Private Project

You Okay?

A depressed man spirals as he struggles to open up about his mental health.

James, a mid-20s modern day man, has battled with anxiety and depression for an unknown amount of time. It’s unclear what caused is and the solution is even more ambiguous. While he has a loving group of friends and a caring partner, he cannot bring himself to open up, even when directly asked about it.

This causes an inner conflict for James. He cannot speak about it, he can’t resolve his issues and the contemplative suicidal thoughts are too extreme to entertain. And so he is trapped with his life sentence, with his mind as his prison. He indulges in substance abuse and often imagines pretend scenarios to escape, but these fleeting feelings only make matters worse.

“You Okay?” is a raw and unflinchingly true portrayal of mental health issues. It showcases the irrational decisions that lead to self destruction and the inopportune circumstances that cause such a self entrapment. “You Okay?” treats “mental health honestly, with dignity and without being flashy.”

  • Barrett Loades
    Director
  • Barrett Loades
    Writer
  • Lisa Kochanova
    Producer
  • Caleb Pithers-Gregory
    Director of Photography
  • Lada Kopytova
    1st Assistant Director
  • Patrick O'Connor
    Key Cast
  • Zuleika Lavender Voegele-Downing
    Supporting Actress
  • Liam Ihde
    Gaffer
  • Michael Hurst
    Sound Recordist
  • Barrett Loades
    Editor
  • 25Post Services
    Colourgrader
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Black Comedy
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 23 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 21, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    167 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4.5:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of Westminster
Director Biography - Barrett Loades

Barrett Loades is a London based, up-and-coming writer and director. Although new to the scene, Barrett’s various films and projects can be seen on YouTube, ranging from absurd black comedies to observational documentary. His style is naturalist and often revolves around contemporary themes and issues such as mental health, prejudice and self-destruction. He is still finding his voice and uses every new project as an opportunity to learn and improve. Currently, he is in the midst of a film festival run with his short drama film, "You Okay?" and the shooting his following horror short, "Melrose".

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Director Statement

“You Okay” is as cathartic and reflective film as it is a universally relatable story with a universal message: talk to someone.

I often think of what could’ve been and what has come of such a dark moment of my life. What was my therapy can now become someone else’s. I’m excited for all to see it and much more hope that it reaches those who need it.