Emerald

I find that my creative side comes out on the daily walks I take with my dog, Ozzy. The walks clear my mind and I find inspiration in the small details surrounding my street. Not only is Ozzy a strong and lovable companion, he’s a great listener. I talk to him as we walk, deliberating ideas and establishing specific aspects in my stories.

The idea for Emerald came to me when I ventured further away from my home. On a beach in Cornwall, England, Ozzy and I tread the rocky sand to a secluded cave. The shells covering the ground glistened from the slats of light pouring in. One flicker toward the back of the cave caught my eye, where Ozzy and I could barely fit standing together. I picked up a broken bottle with a small piece of parchment inside. It reminded me of when I was a child. The sense of adventure traveling, when you read a book of flying brooms, ships bursting into the sky rushing through the stars, it reminded me of the excitement every human being believes in. The sense of adventure and imagination, being someone with severe dyslexia, these kind of finds and sense of venture brings my own excitement and dreams to flourish.

Emerald is a film that explores the power of a child’s imagination. I’ve always been curious and see a lot of myself in the main character, Jack. Jack finds magic in simplicity everywhere he goes, just as I found Emerald’s story through a broken bottle hundred of miles from home. I believe there aren’t enough films that truly show the world through a childlike mind. In most of my films, I try to demonstrate how a child feels once they have discovered their passion. When Bailey supports Jack’s curiosity, and accepts and loves him for who he is, Jack feels a sense of belonging. This kind of acceptance is very important and tends to be difficult for most children. In every stage of my life, from home to school to university to work, feeling as though I belong was a challenge and something I cherished.

From my initial ideas thanks to the bottle in the cave, Emerald started out as a love story between Bailey and Pearl. Once we developed the magical element of the toy store and how Jack’s imagination influences Bailey, the focus shifted. With this new angle came a heavy post production schedule and hours of VFX work to be done, something most of the crew had never encountered.

We live in a time where it’s especially important to be curious, strengthen your thoughts and imagination, and hold onto any childlike wonder we still have. I hope Emerald and its abundant amount of magic is a reminder to its audience. The cast, crew, and everyone who supported and believed in our film is magical in and of itself, and why I believe it deserves the public recognition we hope to attain.