kalra

Starring:
Earvin (Kid): Denzel Onaba
Earvin (Teenager): Mansa Aki Gibbs
Earvin (Adult): Benjamin Ayesu

Writer/VO: Troy Mangram

Producers: Yael Carnet, Laura Carnet and Sean Kalra
Production Co: MARGINAL
1st AD: Valentin Moulias
Director of Photography: Christian Lai
1st AC: Titouan Fournier
1st AC: Thomas Wang
LX/Grips: Slatie Chu, Sepehr Mahbob
Production Designer : Pauline Renoult
Set Dresser : Mickael Rickey
Hair&Make-up Artist : Sakura Oyama
2nd AD: Kathian Pascal
PAs: Matthew Rickey, Alex Pfleger
POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Jason Albrecht
Colorist: Sam Gilling
Composer: Bernie Rosa
Sound Designer/Mix: Oscar Vargas

Additional Cast:
Jayes Tarka, Lara Onaba, Jazlyn Onaba, Bruce Victor Warren, Tino Nelson, Christian Luciano, Ashwin Steinson,
Alexander Pfleger, Jason Lighton, Nes Hipolito

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