Logline: A man cleans his dead brother’s derelict house, but it brings up old family resentments

Current status: Completed

Length: 5 minutes

Director: Samuel Hunter Galloway

Producer: Jessica Pearce

About the director and producer: (25 words each, if same person 50 words)

Samuel Hunter Galloway is a New Zealand native. Currently living and working in London on his first feature length film Gastro, which is due to…

Looking for Distributors

Funders or production company: Running Panda Films

Made in association with: Creative Head Productions

Why are you making PAST THE SECOND STAGE?

I had recently seen a short film that I felt was extremely manipulative of the viewers emotions, which is something I have always avoided. I realised that I avoided heightened emotion altogether, I thought it was just melodrama, but it’s an important element to an empathetic character. This is our attempt at manipulating people, hopefully without them realising it.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

It’s not a popcorn and coke film, but it’s not a ten minute locked off shot of a pensioner crying into a bowl of wheat bix either. The plot and character arc and inter woven with the protagonist change over the course of the film, basically everything Batman VS Superman was missing we have here. If you watch them at the same time it’s the perfect film.

What does PAST THE SECOND STAGE mean?

The film is about taking the next step in the grieving process, and how a man finds his way through that. But ultimately after the second stage comes the third.

How is PAST THE SECOND STAGE both a personal and a universal story for you?

There are no universal stories only themes. This film deals with the universal themes of loss, resentment, and grieving. On a more personal level there’s drug abuse, brotherhood, and I’d even say frustration with technology.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The main feedback I has was just that it was the best thing I had done, unfortunately I did a web series straight after this which overshadowed it a bit.

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

My background has been in comedy so this has given me the courage to let go of dick jokes for story safety wheels.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on this platform?

I have a proof of concept film and treatment for my first feature, I’d like anyone in production who likes this film to get in touch and have a yarn.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Distribution is the goal, especially with my cool feature film ready to pitch.

What type of impact would you like this film to have?

The idea of emotional exploitation is very interesting, you get these weird commercials these days that show a person going through every stage of life, ultimately handing the reigns off to their own kid, it’s heartbreaking and it’s all to sell a car or life insurance. Evil bastards. I feel like emotion is exploited to force the viewer to empathise and connect with the product, so we wanted to present the film objectively, which is hard when it’s about grieving. Having said all that I want people to cry.

What’s a key question that will help to spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

The question people will be left with after the film is the same question John, the protagonist has “now what?” Unfortunately grieving is a process that needs to be taken one step at a time.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Thanks for watching!