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On the Rocks

Kyle and Sam have been friends for years. The two have a tradition of sitting down and sharing a drink on the shores of Owhiro Bay. One such day, the two teens meet on the coast as Kyle leaves for Auckland—the two teens part ways after a tender moment. Years later, Kyle and Sam return to the beach shore again, this time on the occasion of Sam’s wedding. With a more mature outlook on life, the two reminisce and look forward to their future. More years later, Kyle and Sam are back in their usual spot, this time as fathers, stepping into the new phase in life together.

  • Akash Saravanan
    Director
    Stars and Tides, Pantry of Memories
  • Akash Saravanan
    Writer
    Stars and Tides, Pantry of Memories, Tinder 2.0, Little Things
  • Akash Saravanan
    Producer
  • Elizabeth Hodgson
    Producer
  • Shayden Lowrey
    Producer
  • Andrew Suntanaraj
    Key Cast
    "Kyle"
  • Adam Herbert
    Key Cast
    "Sam"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Slice-Of-Life
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 1 second
  • Completion Date:
    November 28, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    New Zealand
  • Country of Filming:
    New Zealand
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Akash Saravanan

Akash Saravanan is an independent filmmaker originating from Watrap, India. Based in Wellington, he has worked within the NZ film industry since 2018, working on more than 20 productions in various roles.

Starting as a writer, some of the films he has written are “Tinder 2.0” (directed by Jonathon Davies), “Clothstore Calamity” (directed by Jonathon Davies), “Little Things” (directed by Jason Ellis), “Stars and Tides”, “Pantry of Memories” & “On the Rocks”.

He debuted as a director in 2019 with a short film, Stars and Tides, which was officially selected for Serbfest International Film Festival. In 2023, he made his second directorial film, “Pantry of Memories”, followed by his third film “On the Rocks”.

As a Producer, Akash has produced “Clothstore Calamity”, “Tinder 2.0”, “Stars and Tides”, and “Pantry of Memories”(with Little Lizard Productions). He’s also one of the producers in the NZ-based short film anthology series, “Snap Shot Shorts”, in collaboration with Sailboat Films and Little Lizard Productions.

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Director Statement

As a child, I have always been fascinated by stories. Each story I have listened to is a memory that I hold dearly. One such memory is the first time I watched a professional play, a production of Twelfth Night. From that day, one specific visual is etched into my mind. It was the moment when the lead, Viola reveals that she is a woman. The production had no fans or any sort of special effects there but for a split second, I felt that scene appeared as if her hair was waving in a blowing wind, with an aura surrounding the actor, as if some sort of magic effect was taking place.

That is what I strive to recreate in all my works. Create a moment where regardless of how the narrative unfolds, the audience can fully immerse themselves into the narrative, as if they are witnessing it in person. And I have always believed that films are the best way to achieve this. This began with one of the first films I saw, a Tamil film called Vaaranam Aayiram. I saw this movie as a 10-year-old kid, with no expectations. By the time I finished the film, I had changed as a person, walking away with a new perspective on life. The impact that film had on me is still prevalent in the way I lead my life. I strive to leave such a profound impact on people who are watching my work.

Within my pursuit of this medium, I intended for all my films to explore human nature, delving into what makes us, why we do the things we do, and a lot more. One of those explorations is this story of Kyle and Sam. Exploring the bond between them as they go through various stages in their life.

On the Rocks, at its core, is a simple film. A time capsule, in a way. Each scene represents the different periods and the nature of the characters during those periods. Functioning as a simple slice-of-life film, showcasing Kyle and Sam, our two characters in their late teens, mid-20s and early 30s.