“Leopard” By James Arden

Rocky begins to question the strict routine set by her father - as well as deeper feelings about her own identity - after meeting a girl in a local launderette.

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.

I wanted to make a film that not only confronts uncomfortable notions of commonplace sexual harassment, but goes deeper to explore how such cumulative social and sexual pressure might push a young girl to her limits. Alongside this, I want to tell a simple story of youthful infatuation - Sasha, the girl Rocky meets in the laundrette, is in many ways her opposite; confident and carefree. Their relationship begins at a time of uncertainty and self-discovery in Rocky’s life.

Leopard is an intentionally composed and claustrophobic film - we don’t stray from Rocky’s closed-off world as we follow her journey to better understand and find her place, and a glimmer of hope, in a frequently unforgiving world - no matter how small.

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In terms of inspiration, I was looking heavily at the social realist work of filmmakers like Andrea Arnold and Ken Loach, both of whom I admire greatly for their emotionally impactful work. We scouted dozens of working laundrettes in South London until we found the perfect location, not only for how it looked - rundown and full of character - but for the community around it, where we filmed all our exteriors - I wanted that setting to feel as real as possible; the small world Rocky occupies in her closed-off world. We shot for 4 days on a very tight budget and schedule, but a great team made it a pleasure from start to finish.

I’d like to thank ARRI and Framestore for their support in bringing this film to life.

James Arden - Writer & Director

Credits

Written & Directed by James Arden
Produced by James Arden & Poppy Ashton
Cinematographer: Ronnie McQuillan
Production Designer: Wyndham Harris
1st AD: Lawrence Phillips
Editor: James Arden
Colourist: Jessica Vile (Framestore)
Sound Designer: Odinn Ingibergsson
Sound Recordist: Joe Bulmer

Rocky: Elisha Applebaum
Sasha: Eleanor Grace
Daniel: Geoffrey Maccarthy
Dad: Nicholas Clarke
Boy 1: Jake Ashton-Nelson
Boy 2: Quinton Arigi

Executive Producer: Lawrence Phillips
Executive Producer: Ronnie McQuillan
Casting Director: Sydney Aldridge
Costume Designer: Charlotte Grant
Costume Buyer: Sophia Katyea
Hair & Make Up Designer: Rachel Keane
Art Department Assistant: Joshanne Dar
Runner: Julian Lara Cid
Post Sound: Impulse Post Production Ltd
Foley Artist: Ruthie Knight

1st AC: Davide Scalenghe Migliarini
1st AC: Stefano Seno
2nd AC: Luke Priadi
Gaffer: Paul Choy
Spark: Joseph Hargreaves
Spark: Jeff Celis

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