Private Project

Super Connected

A family's encounter with addictions to technology and social media takes a dark turn when a new immersive product enters their lives. Tim Arnold's debut film drama is a self-scored sci-fi 'screen album'. A feature length silent film drama set to 12 interlocking songs from the nationally acclaimed album of the same name.

"The silent movie reborn for the 21st century. A unique piece about the digital landscape” – The Times ★★★★

“Like a warning from the future…poignant, ominous, funny and heartrending”
– Rock n Reel ★★★★★

"A lush and dramatic piece on our enslavement to big tech” - Mojo ★★★★

“Super Connected is a warning to humanity about today’s digital age and chillingly the one that inexorably will follow. Any piece of art should have the audience leave with more than they entered the room with. Super Connected definitely succeeds: it is a hugely significant piece of work, containing a vital message, carefully constructed and brilliantly performed. Outstanding”
- UK Fringe Review ★★★★

  • Tim Arnold
    Director
  • Tim Arnold
    Writer
  • Nim Arnold
    Producer
  • Nic Alderton
    Producer
  • Tim Arnold
    Producer
  • Kate Alderton
    Key Cast
    "Kathleen Curtis"
  • Tim Arnold
    Key Cast
    "Tim Curtis"
  • Dixie McDevitt
    Key Cast
    "Bella Curtis"
  • Valerie Charlton
    Key Cast
    "Carole Curtis"
  • Roxy Easton Doyle
    Key Cast
    "Roxy Curtis"
  • Graham Furst
    Key Cast
    "Graham Kyle"
  • Stephen Fry
    Key Cast
    "The Voice of Picture Sounds"
  • Simon Reeves
    Key Cast
    "Oswald Wear"
  • Bryanne MacIntosh-Melville
    Key Cast
    "Ferdinand Wear"
  • Jeremy Stockwell
    Key Cast
    "Gregory Hawkins"
  • Jud Charlton
    Key Cast
    "General Clutterbuck"
  • Jessie Doyle
    Key Cast
    "Carole's Carer"
  • Cyrilla Whyte
    Key Cast
    "Candy"
  • Tim Arnold
    Music
  • Andrew Schlussel
    Special Effects
  • Framestore
    Special Effects
  • Valerie Charlton
    Special Effects Model Maker
  • Steven Cassidy
    Cinematographer
  • Lindley Gooden
    Cinematographer
  • Nic Alderton
    Editor
  • Tim Arnold
    Editor
  • Daniela Maccari
    Dancers/Choreography
  • Ivana Caffaretti
    Dancers/Choreography
  • Hazel Pethig
    Costume
  • Jade Soar
    Hair and Makeup
  • Francesca Robertson
    Hair and Makeup
  • Olivia Todd
    Hair and Makeup
  • Rosalind Wilson
    Hair and Makeup
  • Vickey Steed
    Production assistant
  • Graciela Mae
    Production assistant
  • Charlie Granby
    Location Manager
  • Keith Bookman
    Security
  • Giulio Satta
    'Moon' film
  • Hong Yane Wang
    Animation
  • Ben Hornibrook
    Animation
  • Callum Williams
    Animation
  • Shane Sumner
    VFX
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Feature, Music Video, Other
  • Genres:
    Sci-fi, Activism, Technology, Drama, Music
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 12 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 23, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    230,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Tim Arnold

“Tim has researched screen addiction and social media’s effects on mental health since 2017 with his study culminating in the critically acclaimed album, theatre show and soon to be released feature film, Super Connected” - BBC 5 LIVE (Nihal Arthanayake)

Singer, songwriter, actor, film director, composer and activist, his work spans multiple genres and mediums and he is known for his ambitious projects that draw communities together. He is founder of Save Soho with Stephen Fry and has worked extensively with Amnesty’s Human Rights campaigns through his music.

His 26th album SUPER CONNECTED explores the clash between humanity and technology in context of our collective mental health and is based on a true story of a teenager battling addiction. Super Connected is also Tim's first feature film.

Mixed-race and autistic, Arnold was raised in a vibrant working-class theatrical community. When Iggy Pop told NME that Arnold’s work reminded him of David Bowie, Arnold’s career was given a new lease of life, winning BBC London Album of The Year for his album ‘The Soho Hobo’.

Arnold was mentored by the legendary Lindsay Kemp, who performed alongside Arnold in his multimedia installation piece ‘What Love Would Want’ in 2018. Tim is Ambassador for Neurodiversity at The Creative Well, lecturer at the Waterbear College of Music and sits on the EID committee at the Musicians Union.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

There has been a lot of love for the Super Connected album since it was released last year, so I'm excited to finally share the film as well. As the director of Super Connected, my aim for the whole project is to explore the profound impact that digital media and devices have on our lives. Based on the true story of a teenager battling digital addiction, Super Connected sheds light on the murky connection between the corporations that provide us with digital services and their impact on our mental health and personal relationships.

Unlike most productions where a soundtrack is added after the film, this film was created as a 'story score' for the album, with the narrative built around the cohesive message that already existed in the songs.

Through the narrative of a dysfunctional family, Super Connected examines how digital dependency can isolate individuals and create communication barriers, even among loved ones. My hope, with this mix of sci-fi, satire, and family drama, is to spark conversations about these issues and encourage all of us to reflect on our own digital habits.

Having recently finished the first tour of performing the album live in sync with the film to overwhelming praise in the UK, I am finally ready to submit the film to film festivals. The fusion of theatre, film, and music in the Super Connected LIVE events is designed to be an immersive experience, urging the audience to disconnect from their devices and engage fully with the performance, the film and their own emotions without the constant tug of digital distraction. I hope we can find a way to do that with the standalone film as well!