Female Eye Film Festival / NewFilmmakers 2020 – It's Me
It's Me is a dark tale of a game that cannot be sustained. Set over the course of an evening, a mother remembers moments from a game she played with her son throughout his childhood. Tragedy strikes when he unexpectedly returns.
Interview with Director Helen Randag
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made this film as I wanted to explore the subject of motherhood and grief for the lost phases of childhood. It was a very personal piece. Somewhat cathartic and a subject I had never seen on screen before.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
To see something emotive and unusual about a subject rarely spoken of.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
I have a 19 year old son, so this was very personal to me. He has had mental and emotional difficulties and I feel there is a universal theme of a parent’s culpability explored in this film. There is also a religious, spiritual element relating to the Madonna (Pieta) - the eternal image of a mother and son who is both adult and yet still her child.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script evolved from something much more narrative and into something more poetic, ambiguous and lyrical.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
People have been surprised and moved.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
Sometimes - it can be read in a few ways as I wanted to leave the film open to people's own interpretation.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I am looking to find more collaborators and support for my next film.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
All of the above would be wonderful.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like this to raise questions for people and cast light on the complexities of motherhood in relation to letting go, as well as ones own fears and misgivings about it all.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
In what ways have you struggled with saying goodbye to the child your son or daughter has transitioned from?
Interview: February 2020
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. 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
It's Me
It's Me is a dark tale of a game that cannot be sustained. Set over the course of an evening, a mother remembers moments from a game she played with her son throughout his childhood. Tragedy strikes when he unexpectedly returns.
Length: 14:35
Director: Helen Randag
Producer: Lee Magiday, Co-Producer: Russell Curtis
Writer: Anya Beyersdorf
About the writer, director and producer:
HELEN RANDAG graduated from Goldsmiths in 1994 with a BA in Fine Art. She had a child and was subsequently awarded a commendation in 2012 by the Royal Portrait Society for her multimedia end of year show at Heatherly College. Helen made her first short film, Portrait of a star, in 2013, and set up Midheaven Productions to continue to develop her work in film. Helen recently completed her second short film, It’s Me.
ANYA BEYERSDORF is an actress turned screenwriter. She was an Academy (The Oscars) Nicholl Fellowships semi-finalist (2016), shortlisted Sundance Screenwriters Lab (2016, 2017) and winner of an Australian Writer’s Guild (AWGIE) Award for her writing (2014). She was also on the inaugural “Aussie” Black List in 2018 – shortlisted for the first Australian Scriptwriting Opportunity with Veerhuis Pictures.
LEE MAGIDAY was a producer on The Favourite which received 10 nominations at the 2019 Academy Awards, winning Best Actress for Olivia Colman. Previously, Lee produced The Lobster, starring Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz, winning the Jury Prize at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
RUSSELL CURTIS (Co-Producer) is an experienced commercials producer and has produced shorts: This Time Away and The Immaculate Misconception.
Key cast: Maxine Peake (Miriam), Barney Harris (He 19), and Russell Tovey (Joe)
Looking for: distributors, sales agents, buyers
Instagram: #itsmetheshortfilm
Hashtags used: #itsmetheshortfilm, #helenrandag, #NationalLottery, @BFINETWORK
Made in association with: Sleeper Films and Midheaven Productions in Association with Curate Films
Funders: With support of BFI NETWORK, awarding funds from The National Lottery
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Female Eye Film Festival/Toronto - March 7th; Manchester Film Festival/UK - March 10th; Beverly Hills Film Festival/Los Angeles - April 1st; Hot Springs International Women's Film Festival/Arizona - March 28th, Our Time: Celebrating Women/Florida - March 28th, NewFilmmakers NY/New York - April 29th. Others to follow.