Glasgow Short Film Festival 2020 – Pulse
PULSE is a noir-like expressionistic short film about peril and rescue.
Interview with Writer/Director Ruth Paxton
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
The film was commissioned by Royal Philharmonic Society as part of the PRS for Music Foundation’s New Music Biennial in celebration of Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games 2014. It was a collaboration between myself and British Bulgarian composer Dobrinka Tabakova to create a new score and film.
During the development process, Dobrinka was drawn to the concept of connectivity and communication, while I was preoccupied with notions of peril, sinking and rescue. I wanted to make a film about Glasgow and when I began to think about ‘the city’, I visualized the heady cultural mix, the hectic landscape and richness of life available, but I found that I couldn’t stop my mind wandering to ideas of remoteness, I couldn’t escape the prevailing impression of being surrounded, but alone. To be at sea in the city. I was experiencing a bout of depression at the time of writing and decided that while focus would be trained on physical health during the Commonwealth Games, I hoped Pulse might highlight the importance of paying heed to our mental health and speak universally about how vital we are to one another, as family, friends, colleagues and strangers. We all have the capacity to be good, kind and to connect on a basic human level. Professional or medicinal help can be slow to secure, sometimes dangerously slow. We should learn how to identify those in peril.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
It's a very honest and visceral depiction of the commonly shared experience. At its heart is a self-portrait; a cinema poem about recognition, acceptance and the discovery that one can live well with a mental illness. Pulse wants to prompt powerful responses, by dealing with difficult and profound themes to do with depression, suicidal thoughts, diagnosis and recovery.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
We all have mental health and some people are less well than others. We all know, live, love and work with people affected by mental ill-health. It is a global issue and I know from experience, that talking about our wellbeing can strengthen friendships, aid recovery, break down stereotypes and drain the taboo from something that affects everyone. I’m also aware that it saves lives.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Absolutely, as all projects in healthy development ought to. However, this film was especially collaborative. From the outset, both Dobrinka and I understood that we wanted to make a piece about the basic human need to connect, the seed from which further development would grow as we individually interrogated the idea and themes and shared our findings at regular stages along the way. Dobrinka shared thoughts about the work she’d begun using Morse Code. She planned to create an urgent, pulse-like beat within her score, using the dot-dash punches of Morse. This, in turn, influenced my writing. We passed materials, imagery, writing and temp tracks back and forth and gradually built our work together. It was the dreamiest collaboration.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
That Pulse is a positive story about hope, the power of thoughtfulness, and being good to one another. People seem to be able to identify with the 'feeling' at the core of what can be a challenging narrative.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I'm conscious that for some, the non-linear narrative is ambiguous and the poetic visual language is tough to interpret. I enjoy the freedoms allowed by short filmmaking where, as a director, one can test things, experiment and hone their voice. I learned a lot from making and exhibiting Pulse, for which I am very grateful. Ultimately I am proud that this film has caused people to feel something.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Mental health is as vital as physical health and needs to be everybody’s business. We all need to become far more educated about mental health problems – the media especially, so that they don’t misrepresent us or create fear about us. When I wrote this film I knew that my priority was to deliver a message about the power of communication, when a person is experiencing dark thoughts or thinking about killing themselves. Because it’s happening. Astonishingly regularly.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
Overall, what I wanted to demonstrate is that we all have the power to save and be saved.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Suicidal thoughts.
Would you like to add anything else?
This film was written in memory of Ross Ramsay who disappeared in February 2013 and took his own life. I began work on the film at the time of Ross’ disappearance. He was a very talented young man developing a successful career in music and sound design who lived with anxiety and depression before he died. Ross’ story and his suicide would have a huge impact on me, and my writing of the film. I was fortunate to spend time with his mum, Sandra and learn more about Ross's life.
Ruth Paxton was the winner of the Best Woman Director for Pulse, at the 12th London Short Film Festival in 2015.
Screening include:
*GLASGOW SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, The Skinny's 'Best of The Decade' | UK | 2020
*AUBAGNE FILM FESTIVAL, GSFF Programme | France | 2020
*ZUBROFFKA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, Scottish Shorts | Poland | 2015
*OVAL SPACE RE-SCREENING: GIRLS ON FILM, | London, UK | 2015
*LVIV INT. SHORT FILM FESTIVAL WIZ-ART | Ukraine | 2015
*SAAG CINEMA & ELECTRIC EYE MUSIC: ELECTRIC SHORTS | Alberta, Canada | 2015
*WOMEN CENTRE STAGE, Event presented by The Sphinx Theatre Company | UK | 2015
*12TH FILMMOR WOMEN’S FILM FESTIVAL & TOUR | Turkey | 2015
*GIRLS ON FILM, Bird’s Eye View Affiliates | UK | 2015
*12TH LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL | UK | 2015 - WINNER BEST WOMAN DIRECTOR, 12TH LONDON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
*HUDDERSFIELD CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL | UK | 2014 (LIVE)
*AFTER HOURS, Nottingham Royal Concert Hall | UK | 2014 (LIVE)
*CUCALORUS FILM FESTIVAL | USA | 2014
*CORK FILM FESTIVAL | Ireland | 2014
*IX BATUMI INT. ARTHOUSE FILM FESTIVAL | Georgia | 2014 (OFFICIAL COMPETITION)
*ENCOUNTERS SHORT FILM & ANIMATION FESTIVAL | UK | 2014 (OFFICIAL COMPETITION) NMNTD. ENCOUNTERS GRAND PRIX AWARD
*NEW MUSIC BIENNIAL, Glasgow Royal Concert Halls | UK | 2014 (LIVE)
*CHELTENHAM MUSIC FESTIVAL | UK | 2014 (LIVE)
*NEW MUSIC BIENNIAL, Southbank Centre | UK | 2014 (LIVE)
*FUTURE SHORTS SPRING SEASON | UK | 2014
*GLASGOW SHORT FILM FESTIVAL | UK | 2014 (OPENING FILM GALA, LIVE)
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
COVID-19 depending, I'm about to go into the production of a feature called A Banquet – a psychological horror film written by fantastic American screenwriter Justin Bull and produced by Tea Shop Films in association with Riverstone Films.
I’m in development with BBC Films on a Scottish feature that I am writing and will direct called The Flaming Heart – produced by Barry Crerar (Pulse producer, Rosie Crerar).
And I’m also in development with Film Four on a US-set feature film written by Deborah Haywood and produced by Linda Reisman, called Here, Not Here – which I will direct. This is an adaptation of a book by Peter Rock called Klickitat.
Interview: May 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
Pulse
PULSE is a noir-like expressionistic short film about peril and rescue.
Length: 1:55:00
Director: Ruth Paxton
Producer: Rosie Crerar
Writer: Ruth Paxton
Key cast: Uma Nada-Rajah, Daniel Cahill
Facebook: Ruth Paxton
Twitter: @ruthpaxton
Instagram: @ruthpaxton
Hashtags used: #Pulse2014
Website: www.paxtonworks.com
Other: IMDb
Made in association with: Commissioned by Royal Philharmonic Society as part of the PRS for Music Foundation’s New Music Biennial. Made in association with Edge City Films
Funders: PRS for Music Foundation
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Was due to screen at Glasgow Short Film Festival in 2020, as part of its selection for 'Best of the Decade' in association with The Skinny Magazine. Pulse originally opened the Glasgow Short Film Festival in 2014, with a live gala event.