A year ago we made a fantastic film for Independent Choices, coinciding with the launch of Greater Manchester Domestic Abuse Helpline, called ‘Behind Closed Doors’.
The film was screened at Manchester’s Curzon cinema, with a whole host of stakeholders in attendance, including Manchester’s Mayor, Donna Ludford. Feedback received from the event was overwhelmingly positive and we’re excited to get the film out and shared with as many people as possible.
We loved working on this project because of it's creativity and originality and how it defines itself as being a very different project to our other HelpFilm productions. Because of the very clear script and message from the start of the project, a very different form of pre-production was needed. A location in Manchester was sourced and researched. The charity wanted a house that looked modern, stylish and of course affluent and middle class but also a home. They wanted to suggest the message that abuse can happen in any place, no matter how beautiful the appearance.
Actors Caroline Chesworth and Dave Howell.
We think actors Caroline Chesworth and Dave Howell did an amazing job at creating a convincing scenario and relationship of husband and wife. Special thanks to Director and Editor Matt Murdoch for putting this all together and also to the Independent Choices team, Hayley and Laura for writing the draft script and having such an amazing idea from the get go. Also thanks to David Ellison and Ricky McNally for the filming, Patrick Ruane for sound and re-recording mixer, and props and decoration to Chrissie Wright. Lastly, a thank you to our very own Alan Walsh and Laura Balerdi for co-producing the film.
Alan, Founder of HelpFilm with Mayor of Manchester.
Everyman Cinema where the film was launched.