Our Story
My name is Joanna Pickering and I am an actress and writer. I am currently working on this short film project as my first directed film with my co-director, writer and musician Gustaf Heden (Julie Delpy: 2 days in Paris credit). We have worked closely together on other projects with various successful directors, as well as producing a short art piece called "Ghosts' Holiday". We are now embarking to produce and direct our next project on location in Buenos Aires and Patagonia, Argentina - a backdrop that caught both our attention in it's vast beauty and intensity.
The Film
We intend to make a low budget, short film. It will focus on how far human behaviour can slip into escapism and then depravity. It will be an artistic piece addressing animal instincts versus society norms, nature versus nurture, the effect of mental strain, disorder, and stress events which can lead to seeking unimaginable escapism and ultimately harrowing disturbance of mind and events.
It is the story of a neurotic young woman escaping conflict in her past by pushing herself ruthlessly on a journey of "exploration" and "escapism" and "the search for freedom" as she attempts to backpack through South America, on the old adage of "finding herself". However, adapting to this chaotic world is not the "dream" she was expecting and her mind spirals rapidly, down tunnels of darkness, fear, anxiety, panic and delusions, pushing her further and further off the beaten paths as she continues, desperately, to search for a haven of self identity and peace.
An assault and robbery on a remote tourist boat that falls under siege, forces her overboard, and as she swims to her safety, it leaves her finally abandoned and stranded on a small deserted island. The empty planes of the mind can now be expanded and flexed and distorted in a far more harrowing journey for independence and survival.
Here she meets her attacker, mentor, half man, half animal.
It is only now, she begins to seek the HELP she needs to survive her surroundings, evolving, becoming strong, free from her reality and mind, challenging all norms and morality in shocking and brutal ways. And falling in love.
How far can you go to escape your reality?
The Team
The film will be shot as an artistic and visual project, with the aim of challenging expectations.
We have selected a small team of professional and experienced individuals who believe, like us, making art is paramount to making salary. They have the confidence and dedication to make strong choices for film, to stray away from convention, redefine boundaries, and to remain open to experimental art and ideas.
Lead Actors
Joanna Pickering
Gustaf Heden