Hope
An exhausted couple stop at a diner in the early hours of the morning in the middle of nowhere. Their journey tells a tale of sadness, but what really happened? We begin to understand that the situation they're in is far from ordinary.
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Shaun James GrantDirector
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Luke Shenton-SharpWriter
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Shaun James GrantWriter
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Morgan FavertyProducerPetrichor, Wonderkid
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Jane DowdenKey Cast"Her"The Split, Recalled, Quick Cuts
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Yann GaelKey Cast"Him"They Had a Dream
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Patrick GolanDOPThe Distance Between Us, Capital for Eternity
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:14 minutes 20 seconds
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Completion Date:August 24, 2020
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Country of Origin:United Kingdom
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Country of Filming:United Kingdom
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Language:English, French
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Shooting Format:35mm
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Manchester Film FestivalManchester
United Kingdom
March 12, 2021
Official Selection -
Crystal Palace Film FestivalLondon
United Kingdom
March 4, 2021
Official Selection -
War of FilmsLos Angeles
United States
October 16, 2021
Winner -
Norwich Film FestivalNorwich
United Kingdom -
Rhode Island International Film FestivalRhode Island
United States -
AestheticaYork
United Kingdom
November 3, 2021 -
Bolton Film FestivalBolton
United Kingdom
Shaun James Grant is an independent Writer, Director and Film Photographer.
As a screenwriter he has a desire to tell stories that observe how the decisions we make in life influence the outcomes of our futures. Channeling a strong sense of empathy he lives to examine near impossible social questions of his central characters. Considering himself to be nothing more than an observer, recognising the fallibility of human nature without passing judgement. With that said, as a director he lives to tell immersive character driven stories, narratives that feel deeply personal to the central protagonists whilst also relatable to the audience. He strives to create worlds in which people understand and connect to the emotional struggle of life. no matter how abstract the setting. Aside from working in a constant music video and commercial space he has also just completed work on his first major short film Hope (writer, director) which is slated for the festival circuit in late 2020. Shaun currently resides in London with his infant daughter, whom heavily inspires his work.
I’ve never experienced fear so deep than the fear felt when my daughter came into the world. Could I protect her from all the dangers she may encounter in her life? Probably not, but I could prepare her for them by being an example she could look to, absolutely. Since the day she was born i’ve tried to do this, but at some point I know even this may not be enough. We can only control the actions we choose to undertake, not the actions of others. With this in mind, as a parent the fear of losing your child never goes away, it lingers under the surface. This was my way of channeling that anxiety and turning into something honest and expressive.
To lose a child, most never have to experience it and a lot of those that do, more often than not, have an explanation as to why the loss came to pass. A small minority are left in limbo, never knowing what happened, if they could have prevented it or furthermore if they will see their child again. This film is for them.
For me this story was about conveying something, a feeling that we could all relate to in some way, loss. I wanted to tap into what it must feel like to be carrying a deep sense of loss whilst still holding on to some form of Hope that it won’t be eternal. Hope in this context is very much about showing strength and vulnerability simultaneously, a constant struggle that often leaves you feeling as though you’re swimming upstream. It's an examination of an impossible situation which doesn’t always have a resolution.