Private Project

The Generous Illusion

Street magician, Nick, claims that love itself is an illusion, as pragmatist Gabby attempts her own trick to level up their relationship.

  • Ted Cox
    Writer/Director
  • Alex Reimer
    Producer/DP
  • Conor Charlton
    Key Cast
    "Nick"
  • Nicole Grace
    Key Cast
    "Gabby"
  • Nathan Mell
    Original Music
  • Alex Reimer
    Editor
  • Ted Cox
    Sound Designer
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 27, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    3,300 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 168 Film Festival
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    November 4, 2022
    North American Premiere
    Nominated for Best Film in the Open Category
  • Richard Harris International Film Festival
    Limerick
    Ireland
    October 30, 2022
    Irish Premiere
    Official Selection
  • WorldFest 56
    Houston, TX
    United States
    Finalist
  • 14th Underground Cinema Film Awards
    Dublin
    Ireland
    January 28, 2023
    Official Selection
  • NOA
    Nottingham
    United Kingdom
    March 13, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Sandbar International Film Awards
    Newtownards
    United Kingdom
    December 31, 2022
    Official Selection
  • Louth International Film Festival
    Dundalk
    Ireland
    September 29, 2023
    Official Selection
Director Biography

After the explosion, Ted had to rethink his life. He stepped out of a lucrative tech career into a world of fiction. More than a decade later, he's still toying with the ways we can experience truth in stories which are not. In 2014, Ted started Soul Catalyst Films. He and the team would rather ask questions than give answers.

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Director Statement

While researching another project, I stumbled across a forum post. The gist of it was "I don't care for anyone. I am kind and/or polite because I want something. Am I normal?" While a few unhelpful people called the poster a sociopath, most agreed that we're all that way -- that we only act with kindness and compassion out of self interest. I was stunned. My heart is selfish, yet I believe myself capable of moments of insane selflessness. That dissonance strikes me as a sort of magic. What do you think? Is love an illusion? Or can we choose to be more generous today than we were yesterday?