Undergrowth

DIRECTOR’S NOTES – GRANT MAJOR

“Write what you know they say and while I can’t claim to be ‘the man’ in this story these ideas have been knocking around in my head for some time as a collection of un-related visions and feelings. Forming them into a story was a hugely enjoyable experience, being able to turn it into a film is something else again and the nuts and bolts of making this short movie took the experience to a whole new level. In casting the role of this troubled man I found a face in Ian Hughes capable of telling this story without language but with great feeling and depth. Every step of the way my collaborators bought greater structure and creativity to this personal vision. We all have memories of our family home, our parents and our early life. These snatches of images, of moments that sear themselves into our mind and stay with us reach the surface of consciousness at times of reflection. But memories that anchor us in time and place are susceptible to being colonized by other more mysterious psychological tendencies and my idea to bring the camera and realize these visions are what spurred me into making this film. To change something a decision has to be made, the result of a journey through enquiry, reflection, false starts and finally determination. In waking up the man has reached this point.”