Put on a headset and step inside a frighteningly immersive environment, where all is not as it seems.
Produced, Written, Edited, and Directed by JAMES MANSELL
Starring VICTORIA MORRISON & ASHLEY PEKRI
Director of Photography:ANNEKA SAUNDERS
Gaffer: AARON WESTHEAD
Art Director: JENNY DEE
Makeup Artist: RUBY BROWN
Sound Design: ANTHONY LYNCH & JAMES MANSELL
Music: OLIVER DRAKE
VFX: PAUL MONAGHAN
Colorist: CHRIS TEEDER
Writer/director James Mansell is regular at our Short Film Open Mic and a TPFF multi-award winner. His previous film RUPTURED won Best Horror Short and Best Sound Design at the first annual People’s Film Festival. Earlier last week we caught up with James to ask a few questions about his latest project…
WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION TO WRITE NIGHTMARES:
I wanted to write a film about technology and somehow make it scary. I came across an in-development augmented reality horror game which allowed you to walk around your house and see frightening creatures, which I don't think ever got made. This was also at the time of the Pokemon Go craze. I thought how scary it must be to start seeing these things, like Pokemon or the creatures, when you've put away your phone or headset, and they're still there. I went with that idea and fleshed it out. This became only a part of it - the fun was thinking what happens to the poor, unsuspecting people who you point your device at. What happens to them?
WHAT'S YOUR WRITING PROCESS:
My short films are mostly an idea or a concept, so when I have that figured out, the writing process is relatively quick because I've already got the film. In the case of NIGHTMARES, I spent a few weeks working out who the characters are and how best to convey the idea. I played with more background to them - but settled on keeping it very simple to let the idea have space and not clutter it with details about the characters. I usually go through as many set ups as I can for the film - how the idea can presents itself, in what situation etc, and land on the one which I feel serves the idea the best but doesn't get the in the way of it and dilutes it.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BRING THE SCRIPT TO LIFE:
Shooting the film all fell into place quite simply. As the script is straightforward, I kept the shoot similar in its simplicity. There's a small amount of green screen work and a light touch of VFX and SFX, but generally it's very basic. I shot the film in a way which meant the editing process would be quick, as we didn't shoot coverage but just focused on what I needed for the edit. This also kept the shooting time down to a single day.
DID YOU HAVE ANY CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR WORKING ON A SMALL BUDGET:
As I always knew the budget, I kept things within what was possible. There wasn't anything which I felt was stretching the budget or what we were capable of. I pulled in favours from a lot of people so I was working with a very experienced crew, both during production and during post. This was very helpful in not needing creative solutions as a result of the small budget. I cast Victoria Morrison and Ashley Pekri straight away without auditions. They're both brilliant actors and very keen to get involved with a small project, which helped with keeping them comfortable on set etc, as they were chilled with the low budget nature of the shoot.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE FILMMAKING PROCESS:
That's a very hard question. I'm not sure I have a favourite part. There are aspects that I enjoy more than others for sure, and aspects which I get very nervous about. The period before committing to a project makes me quite uncomfortable. I have to be very sure it's got potential but I pull the trigger, so to speak. I used to be a camera operator so I love shooting with actors. Getting great material in the camera is a great feeling. Knowing what you've got and what you can do with it in the edit is very exciting. But as for a favourite part, I'd say the entire process is my favourite part.
SCREENING RECOMENDATIONS FOR QUARANTINE:
I've been watching the science fiction show COUNTERPART on STARZ. It's brilliant. It's a multi-universe Philip K. Dick type sci-fi show with J.K. Simmons in the lead.
For more from James check out his website: www.james-mansell.com
Interested in getting your work selected as Short of the Week?