Circle of Support (2018)

Directors: Michelle PassfieldMichelle Passfield and Jennifer Farfort

The Southend-on-Sea Film Festival will be returning for its 11th year from 23rd May to 27th May. In preparation for the event I got an opportunity to ask WellbeingMatters founder Michelle Passfield and Child of the Sun Films owner Jennifer Farfort, a few questions about the mental health short film ‘Circle of Support‘ which has been selected to play at the festival.

Q. What can we expect from your new short film Circle of Support?

People speaking freely and honestly about mental health issues with no script or rehearsal. We hope our film is inspiring and has real impact that will raise awareness, break down barriers and stigmas and encourage people to speak freely about mental health. Plus, we shot in 15 different locations to showcase our hometown of sunny Southend.

How did you come up with the original concept for the film?

Wellbeing Matters, a Southend-based independent ground-breaking peer support group was launched by its Founder, Michelle Passfield in May 2018. Soon after launching we decided to produce a mental health awareness short film to highlight the importance of peer support. Our inspiration came from the Lloyds mental health advertising campaign. For a lot of people talking about mental health is a big challenge. Our film provides the opportunity for those who receive and provide peer support to talk frankly about their experiences.

Q. You have 17 participants form the Southend area who speak openly about their own experiences with mental health. What was the process for choosing who should be involved?  

Every cast member is known to us either as a relative, friend, acquaintance or professional who, in some way, has been affected by mental illness.  They were carefully selected to be in the film to represent relevant groups across Southend, including charities, community groups, the workplace, learning disabilities, LGBT, cultural, the arts and young adults. It was important that each person felt comfortable to be filmed, in a safe environment at the suggested location. We understood the importance of this implicitly as both Jennifer and I live with mental health issues.

Q. How long did the film take to complete?  

The filming itself across 15 Southend locations from Shoebury to Leigh only took two days. We spent no more than 30 minutes with each person, got back in the car and moved to the next. We were running to a tight schedule and so kept to it! The editing took another three to four weeks and was the hardest part of the process. We were both experienced enough to appreciate this. The film was launched on 10 October 2018, World Mental Health Day with an evening reception at the Focal Point Gallery, Southend and premiered on the Big Screen.

Q. How close was the film to your original concept and did you make any changes during filming?  

We had some questions, but we didn’t necessarily stick to them. Nor did we share the questions in advance with the cast. Unfortunately, a few didn’t make the final cut due to the sound quality. Originally, we were going to invite a few selected ‘celebrities’ who were from or lived in Southend. But we soon realised that we wouldn’t get past their management agencies and it would be too much hassle.

Q. What was the hardest part of making the documentary and did you experience any difficulties whilst shooting?

If you shoot guerrilla-style without permits there will always be obstacles and disruptions. One such problem happened outside someone’s home. Let’s just say his housemates were not best pleased with us filming there and so there was some toing and froing with them being verbally aggressive. At one point we did think this is really going to ‘kick-off’, so we had to make sure that the camera equipment didn’t get damaged. And that we didn’t either!

Q. What were some of your favourite moments during filming?

We had finished filming outside of The Forum in central Southend and whilst walking back to the car we saw a crowd of students. So, totally unplanned, we went over to them, explained about our film and asked if any of them would like to be in it. There was this one guy, Kleshay Grant, who was just there with his friends said he’d be in it. We prepped him and within five minutes we had finished filming him! He was a natural, totally at ease in front of the camera, even with his friends laughing and goading him. It was only afterwards that we found out that, in fact, he was a model!!

Q. Have you had feedback regarding the film, and has it had a positive effect on anyone suffering from mental health?

Yes, we’ve received a lot of feedback. We hosted a launch reception on 10 October last year at The Forum, Southend to mark World Mental Health Day. Our event included our film premier showing on The Big Screen. Feedback from that evening and since includes that it is a well-made film, that the cast and dialogue is non-cliched and diverse. Also, that it is thought provoking, particularly that mental health issues effect people from all different backgrounds. And, that there is so much support in Southend for those who suffer.

Q. What do you hope people will get from watching the film?

To know that talking or actively listening to someone talking about mental health issues is something to be encouraged. And to be aware that mental health issues can affect anyone, so it is likely that you know at least someone who is suffering.

Q. Do you have any new projects which you are working on?

Jen continues to be extremely busy with her film business, Child of the Sun Films. Jen is working with an editor in London on her first full-length documentary, which is about the B17 flight that crashed on Canvey Island in 1944. To give you an idea how long Jen has been working on it, she started filming in May 2015 and should be ready for 2020. Jen is also working on her second full length documentary, which is in complete contrast to her debut. Also, she is currently filming a short documentary on a band called The Faux from Southend. They are the UK’s only homage band to The Fall but are now carving out their own sound. The first short documentary You Are Watching The Faux can be viewed on YouTube.

We hope to make a follow-up mental health short film about the importance of peer support in the workplace later this year. However, we will require funding for this as we are working on so many other projects between us.

Q. If someone is looking to direct own film, what advice would you give them?

Don’t wait around for the money men and women. If you have that story or idea that is screaming to be let out, and someone who has a camera (that is insured) then make that film.  You may mess up and fail, so what. You will keep learning but remember to think about your resources at hand, try not to overstretch yourself, perhaps, make a film in a single location. Plus, like we did, think in advance of how you are going to promote the film, particularly via the media, social media, YouTube, events and so forth. Even better if you have a marketing influencer.

You can find out more about WellbeingMatters on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin

The Southend-on-Sea Film Festival runs from Thursday 23rd May to Monday 27th May. You can find out more about the event and purchase tickets on the website https://www.southendfilmfestival.com

Philip Rogers

Published in various websites, Philip is a reviewer who is best known for his interviews and media coverage of independent projects including; films, books, theatre and live events. Always on the lookout for something different to cover!