Private Project

Lydia

As she recounts her tale of heartbreak and humiliation, Lydia pleads to us for sympathy for the mistress scorned. But all is not as it seems and this story is still unfolding.

Relating her passionate affair with a married colleague, Lydia believed she had found lasting love and happiness. When her lover made it clear that they had no future together, Lydia was devastated. She tried desperately to rekindle the flames of desire but he is intent on ending the affair and distancing himself from Lydia and her demands.

  • Damien Lumsden
    Director
    Warm for Winter (producer)
  • Sandra Conway
    Writer
  • Damien Lumsden and Stephen Mckeown
    Producer
    Warm for Winter, Can I tap, Juncture
  • Sandra Conway
    Producer
  • Sandra Conway
    Key Cast
    "Lydia"
  • Stephen Mckeown
    Key Cast
    "Aiden"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 16, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    3,500 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Ireland
  • Country of Filming:
    Ireland
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Red
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16.9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Damien Lumsden

Damien Lumsden
Born in Dublin and educated in St Laurence College, Loughlinstown, Damien moved to New York City straight after graduating and spent the next fifteen years in the hospitality industry in various countries practicing bartending and primarily chefing.
After moving back to Dublin Damien studied screenwriting at Filmbase of Dublin City before learning under award winning producer and script editor Colin McKeown’s advanced screenwriting classes supported by Film Network Ireland.
Also an avid Actor, Damien was taught by career actor and tudor Karl Argue at The Actors Workshop Dublin before cofounding Concrete Films Limited production company with fellow writer/actor/director and producer Stephen McKeown.
Damien spends most his time writing and acting while developing and producing projects. He currently resides in South County Dublin

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Director Statement

What intrigued me most about the script for Lydia was how little action there was. At first it looked like a single monologue give or take a few visuals described in what little action there was. But it was those details that would prove to be most vital in conveying the emotions beneath Lydia’s cool exterior. Every word counted which was so important, as well as Lydia’s breaking of the fourth wall. It was essential for me that we feel Lydia’s story truthfully, from a place of hurt like she does, to bring the audience from there right through her emotional retelling until she lights her last cigarette. If the audience could feel that then it could be anyone’s story of love, rejection and anger. I found that aspect fascinating and worth pursuing. To feel right along with her. To recognise her pain, we needed to be up close and see it in her eyes. The to accept the danger she puts Aiden’s family in, we needed to see what Lydia has done to the room, the last room Aiden will try get in to. The logical but challenging answer to achieve this was one long reverse dolly shot. This would seamlessly blend all the elements of the script into one uninterrupted journey for Lydia to bring us on while she recounts her tale of love, pain and revenge. All the while talking directly to you as you watch her night unfold.