What Separates Us From The Beasts
After discovering her father’s steadily declining health, April's reality blurs with that of her favourite bedtime stories to help her and her father come to terms with his impending death.
Produced in 2018 the film won Best Student Drama at the RTS Scotland Student Awards 2018, Best Student Film at the RTS Scotland Awards 2018, and Best Sound at the RTS UK Awards 2018. It was also nominated for Best Drama at the RTS UK Awards 2018 and was included in the Official Selections at the Austin Film Festival 2018 as well as the Heart of Gold International Film Festival 2018.
My dad and I at age 6, four years before he died.
The title ‘What Separates Us From The Beasts’ comes from an old saying that my dad often told me when I was young and subsequently the rest of the film is largely based on our relationship and his battle with cancer.
Production
During production we spent one week shooting and living in a large cottage house in Arrochar with all the cast and crew where we would all wake up, do yoga, make meals, and shoot the film together. While it was an interesting dynamic to live with the cast and crew occasionally there were moments of utter chaos. Luckily we had Layla Burns, who was our main character April, who often in her playful nature reminded us of the child-like joy it is to make a film.
We began filming just as the Beast from the East hit Scotland. While the name of the storm was a lovely coincidence this caused power cuts in the middle of a shot, snow would start randomly falling halfway through an outdoor scene, and during the forest transformation scene, our kit van had to be rescued by the forestry commission from a ditch.
Layla Burns and I in April’s bedroom discussing her favourite books.
The Beast
Ruth Darling, the art director, was brought on before the script was even commissioned to start designing The Beast. As we had a very limited budget the design of the beast had to be simple but effective. We spent months researching Celtic and Nordic mythology as well as exploring old fairytales to inspire the Beast.
The balance of Beast and Human made itself evident as a challenge as Ruth began sketching her first designs. This is what led to understanding the arc of progression for the Beast and for Aprils relationship with him.
On set to get into full Beast hair and makeup it took a team of 4 people and two hours to get it right. At many points the costume was the most difficult production element to work with as often the parts couldn’t withstand the actions that Alan had to do in it. There was one moment on set where Alan leaned back on a chair and his antlers completely snapped off.
