Awareness Film Festival - Hanging
An abstract animated documentary based on director Nick LeDonne’s own personal struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts after a near attempted hanging in November 2014. His feelings of depression are personified through a dark luring fog and a loving mother desperately trying to keep her son alive.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Nick LeDonne
Watch Hanging on YouTube
Congratulations, why did you make your film?
Thank you. I created my short film “Hanging” with the hopes of turning my negatives moments into a positive. Unknown to many in my first two years of college I had a really rough start. I dealt with bullying, harassment, relationship issues, cheating, accepting myself as gay, and sexual trauma. I eventually hit a breaking point during my sophomore year in November of 2014 and almost hung myself in my dorm room closet. A memory of my mom and the guilt of what it would do to her and my family made me stop and I ended up dropping out of college to get away from my problems.
The coming fall I transferred into the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and was given the opportunity to make a junior year film. Even though I was in a new area I still felt I couldn’t get over the issues I went through and decided to confront my problems through animation. I hoped that showcasing my personal experience would become a hand of understanding to others going through the same internal struggle and give a message to Hang ON.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
There are many reactions someone can get after watching Hanging. I’ve gotten messages from all over the world from San Francisco to India to Beijing saying that my work gave them a ray of hope. Messages came from people who were moved by the film but never experienced suicidal thoughts, from people that lost a loved one to suicide, and to people currently struggling with suicidal thoughts. The film serves as an important lesson on showcasing what being torn with suicidal thoughts feels like and what effect others can have on you both good and bad.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Universal themes are actually bought to the personal level in my film. I’ve been lucky enough to screen Hanging internationally in Philadelphia, New York City, Austin, Miami, Catalina, Los Angeles, London, Milan, Sydney, South Korea, Beijing and more festivals in the works. I’ve also gotten feedback form places as far as the Philippines and New Delhi, India. This world wide connection to my work truly shows that depression and suicide effects everyone from all walks of life across the globe. This success is a great example that even though you may feel alone their are millions of people across the world going through the same things you are but the goal is to Hang ON.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development and production?
Hanging had some pretty interesting changes. The film events are a step by step retelling of what I went through when I almost hung myself in 2014. I walked into my room upset, found the belt, made the noose, and than had what seemed like forever - a back and forth struggle - to decide to go though with it or not. I had points where I collapsed on the floor crying to coming up to the noose to rushing away from it thinking “what am I about to do”. Eventually I had my neck tied in the noose and was about to do it and I had a memory of my mom singing me to sleep as a kid. I stood there sobbing feeling completely torn and eventually decided to leave the room and call a suicide hotline.
For the film’s sake I changed that memory to a picture frame so the viewer could more easily understand the connection. So all of the initial story points are in true order but during the last week of post production I added the words and made the editing more abstract to help push the idea of a shattered mind. I think this became an effective change that helped represent how torn your mind becomes and the symbolism of finding the light in the dark.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been outstanding by both the animation, film, and public community. As a student film it has gone on to place in the semi-finals of the 43rd Student Academy Awards during a record breaking year of submissions. It placed as a finalist in the 59th CINE Golden Eagle awards and was given a gold “Award of Excellence” by the Accolade Global Film Competition. The greatest honor Hanging has received was winning “Best Animated Short” during the 2016 Catalina Film Festival where I was awarded at the historic Avalon Casino Theater in Catalina Island. The idea that two years ago I was in a small dorm room about to hang myself to being awarded on the red carpet of a tropical island like Catalina is a strong statement on how much your life can change if you can just hang on to your life.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The feedback has been very rewarding. To make a film that is funny or well created gets a lot of compliments but I’ve gotten messages that are overall life changing. I think that’s the greatest gift I could have as a filmmaker to know that I’ve created something that has a meaningful and possibly life changing impact.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on wearemovingstories.com?
By having my work visible on wearemovingstories.com I’m hoping to bring more awareness to my film, my personal story, and overall suicide awareness. The worst thing we can do about suicidal thoughts is not address them. They could be addressed to counselors or friends but just the action of venting and being heard is what saves lives.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales, agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists,) to amplify this film’s message?
As my film moves along I could always use help pushing my film’s message out. It could be new festivals, journalists, social media, schools, and any other platform that wants to help share the message of finding the will to Hang ON.
What type of impact and or reception would you like this film to have?
When I started to make Hanging I didn’t know what kind of effect it would have. You hope when making a piece as personal as this it would be positively received and it’s definitely intimidating to put so much of your own life out to the public. But now that it’s come out the response has been concrete that my work really resonates with people. From people that have lost a loved one, never experienced suicidal thoughts, been a bullying, a victim, or have felt suicidal thoughts yourself, everyone has been touched and moved by the impact of my film.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Great question. I think my film actually brings up a lot of great questions for the viewers. What would I do if I was in that situation? How do my words and actions affect people? How do we help loved ones? What reasons should I Hang ON for?
What are the key creatives developments or projects you’re working on now?
Currently I’m trying to reach out to suicide and bullying prevention companies to create educational programs using my film to help spark conversations for youth. I’m also developing my own ideas for short films, television shows, and features while finishing my senior year in college this year.
Interview: October 2016
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
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HANGING
An abstract animated documentary based on director Nick LeDonne’s own personal struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts after a near attempted hanging in November 2014. His feelings of depression are personified through a dark luring fog and a loving mother desperately trying to keep her son alive.
Length:
5 minutes 40seconds
Director:
Nick LeDonne
About the director, writer, producer:
Nick LeDonne is a current senior animation student at the University of the Arts. A publicized large scale mural artist, art class instructor, and award winning short film director.
Key Cast:
Solo project created by Nick LeDonne
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festivals journalists):
Funders:
none
Made in Association with:
The University of the Arts Animation Program
Release Date:
May 2, 2016