Low Tide

Low Tide symbolises the pain of loss, the resulting emotional prison that grief can leave us in, and the things or places we turn to for comfort at our lowest ebb, although I do hope that the film still raises it's own questions. I wanted to try and depict the way that tragedy can leave us stranded, after my own personal experiences had shown me how devastating it can be to lose those close to you. I think men are finding more ways to express and communicate through their emotions, which is a vital step forward in the evolution of our behaviour.

The styling and setting are deliberately ambiguous, making it hard to identify it with any specific time or place. My cinematic influences were 'All Is Lost', 'The Red Turtle' and 'Swiss Army Man', primarily for their sense of isolation and visual aesthetic. The cinematography and decision to write the story without dialogue were intended to give it a slightly surreal, fairytale-like quality, and I wanted it's potential appeal to be broad and without restriction.

I knew the score would be a key feature in helping to bring this project to life. I discussed the themes at length with our composer (the incredibly talented Samuel Pegg), and highlighted works by Mica Levi ('Under The Skin'), Johnny Greenwood ('There Will Be Blood') and Gustavo Santaolalla ('Babel') as inspirational touchstones. I wanted to capture the eerie and the otherworldly, but needed a sense of mournful beauty to drive the film's atmosphere.

As my first effort at directing, I rewatch Low Tide and definitely see things I would've done differently with the benefit of hindsight, but overall I am very proud of our film considering our resources, and it comes closer to my original idea than I could've hoped before we started. I'm so grateful for everyone involved because it simply wouldn't have come together without them.