Keep Out of Reach of Children

When 6-year-old Elliot swaps his family's medication around, it causes more than just a few unwanted side effects.

  • Cal McGhee
    Director
  • Cal McGhee
    Writer
  • Colin Murphy, Paul Dunne, Cal McGhee
    Producer
  • Andrea Kelly
    Key Cast
    "Kim"
    Terminal, Scope, Mother, Skint, Pure Mule, Prosperity, The Clinic
  • Faolan Barry
    Key Cast
    "Elliot"
    Vikings, Hidden Potential, The Secret Scripture
  • Liam Gaffney
    Key Cast
    "Conor"
    Thursdays Child, DRAMA
  • Brendan Farrell
    Key Cast
    "Shay"
    A Bump Along the Way, Behind Closed Doors, They Make You Grow a Beard
  • Suzanne Cooper
    Key Cast
    "Teacher"
    Sustenance, Short Wave, Hello Au Revoir
  • Adam Redmond
    Key Cast
    "Pharmacist"
    Hinterland, White Drugs and Other Vices
  • Cal McGhee
    CINEMATOGRAPHER
  • Philip Hannigan
    SOUND DESIGNER
  • Philip Hannigan
    COMPOSER
  • Charlotte Chapman
    EDITOR
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 36 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 2, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    2,300 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Ireland
  • Country of Filming:
    Ireland
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Canon 70D
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Cal McGhee

After studying an MA in Film & Television at DCU, I assisted on set for numerous independent films and high-profile TV series before working as a runner for a Dublin-based post-production company. I am now a Development Executive at Tailored Films and have written and directed my first short 'Keep Out of Reach of Children'. In my spare time, I write scripts and teach screenwriting to Transition Year students as part of the Creative Engagement Scheme.

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Director Statement

I discovered the power of comedy shorts while volunteering at GAZE film festival in 2016, where the most humorous films consistently bagged the most wins. Humour with a message seemed to be the deciding factor on what was screened, so I set out to write something that poked fun at the pharmaceutical industry and the fallout of lapsed medication.

As someone who has been on medication for over ten years, and as the sibling of an unmedicated ASD child, my inspiration grew from the ethical dichotomy that presents itself when you must choose whether or not to medicate a minor, particularly when they have no say in the decision. Research and networking with parents of children with other conditions such as ADD and ADHD clarified that medication was not a magical panacea nor a quick fix for managing difficult kids, but was repeatedly sold as a 'cure' to the misinformed.

That is when I was presented with a provocative idea; instead of medicating your kids, what if they medicated you?