Private Project

Paint

An old man deals with his grief by painting a room with layer after layer of paint. He hopes that by the time he has completely filled the room, he will have come to terms with life without his wife. Supported by BFI Film Academy with National Lottery funding.

  • Corran Gourlay
    Director
  • Corran Gourlay
    Writer
  • Jack Clarke
    Producer
  • Corran Gourlay
    Producer
  • Christian Flood
    Key Cast
    "Dad"
  • Max Williams
    Key Cast
    "Son"
  • Gwen Atkinson
    Key Cast
    "Mum"
  • Corran Gourlay
    Editor
  • Gwyn Hemmings
    Cinematographer
  • Anna Davis
    Production Designer
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 18, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    1,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • London Breeze 2024
    London
    United Kingdom
    October 25, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Cinemagic Young Filmmaker 2024
    Belfast
    United Kingdom
    October 25, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Northern Exposure 2024
    Lancaster
    United Kingdom
    October 9, 2024
    Official Selection
  • The HB Film Festival 2024
    Paisley
    United Kingdom
    October 3, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Nightpiece Film Festival 2024 (Edinburgh Festival Fringe)
    Edinburgh
    United Kingdom
    August 19, 2024
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • BFI
    Distributor
    Country: United Kingdom
    Rights: All Rights
  • The Sheffield Media and Exhibition Centre
    Distributor
    Country: United Kingdom
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Corran Gourlay

Corran is a filmmaker currently based in Glasgow. His work explores the surreal and the uncanny, looking to uncover what lies beneath the veneer of the everyday. After moderate success with his graduation film 'The Table', Corran received a grant and support from the BFI Film Academy for his upcoming short 'Paint'.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

A man who paints the walls of a room, layer by layer, shrinking it over time, as a coping mechanism. The central idea of this film has been with me for years, and now I have had the opportunity to make it. There is a universal quality to this metaphor. While here it is used to directly explore the grief of losing a life partner, anyone who watches this film will be able to relate it to some instance where it would have been better to leave something behind as a fond memory, rather than wallow in it with regret. This is one of the strengths of surrealism. While the content might seem otherworldly, the kernel of feeling that exists in the film can be impressed upon by the viewer, allowing for a diversity of audience and interpretations. The most lasting stories always contain this universality, a mythic quality of symbolism, and this is what I strive for in my work. Visually arresting pieces with memorable imagery and a tight, clear plotline to drive us forward. I am delighted to have the opportunity to bring this vision to life, and I can't wait to share the finished piece with audiences at festivals around the world.