Private Project

Becoming Emma Braintree

Based on the short story DAMAGE INC from Aaron Dries CUT TO CARE ANTHOLOGY

Kaylee Desmond is losing her identity. She refuses to acknowledge her family history of trauma. Her current partner is never happy with who she is. And then there’s her job. Kaylee is a frontline therapist who performs a unique form of treatment- she dresses as the lost loved one of her clients, so that they can say goodbye.

On what she believes to be a routine visit, Kaylee meets Bernadette and Richard Braintree. They are everything she could have ever wanted from parents. She’s jealous of their daughter Emma, and can’t fathom why she would have committed suicide. While debriefing with her work appointed Psychologist, Kaylee requests a second visit. This goes against the purpose of the practice, but strangely, the Psychologist agrees.

Kaylee visits the Braintrees and again, it’s a beautiful experience. But as Kaylee is wrapping up her session, she begins to feel funny… Light headed… Woozy. She blacks out and…

Awakens in Emma’s bedroom where, with the help of the Psychologist, the Braintrees brainwash Kaylee into becoming Emma Braintree.

  • Joshua Koske
    Director
  • Joshua Koske
    Writer
  • Aaron Dries
    Writer
  • Sebastian Chan
    Producer
  • Joshua Koske
    Producer
  • Asheesh Saxena
    Producer
  • Jess Waterhouse
    Key Cast
    "Kaylee/Emma"
  • Juliet Moody
    Key Cast
    "Bernadette Braintree"
  • John Kelly
    Key Cast
    "Richard Braintree"
  • Alexandra Pelvin
    Key Cast
    "The Psychologist"
  • Aditya Putcha
    Key Cast
    "Pranav"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 16, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    14,500 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Joshua Koske

Joshua is an American born writer who moved to Australia over ten years ago. His background is Psychology and he has worked in mental health, aged care, homelessness support, domestic violence support, and foster care for over 15 years supporting the most vulnerable in our communities. Simultaneously he has balanced his passion for community service with a successful writing career that has seen him lucky enough to work internationally as a paid writer for both film and tv.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Becoming Emma Braintree is about the loss of identity through past, personal, and professional trauma.

This version of becoming Becoming Emma Braintree is a proof of concept for the full episode that is a part of the anthology series 'Cut to Care' created by Joshua Koske and Aaron Dries. The 'Black Mirror' of the human heart, 'Cut to Care' examines the cost of caring for others, at the expense of ones self.