Five Days To Say Goodbye

'Five Days To Say Goodbye' is based on final conversations that a grieving mother has with her son before she says goodbye to him for the very last time. Set over the five day period leading up to his funeral , she shares with him her love, reminiscences of his childhood, her thoughts on his death and life for herself after his burial. It is written and acted by Beverley Bishop, who tragically lost her son to suicide in October 2018. This is a story of a mother's love and grief that is thought provoking, poignant and honest.

  • Jak Quartermaine
    Director
  • Beverley Bishop
    Writer
    This is Bev's first screenplay
  • Beverley Bishop
    Producer
    This is Bev's First Screenplay
  • Beverley Bishop
    Key Cast
    "Mam"
    This is Bev's first film
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 51 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 11, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    800 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Anniversary of Jess' Death
    Norwich
    United Kingdom
    October 11, 2019
    Private viewing for family and friends
Director Biography - Jak Quartermaine

I started my career in the world of television as a runner after a media course. From there I worked my way through the fields as a studio assistant and eventually floor manager. Working on productions such as’ Des O’Connor,’ Tomorrows World’ and’ This is Your Life’.
Changing direction, I worked as a researcher on Sky One’s holiday show assisting with foreign shoots and directing in the Edit. Then wrote, directed and presented a charity video shot in Bosnia ‘Healing Hands’, based on the three year siege of the city.
Since then I have Produced a Pilot for Gleetree Films and also a short film ‘Touch’ which I also wrote and directed. Next in the pipeline I will be directing a pilot for a film company in East Anglia early next year. I also have spent most of my life as a professional actor working in Television, Film and Stage
And now I have had the honour of directing Bev Bishop's film ‘Five Days to Say Goodbye’.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

'Five Days To Say Goodbye' is written and filmed focusing on the perspective of a mother whose son has taken his life . It is based on the real life experience of Beverley Bishop.

Integrity and a sense of immediateness were key in my vision for this project. I chose to strip back to a bare minimum to maximise on the dialogue and emotion. The stark space of the funeral home juxtaposed with the intensity of the grieving mother's face. My aim was for the camera to allow the audience to enter the room in a way that is both revealing yet respectful.