Experiencing Interruptions?

A Helping Hand

An anxious teen hopes to scam some money from her estranged father, but their imperfect relationship reaches a breaking point when he arrives but doesn't look at all like she remembered...

  • Joshua Francisco Mitchell
    Director
  • Joshua Francisco Mitchell
    Writer
  • Joshua Francisco Mitchell
    Producer
  • Maisie Williams
    Key Cast
    "Connie"
  • Dan Burgess
    Key Cast
    "Dad"
  • Dom Thomson
    Key Cast
  • Matthew Vivian
    Director of Photography
    Mayfly
  • Joshua Clarke
    B Cam Operator
  • Joshua West
    First Assistant Director
  • Caitlin Moriarty
    Production Designer
  • Lobke van Eijk
    Script Supervisor
  • Amar Singh Perihar
    Sound Recordist
  • Lake Weary
    Composer
  • Paul Bowen
    Co-Editor
  • Joshua Francisco Mitchell
    Co-Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Comedy
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    August 28, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    350 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • LB Film Fest
    Leighton Buzzard
    United Kingdom
    September 24, 2023
    Festival Premiere
    Official Selection
  • 14th Underground Cinema Film Awards
    Dublin
    Ireland
    September 23, 2023
    Online Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Milton Keynes International Film Festival
    Milton Keynes
    United Kingdom
    October 10, 2023
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Joshua Francisco Mitchell

Joshua Francisco Mitchell (born December 1998) is an English filmmaker. He has directed the upcoming comedy short A Helping Hand (2023), which is currently in post-production and is due to be released later this year. He is the creator of (My) Spare Room, a production company which aims to develop and support the creation independent of short films.

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Director Statement

Directing 'A Helping Hand' was a very cathartic experience for me. The short follows Connie (Maisie Williams), a down on her luck teen, and an awkward catchup with her estranged Father (Dan Burgess). Having not seen my own Dad since I was young, I had originally approached the short from more of a wish fulfilment angle: what would I say to him if I saw him. These first drafts, however, were biased and often lacked empathy for the Dad character. Upon meeting Dan, I was able to place him in the part and take a personal step back from the story. Here I was able to write a human and balanced relationship which highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of both characters, and capture what it means to be part of an imperfect relationship. They became characters - not caricatures.

This story wouldn't have come to life without the help of my talented and passionate crew. We shot on a budget of under £400, over the course of 20 hours. Although this wasn't an ideal budget/ timeframe, the limitations led to creative solutions and changes that benefited the story while remaining realistically doable.

I learned a lot as a filmmaker and as a person while creating this short. I'm extremely proud of this film, and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

- Joshua Francisco Mitchell
Writer/Director of 'A Helping Hand'