“The Other Half” By Tom Tennant

Hannah and Dan are in the midst of a pregnancy scare which only frightens one of them, but will a test provide the answers they're looking for?

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.

A large part of making this film was about getting back on the shooting horse after the pandemic, so it was written with a very contained/low budget production in mind. The biggest challenge was casting the other roles, particularly the female lead (as I played the male lead), but I got super lucky when a friend recommended Yazzmin Newell to me, who was so great to work with. My friend (and producer) Amy recommended Betty and Annabelle to me as a couple who might be up for playing the supporting roles and they were brilliant fun too.

The shoot itself was 2 nights and we adhered to the rule of 6 that was in place at the time, (only allowed to meet as a maximum of 6 people in May 2021 in the UK), so it was a really tiny crew. I ended up directing, producing, acting, 1st AD-ing, art directing, and catering, so as not to bring in any unnecessary bodies. My greatest achievement was undoubtedly finishing bang on the scheduled wrap time on Day 2 after 45 set ups. Theodore (DoP), Jake (Gaffer), and Eleanor (Sound Recordist) were possibly the nicest and coolest crew I could have hoped for.

Editing and finishing the film really did take ages, but I was so fortunate to have such great people collaborating with me. Harry Shelton (colourist) and Ross Wilkes-Houghton (sound designer/mixer) were both a joy to work with, and Jack Hardman (composer) is a proper magician when it comes to music. His work completely changed the vibe of so many of the scenes and I love the pieces he wrote for the film.
All in all, it’s been a great experience and I’m really glad it’s finished and out there!

Tom Tennant - Writer, Director

Credits

Written/Directed - Tom Tennant
Starring - Yazzmin Newell, Tom Tennant, Annabelle Sami, Betty Adewole
DOP - Theodore Tennant
Producer - Amy Davies Dolamore
Sound Recordist - Eleanor Jordan-Lynch
Gaffer - Jake Newell
Composer - Jack Hardman
Colour Grade - Harry Shelton
Sound Design and Mix - Ross Wilkes-Houghton