The Gig

Backstage before the showcase gig that could change their lives, Xander, Clara and Johnny are each contemplating their individual goals with the band. When their plans and preparation are thrown into disarray, the mask slips and their true feelings are unearthed.

  • Xander Turian
    Director
    Rotten Love
  • Rhys Whomsley
    Writer
    Dust
  • Xander Turian
    Writer
  • Johanna von Salmuth
    Producer
    The Red Hair Tie, To My Dying Mother, Launch Date, My Mother's Smile
  • Xander Turian
    Producer
    Rotten Love, Launch Date, The Unexpected Promotion, Sargad, Mimes
  • Xander Turian
    Key Cast
    "Xander (The Singer)"
    Carnival Row, The Defeated, Atlantic Crossing, Rotten Love, Sargad, Mimes, Launch Date, The Unexpected Promotion, 13:28, The Question
  • Issy Stewart
    Key Cast
    "Clara (The Drummer)"
    Carnival Row, Playdurizm, Ophelia, Lore, The Romanoffs
  • Samuel Burton-Harris
    Key Cast
    "Johnny (The Bassist)"
    The Deceiver
  • Amber Lilly Payne
    Key Cast
    "Alex (The Stage Manager)"
    Raymond's 5, White Dreams, The Deceiver
  • Kim Liljedahl
    Key Cast
    "Kim (The Janitor)"
    Our Untold Story: Sexy Blonde, Our Untold Story: Go For Broke, Who the Hell are Our Untold Story!?
  • Danyal Jamil
    Key Cast
    "Dan (The Stagehand)"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Biopic, Music
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 16 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 22, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    Sweden
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Raindance Film School (De Montfort University)
Director Biography - Xander Turian

Actor, musician, producer and director; Xander Turian has achieved a lot since entering the film industry in 2013. Having played the lead in the music video for his band, Our Untold Story's first single "Hell House", Xander began picking up work as an extra in Commercials and TV shows in Sweden before studying theatre in Stockholm and later enrolling at the Prague Film School where he graduated with honours from the Acting for Film program in 2018. This led to him signing with his agent, Caprice Crawford of Crawford Talents. Xander has also received tutelage from world-renowned acting and filmmaking teachers Bernard Hiller, Mel Churcher & Dov S-S Simens.

From there, Xander continued to secure work in various short films and TV shows, including a recurring role alongside Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne in “Carnival Row” and a guest spot in “The Defeated”, opposite Taylor Kitsch. Since 2017 alone, Xander has won several awards for various leading and supporting roles, including Best Actor In An Indie Film at the New York Film Awards, and has participated in a handful of panels, documentaries and interviews aired around the world.

In 2017, Xander directed, produced and starred in the successful horror short "Rotten Love", which was selected by dozens of film festivals worldwide and secured 17 awards. He was also involved in one of Sweden's most successful and popular horror films of the year, "Sargad" as both actor and producer.

As a musician, Xander tours in between acting jobs, and his band, Our Untold Story, who released their first full-length album "My Dreams, My Rules" in June 2018. The band have secured various award wins and nominations for their video "Calm Seas Don't Make Good Sailors", including the Bronze Medal award at the Global Music Awards in 2017 and Best Original Song at The Oniros Film Awards.

In 2022 Xander graduated from the prestigious Raindance Filmschool in London with a Master of Arts degree in filmmaking, where his research focused on self-directing and producing as an actor. His graduation film “The Gig”, which is a fictional depiction of his history with Our Untold Story, is the latest entry into his growing catalogue of projects.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

A 15-minute slice of life rehearsed like a play and shot in under a week.

I want the audience to be a part of the action of the story and to feel the emotional struggle inside of the protagonist as they wrestle with their individual goals and needs. I believe that every person has been in a situation where they have felt as though they have either had to compromise themselves or take the high road and check themselves before they end up destroying every opportunity that could be.

I chose to use music as the centrepiece of this film due to my personal connection to music as both a songwriter and performer, the idea of being able to combine my own passion for music and film while creating a mythology around my own band and real-life experiences both intrigues and excites me.